South Bend, Indiana: the four-hour rule and selling a dead car

The abandoned-vehicle process

Section 20-29 lays out what follows once the Department of Code Enforcement removes a car:

1. Within 72 hours of the removal, the department sends the Bureau of Motor Vehicles an abandoned vehicle report "including the make, model, engine number if any, identification number, and number of the license plate," and asks for the owner's name and latest address.
2. Once the BMV answers, the owner and any lienholder are told the car has been impounded and "must be removed within fifteen (15) days of the date of the mailing of the notice."
3. After that, the car is disposed of.

The cost falls on the owner, with a limit: the owner "is liable, to the extent of the market value of the vehicle, for all of the costs incidental to the removal, storage and disposal." Costs for cars nobody claims come out of the city's Abandoned Vehicle Fund. Neither the property owner, the city, the tow company nor the scrapyard is liable for damage during removal, storage or disposal.

Neighborhood Services & Enforcement

South Bend's Neighborhood Services & Enforcement (NSE) handles abandoned vehicles along with tall grass, litter, structure and some zoning violations. If an abandoned car is on your property and you want it gone, NSE has a waiver form permitting its removal. Car abandoned on your property explains the wider picture.

Street rules that catch a dead car

• Posted restrictions. Under Section 20-13, police may remove any unattended car breaking a posted parking rule, and the penalty plus towing and storage "shall be paid by the owner and/or violator before such vehicle is released."
• Sweeping and leaf pickup. Outside the business district, Section 20-67 lets the Director of the Division of Transportation close designated streets to parking "between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m." for street sweeping or leaf pickup.
• Game days. Signs can restrict parking on Notre Dame home game dates and other special events. Where the fine is posted with the sign, it is "one hundred dollars ($100.00) per violation."
• Emergencies. Section 20-15 covers fires, natural disasters, snow removal conditions and other emergencies. The owner pays storage and towing, though the city may waive all or part of it on the recommendation of the Chief of Police.

A car that will not start cannot dodge a sweeping day or a game-day sign, so each of these is a tow risk.

Title office in Mishawaka

For St. Joseph County, we looked up the branch at 2544 Miracle Ln, Mishawaka. Measured directly, it sits roughly 4 miles east of downtown South Bend. The number is 888-692-6841. Because Indiana issues titles, South Bend owners also have Partial Service Providers and BMV Connect kiosks.

The South Bend seller's work is on the title itself. Each owner signs and prints a name where the seller goes. Then a South Bend seller writes the mileage, date, price and buyer details. Nothing in Indiana's steps for sellers calls for a notary. According to the BMV, no notary is needed on a bill of sale in South Bend either. In South Bend, the buyer takes care of the new title, plate and registration, and faces a penalty if they don't apply within 45 days.

Lost or branded titles

There are two state routes when the title is missing:

• Duplicate title: $15.00 on State Form 205, online at myBMV.com or in person with photo ID; a speed title adds $25. The old title becomes void.
• Certificate of Authority: $4.00 on State Form 55018, for a title that is faulty, lost or destroyed. With it, the car can be scrapped and no new title is needed. Bring something showing ownership, current registration or an insurance settlement for example.

Damage can brand a title. South Bend owners need an Indiana salvage certificate for a flood car, or for one seven model years old or newer that an insurer paid off as not worth fixing. See salvage title and junk car with no title.

Plates

Take them off before the car leaves. You keep them. The BMV has no need for them, and they can move to another car of yours. St. Joseph County has no emissions tests; that program belongs to Lake and Porter.

Nearby

Mishawaka is 5.3 miles away, Elkhart 15.8, La Porte 23.5, Goshen 23.8 and Michigan City 30.9. Statewide rules are on the Indiana page.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or use our form. South Bend pickups include West Washington driveways, side streets with game-day signs, and shops that gave up on a repair.