Selling a junk car in Marion

Three tickets, then a tow

Marion's code wants working cars on a driveway or an approved surface tied to one. A backyard spot is allowed only if there is no street parking within 300 feet, or for a disability, and the Traffic Commission handles that. Parking anywhere else in a residential district is "deemed a public nuisance."

The enforcement line is short: "After the vehicle is ticketed three times within a 30-day period, the vehicle can be towed without further notice."

The zoning code backs this up. Section 153.004 says "In no case will open land be used to store scrap, disabled or inoperable vehicles." It defines a junk vehicle as one that is unlicensed, missing its engine, transmission or other parts, or "otherwise partially dismantled or inoperable." Antique and historic cars are excluded.

Moving it to the curb won't help

Section 72.12 closes that door: "No person shall use streets for storage of vehicles or parking vehicles for more than 96 consecutive hours." In limited parking zones, the cap is two hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Sundays and city holidays are exempt.

Winter adds another rule. When the Mayor calls a snow emergency, cars may not stay on a snow emergency route "within two hours after the declaration." Routes include 1st Street from Adams Street to Washington Street and 14th Street from McClure Street to Nebraska Street. The Mayor may add others. Police may remove a car left there "at the owner's expense."

If the city impounds it

Section 90.05 sets the steps:

1. The city notifies the owner within 72 hours that the car was towed.
2. The owner has 30 days to reclaim it.
3. "A $20 charge for each day vehicle is in impound after the initial 24 hours will be imposed."
4. After 30 days, the city applies to the BMV for approval to dispose of the car. The money goes into the city's Abandoned Vehicle Fund.

Title and plates

The courthouse in the photo is not where titles happen; Indiana's BMV handles them statewide. Of the branches we checked, the one at 834 N Miller Ave sits about 2 miles northwest of the center of Marion, as the crow flies.

Sellers sign the title and print their names in its seller block, co-owners included, then write in the mileage, sale date, price and buyer information. Getting the new title, registration and plate is the buyer's job, and the buyer has 45 days to apply. Hang on to the plates. Marion sellers keep them, since Indiana won't take them back, and can put them on another car they own.

Lost the Marion title? Form 205 gets a duplicate for $15.00 with photo ID, and a speed title adds $25. Issuing it cancels the old one. Our no-title guide covers the other route.

Nearby

Kokomo is 25.2 miles from Marion, Muncie 28.0 and Anderson 31.8, all straight-line. For the state's rules, see Indiana.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or through the form. Got a dead car in Marion? Call us. We pick up from driveways, alley spots and repair shop lots around town.