Got a dead or junk car to sell in Independence?

The yard: seven days, or none

Two parts of the code apply to private land:

• Section 93.19 says "no inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicle shall be parked, kept or stored on any occupied or unoccupied premises," and bans cars in "major disassembly." Section 93.06 defines inoperable as lacking the license state law requires, wrecked or taken apart, or mechanically or legally unable to drive.
• Section 90.01 treats an apparently inoperable car left on private property "for more than seven (7) consecutive days" as a discarded item. That does not apply if the car is in a building, out of sight of neighbors, streets and parks, or "totally concealed with appropriate covering."

Collectors may keep parts cars hidden behind fencing or shrubs, and licensed recyclers are exempt. If an owner ignores a notice, the city may remove the car itself.

The street

Council minutes record a first reading of a proposal to raise the 24-hour street parking limit to 72 hours. The mayor said then that police would act on citizen complaints rather than patrol for parked cars. Whatever the current limit is, a car with a flat or expired tags already fits Section 72.15's definition of abandoned.

Snow does not wait for an announcement. Under Section 72.35, no one may park on a city street after "two (2") inches or more" of snow or ice piles up. The mayor or police chief can also ban it ahead of a firm forecast. Overnight snow between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. with no earlier announcement means a parked car can stay only until 6 a.m.

Impound

Under Section 72.20, any police officer may authorize impounding a car "after a citation has been issued." The car is tagged and held by the police department. "All fines, fees, and charges must be paid in full" before it is released. When the release would cost more than the car means to you, see towed or impounded.

Kenton County title and plates

The courthouse in the photo is in Independence, and title work goes to the Kenton County Clerk. Before the buyer leaves, get your signature notarized, as Kentucky requires, and correct any slip with a notarized affidavit rather than white-out. Give the buyer a filled-in TC 96-182 along with a written mileage disclosure. The plate stays with you under the 2024 law, and $11 moves it to your next car. If 15 calendar days pass without the buyer filing, a notarized TC 96-3 lets the clerk freeze registration on the car. Also remember that the yearly property tax falls on whoever owned the car on January 1, with exceptions in the statute.

In straight-line miles, Covington is 5.6 away, Florence 6.0 and Erlanger 6.3. For statewide rules, see Kentucky.

Getting an offer

Ring (877) 421-6008 or fill out the form. Send the form about your Independence car. In Independence we can load it from a driveway, a shop or the curb ahead of the next 2-inch snowfall.