Junk and non-running cars in Davenport

What makes a nuisance vehicle

Section 8.14.460 applies on public or private property, with lawful junkyards and salvage yards excepted. It covers any vehicle "not enclosed within a legal structure" that shows at least one of these traits:

• it "Cannot be operated under its own power or is otherwise inoperable"
• it "Lacks current registration or does not display current registration, if registration is required for that category of vehicle"

Trailers have their own test. A trailer counts as inoperable unless it is "attached to a fully-operational vehicle that can tow it that displays a current registration." A dead pickup with a trailer behind it counts twice.

The declaration and immediate towing

The step that changes things is the city's declaration. Davenport must send notice of it, "including a statement that the vehicle will now be subject to immediate towing if found in violation without any further notice." The same notice says an appeal "may be filed pursuant to Chapter 2.86."

After that notice, there is no second letter before a tow. If one arrives for a car with no future, deciding fast costs less than paying to get it out of impound.

Abandoned on the street

Chapter 10.76 sets the street clock at 24 hours. An abandoned vehicle includes "A vehicle that has been left unattended on public property for 24 hours" and one that "has remained illegally parked on public property for 24 hours." A car impounded by police and "not reclaimed for a period of 10 days" is abandoned too, and police may start the notice process sooner.

Section 10.76.020 says police "shall take into custody an abandoned vehicle on public property and may take into custody an abandoned vehicle on private property." The department can do the work itself or hire a private company.

City crews and snow

Police are not the only ones who can order a tow. Under 10.76.095, the City Administrator may designate city employees to remove vehicles "without notice" that obstruct "snow removal, street resurfacing or oiling, and street cleaning," as well as hazardous vehicles on private property. A dead car on a residential street when the plows come through is an easy case.

Getting a towed car back

To recover an impounded car, the owner must "present to the department evidence of such person's identity and right to possession," "sign a receipt for its return," and pay the costs of removal, preservation, storage and notice. After the notice, owners and lienholders "have 10 days in which to reclaim the impounded vehicle." Anyone who disputes the tow or the fees can ask for a hearing under Chapter 2.86. If you would rather let the car go than pay to free it, our towed or impounded guide explains the choices.

Title, plates and the Scott County treasurer

Davenport titles, plates and junking certificates all go through the Scott County treasurer. In Davenport, you sign on the title's back side, then write in who bought it, where they live and the day of the sale. Pass on the registering county and its expiration date too. Two owners joined by "and" each sign.

Your plates stay with you in Iowa. For proof of the sale, keep a receipt from the buyer or a photo of the signed title, or file Iowa form 411107 with the county that registered the car.

From there, a Davenport scrap buyer gets 30 days to request a junking certificate from a county treasurer, signed title in hand. There's no fee for it. A new copy of a title is $35.00, with a required 5-day wait. Iowa Code 321.90 also lets a Davenport owner whose title is lost, destroyed or faulty get police approval to send the car to a demolisher.

The Quad Cities side of Iowa

In a straight line, Bettendorf begins 6.6 miles off. Muscatine is 25.8 miles, Clinton 27.1 and Iowa City 48.4. Statewide rules are on the Iowa page.

Getting an offer

Davenport sellers can call (877) 421-6008 or start with the offer form. We collect Davenport cars from riverfront side streets, apartment lots, driveways and garages that gave up on them.