Selling a junked or dead car in Saco

The notice and the 10 days

The rule has two parts. Section 214-1 sets the ban: no owner or person in control of property in the city may deposit a junked car there or let one stay. Section 214-2 sets the clock. "The Chief of Police, upon discovery of any such discarded, worn-out or junked motor vehicle, shall give notice" to whoever owns or runs the property "to remove such vehicle within 10 days."

The notice goes to whoever holds the property, not to whoever owns the car. A landlord can receive it for a tenant's car, and a homeowner for a relative's. Our guide to a notice to remove a car walks through the choices.

Snow emergencies

Winter adds a street rule. When snow, ice or another hazard is coming, the Police Chief can post emergency signs on streets where no stopping or parking is allowed. The code also says "no vehicle shall be parked at any time during a declared snow emergency so as to interfere with or hinder the removal of snow." A car parked against a Public Works "no parking" sign can be fined, and the officer may also have it removed from the street. A car that died at the curb in December is the one most likely to be in the way.

Wrecks stored for a business

The land-use code has a separate standard for sites that store damaged cars. "Damaged or junked vehicles, including but not limited to unregistered vehicles, uninspected vehicles, unserviceable vehicles, junk vehicles, insurance wrecks" must sit on an impervious surface designed to keep fluids out of the groundwater. The Planning Board can waive that if other rules already cover it. The standard appears among the rules for storing fuel and chemicals.

Title, plates and liability in Maine

• Title. For 2026, a Maine title is needed only for a 2001 or later model year. Anything older is exempt.
• Signing over. The assignment happens at delivery, with the odometer reading written in.
• Lost title. A duplicate costs $33, ordered online or with form MVT-8.
• Plates. They stay with you, and the sale ends the registration. Pay $8 and the number goes onto your next vehicle that registration year. If that will not happen within 6 months, mail both plates and the registration back to the Secretary of State.
• Liability. Maine law ends your liability as owner after delivery, once the title transfer is done.
• Totaled cars. A car declared a total loss is a salvage vehicle, and you can transfer it to a licensed recycler without getting a certificate of salvage first. See salvage title.

York County has no emissions test; that applies only to cars registered in Cumberland County. Every Maine car still needs a yearly safety inspection while it is registered.

The BMV branch

A York County branch we checked is the Kennebunk office at 63 Portland Road, phone 207-985-4890. From the middle of Saco it is about 11 miles southwest, as the crow flies. It is not the only office the county may have.

Neighbors

Scarborough is 5.2 miles away, Biddeford 6.3 and South Portland 9.8. For statewide rules, see Maine.

Getting an offer

Got a 10-day notice on the fridge? Call (877) 421-6008 or send the form. The form takes a minute. Then we head to wherever it rests in Saco, a driveway, back yard or side street.