Selling a junk or dead car in Beverly

What Section 270-95 covers

Beverly defines a motor vehicle widely: a machine "propelled by a power other than human power" that moves on wheels, treads, runners or slides. That reaches cars and trucks, motorcycles, trailers and tractors. The article forbids anyone to "park, store, keep, or leave, or allow to be parked" any of the three kinds of car named above.

Our excerpt stops before the clause that says where and for how long this applies, so read the full article before you assume a grace period. Boats and RVs follow a separate rule. Keeping one longer than 30 days, or more than one on a residential lot, takes written approval from the City Council, with the police chief's sign-off.

Exemptions

Section 270-95 does not apply to:

• vehicles "within a completely enclosed structure, including side walls and a roof"
• property licensed under Chapter 140 for the motor vehicle or junk business
• state, county or city vehicles
• farm vehicles on qualifying farm land

A carport, a tarp or a car cover fails the "completely enclosed" test.

The inspection sticker angle

Massachusetts requires a safety inspection for every car, plus a yearly emissions test for most cars under 15 years old. The fee is $35 for most vehicles. Driving on an expired sticker is a traffic violation. Beverly's article names the sticker as well, so a car that can't pass becomes a problem even while it sits still. Failed inspection or rust weighs repairing against selling. Whoever buys the car must get it inspected within 7 days of registering it, so the failed sticker becomes their problem.

Title, plates and Beverly excise

No notary appears in the RMV's private-sale steps. Record the odometer reading. You and your buyer then each sign the title's assignment, print your names underneath and date it. When there's no price line, a bill of sale with the amount is required. The buyer's insurance agent stamps and signs the registration application.

Unscrew the plates, because they belong to you. Cancel through MyMassGov, save the receipt and forward a copy to your insurer. Then cut the plates apart or recycle them, unless they're going on a replacement car within the 7-calendar-day grace period. Beverly's assessors bill excise on registered cars, and cancelling the registration ends it. Once you've signed and delivered, you're not liable for the car afterward. See after you sell.

Getting an offer

Beverly sellers can ring (877) 421-6008 or fill out our short form. Then we head to a Beverly driveway, a garage or a shop lot. In straight-line distance, Marblehead is 4.2 miles away and Salem 4.8. Statewide rules: Massachusetts.