Dead and junk cars in Richmond

What happens after the tow

The towing service "may dispose of the abandoned vehicle not less than 30 days after the date on which the towing service removed" it. The police assessment has to be done first. The BMV gets the report along with the photos.

A car in view of the street

Section 92.004 declares "inoperable machinery, motor vehicles and appliances" kept "within view of any public street or way" inside city limits a public nuisance. Here is how a case moves:

1. A code enforcement officer or police officer issues a notice of violation and files a complaint with the Board of Public Works and Safety.
2. The property owner gets notice of a hearing to show why the nuisance should stay. The hearing is held "not less than seven days, nor more than 21 days, after receipt of a complaint."
3. If the owner skips the hearing or gives no good reason, the board can order removal.
4. If the owner does not remove the nuisance within 30 days, the board can have it removed and charge the cost to the owner.

The maintenance-code letter

A second route runs through Section 150.016. That section bars storing "inoperable motor vehicles, machinery, junk vehicles" in view of a public street or alley. The city sends a violation notice by first-class mail or in person. Within five days, the owner returns a form saying they will "correct the violation within 15 days" or that they will "appeal the violation." If the work is not done, a fine follows. A fine left unpaid for ten days leads to a court summons.

Street rules

When the Board orders a street cleaned or repaired, Section 75.028 bars parking in that area at the set time. Publishing the order once, at least 24 hours ahead, counts as notice to residents. The code counts you as a resident if your registration shows an address inside the city. Snow emergency routes are listed in Section 76.005, and crews clear main roads first and residential collector streets after that.

Signing over the title

Wayne County doesn't handle titles here. In Indiana, the state BMV does. We looked up one at 4503 National Rd E. It sits about 3 miles east of central Richmond in a straight line, and its number is 888-692-6841.

Everyone listed as owner signs the seller block and prints beneath. Next come the mileage, date, price and purchaser details. The BMV tells buyers to check that both seller and purchaser sections are complete before they go to a branch, so leave nothing blank. The BMV lists no notary among its steps for sellers. A bill of sale can skip one too. Remove the plates; Richmond sellers can keep them for another of their own vehicles, and the state doesn't collect them. A missing title can be replaced for $15.00 with State Form 205. See junk car with no title for the scrap-only option.

Nearby

Muncie is 36.8 miles from Richmond, Anderson 45.9 and Greenfield 46.9, as the crow flies. The Indiana page has the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Start at (877) 421-6008 or the online form. Let us know what kind of car it is, its age and miles, if it will start, and if there's a title. We come to wherever it's parked, be that a side street near the courthouse or a yard on the edge of Richmond.