Lawrence, Indiana: abandoned cars and the junk-dealer ban

Abandoned cars are a nuisance here

Section 3-3-5-1 says it outright: "Abandoned vehicles are hereby declared a nuisance and a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Lawrence." The city removes them using procedures "derived from the Indiana Abandoned Motor Vehicles law."

The city's waste rules point the same way. The definitions in Section 3-3-4-1 list "abandoned vehicles and unused or inoperative machines or appliances" next to garbage, rubbish and ashes as solid waste.

The state clocks Lawrence borrows

Because the city works from state law, these are the rules that set the timing:

• Private land: 48 hours is the limit for a car parked without the landowner's OK.
• Public land: Lawrence treats a car on its streets or other public property as abandoned when it is partly dismantled, doesn't run, or has no engine, transmission or differential.
• The landowner's options: call an officer to remove it, or tag it and arrange a tow once 24 hours pass.
• The bill: removal, storage and disposal fall on the abandoned car's owner, and state law tops out storage at $2,000.
• After a sale by the tower or storer: the old owner owes nothing for storage.

Title office on Emerson Avenue

For Marion County we checked the branch in Suite B at 3841 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis. Measured directly, that office sits roughly 12 miles southwest of the middle of Lawrence. Call 888-692-6841. Lawrence owners can skip the branch, since titles are a state matter, and use a Partial Service Provider or BMV Connect kiosk.

A Lawrence seller can skip the drive. On a Lawrence title, every listed owner signs in the seller section and prints a name there too. Next come the odometer reading, the date, the sale amount, and who bought it plus where they live. The BMV's steps for sellers mention no notary, and its bill of sale page says you don't need one. Getting a new title, registration and plate is up to the buyer, who has 45 days.

If the title is missing, there are two routes. State Form 205 brings a duplicate for $15.00, and a speed title adds $25. Lost the title in Lawrence? Scrapping the car is still possible in Lawrence with State Form 55018, the BMV Certificate of Authority that costs $4.00. An automotive salvage recycler can apply for the owner. See junk car with no title.

Plates

Unbolt them before the car leaves Lawrence. No return is required, and they may move to another vehicle in your name. Marion County cars skip emissions testing, which IDEM runs only in Lake and Porter counties.

Nearby

Fishers is 6.7 miles away, Carmel 10.9, Noblesville 11.8 and Greenfield 12.6. See Indiana for the statewide picture.

Getting an offer

For a car in Lawrence, ring (877) 421-6008 or fill in our short form. We can collect it on a side street off 45th Street, a driveway behind a picket fence, or a repair shop lot. If the car on your Lawrence lot isn't yours, start with car abandoned on your property.