Selling a dead or junk car in Merrillville

What the town calls junked or abandoned

Section 12-80 keeps its definition short: "a junked vehicle shall be a vehicle that is partially dismantled, mechanically inoperative or wrecked." A car with a seized engine fits. So does one with a crushed front end, even if it still turns over. See wrecked or totaled if a crash put it there.

The same section bars leaving an abandoned vehicle "on any public or private premises within the town," and goes further. You may not leave any vehicle anywhere in town "for such time and under such circumstances which would reasonably make such a vehicle appear to have been abandoned." That is a test of appearance. Flat tires, dust and leaves on a car that has not moved can be enough to draw attention.

Fifteen days after the notice

If the town tows an abandoned car, notice is mailed to the owner and any lienholder. Under Section 12-80, if neither appears "within fifteen (15) days after the mailing of notice," the town or its designee may sell the car or parts at a public sale. Notice of that sale needs only one newspaper insertion a week ahead. The town may instead sell it as unclaimed property, and here too "the fifteen-day period" is enough.

Fifteen days is not long. Have the title and plates in order before a car on your property gets to that stage.

The 72-hour street limit

Section 12-90 makes it unlawful to leave a motor vehicle on a town street or public highway "for a period longer than seventy-two (72) hours." A permit from the chief of police can extend that, but only when the car does not endanger traffic and the reason is "necessary and reasonable." A car that will not start does not move itself every three days.

Title and plates at the BMV

Merrillville titles come from the state BMV rather than Lake County. We confirmed a Crown Point branch at 1244 North Main Street. It's about 4 miles southwest of the Merrillville town center in a straight line. The BMV line is 888-692-6841.

For a Merrillville sale, the BMV wants every owner to "sign and print their names in the seller section" and complete the lines for odometer statement, date, price and purchaser. A bill of sale does not need a notary. The plates are the seller's in Indiana: unbolt them before the Merrillville sale, since there is no BMV return rule for them, and they can transfer to another car you own.

If you are keeping the car and the plates expired while it sat, the BMV charges a flat $15 late renewal penalty. For a car you are selling for scrap, renewing just to park it legally may not make sense. Read car sitting for years first.

Merrillville is in Lake County, and Lake is one of only two Indiana counties with emissions testing.

Neighbors

Hobart is about 3.6 miles from Merrillville as the crow flies, Crown Point 4.6 and Schererville 6.5. The Indiana page has the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Use the form or phone (877) 421-6008. Selling a junk car in Merrillville? The form takes a minute, and expired plates are fine. We can pick it up off US 30, in a cul-de-sac, or from a repair bay.