Selling a dead car in Greenfield, Indiana

Why the city treats them as nuisances

Section 95.35 gives its reasons in plain terms: harm to the "general and economic welfare of the public," "danger to health from vermin, insects, and rodents," and "the danger to the safety of children who are attracted to them." Disassembled, inoperable, junked, wrecked and abandoned cars are all named. The one exception is a car kept with "a duly authorized automobile sale or repair business."

From notice to tow truck

On private land. When the Chief of Police finds such a car "in the open on private property," Section 95.38 has him order the owner to remove it within ten days. The paper is stuck on the car. The city also serves any grown-up living on the property, plus the owner when the department knows who and where that is. Find no one, and a copy posted on a building there is enough.

You can ask for time. The order can be stayed on "a written request showing good cause." Without that, once ten days pass, a junk or salvage yard or wrecker service removes the car, and the owner pays the cost.

The shorter order. Section 95.39 sets a shorter order. If Greenfield's Chief of Police finds a vehicle "placed or stored in the open on private property," the owner must move it "within three days." Past that, the Chief sends a junk or salvage yard or a wrecker service to take it, and the owner pays.

School lots. Section 71.102 bars leaving a vehicle on high school property for more than 24 consecutive hours without approval from school officials.

The East Main Street branch

For Hancock County we checked the BMV branch at 1821 E. Main St., about 1 mile southeast of the middle of Greenfield as the crow flies; phone 888-692-6841. Hancock County itself issues no titles. That is the BMV's job.

You may not need the branch at all to sell. Fill in the seller section with every owner's signature and printed name, plus the odometer, date, sale price and buyer's details. The BMV seller steps call for no notary. After the sale, title, registration and plate are the purchaser's to sort out inside 45 days.

Missing title? A replacement runs $15.00 through State Form 205; rushing it as a speed title adds $25. The duplicate voids the old one. Details are in junk car with no title.

Plates

Indiana plates belong to the seller. Pull them before pickup. They never go back to the state, and a car you own later can wear them.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or write us online. Tell us about your Greenfield car on the offer form. Pickup can be near Courthouse Square, in a back lot, or wherever the tag on the windshield found it. Nearby: Lawrence, Fishers and Shelbyville. Statewide rules live on the Indiana page.