Selling a junk or dead car in Ankeny

Section 51.01, read closely

Two conditions stack. The car is unlicensed, or the county treasurer holds it in legal storage. On top of that, at least one of these is true:

• the engine is gone, or two or more wheels or other structural parts are, leaving it "totally inoperable"
• it will not roll anywhere on its own
• a month or longer has passed since anyone drove it as a working vehicle

Owners who keep renewing tags on a car that quit should note the licensing line. Fresh stickers do not rescue a car that shows the other traits.

Who the city can cite

Section 51.02 makes it "unlawful for any person to store, accumulate, or allow to remain on any private property within the corporate limits of the City any junk or junk vehicle." Section 51.03 labels such a car a nuisance in the sense state law uses.

Liability is shared. The code names "the owner of or person occupying the property" and calls either one "prima facie liable." Picture a rented duplex: the tenant whose sedan died and the landlord holding the deed are both exposed.

Curbs, plows and tows

Rolling the car to the curb buys two days at most. Section 69.06 says "No person shall park a vehicle upon public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours," unless some shorter limit applies.

Section 70.06 lists when a peace officer or community service officer may haul a vehicle off a street, alley, public lot or highway. Among them are a car "left parked in violation of the Snow Ordinance," one that overstays "any limited parking time," and one blocking "driveways, fire hydrants and crosswalks." The bill for "the reasonable cost of towing and storage" lands on the owner or driver, beyond the standard penalties. Already towed? Read towed or impounded.

Signing it over in Polk County

Polk County's treasurer is the office for Iowa titles, plates and junking certificates. The Iowa DOT writes the rules it follows.

On the back of the title, sign on the seller line. Write in the date of sale along with the buyer's name and address. Next, give the buyer two facts the title office needs: the last county the car was registered in, and the date that registration ends. Two names joined by "and" means both of you sign. With "or" between the names, one owner can sign alone.

Selling for scrap? Iowa lets you obtain the junking certificate yourself and pass it to the buyer instead of the title. Before pickup, take your plates off and keep them. Lost the title? Junk car with no title walks through the options.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Ankeny? Ring (877) 421-6008 or send in the offer form. Pickup can happen at your house, a complex parking lot, or the garage that diagnosed it. Johnston lies 6.9 miles off and Altoona 8.4, measured straight across the map. Statewide basics live on the Iowa page.