Selling a dead or junk car in Gardner

Two clocks under Chapter 610

The first clock is the 10 days. The code covers any car "in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, rusted, junked or partially dismantled condition, whether attended or not," on private property "for a period of time in excess of 10 days."

The second clock starts with a letter. Once the Building Commissioner hears about one, notice is sent "by certified mail to the owner of the land," giving the car's color and its make if known. The landowner then has a period "not to exceed 21 calendar days" to remove it.

If the car is still there, the Police Chief or a designee has it removed. It costs "$100 for each vehicle removed," plus whatever it takes to pick up loose parts. The company that tows it must dispose of it under state law.

On the street, in the lots, in the snow

Section 610-3 bans leaving a "partially dismantled, nonoperating, or junked vehicle on any street or highway within the City." Repairs on a public way or city property are allowed only in an emergency. Otherwise the Police Chief orders the car removed, and "the present owner of said vehicle shall be responsible for all monetary charges incurred in the removal and storing."

Three parking rules in Section 600-1 catch a car that will not move:

• No parking in a designated overnight area of any municipal lot during a parking ban, or for three hours after an on-street ban ends.
• A trailer or camper unhitched from its tow vehicle may not be parked on any public way. Hitched, the limit is four hours in any 24.
• Where parking is allowed, both right-side wheels must be within 12 inches of the curb.

When the title carries a brand

A car an insurer totaled in Massachusetts carries a permanent salvage title. The primary brand is REPR (repairable) or PART (parts only). Once branded PART, a car is off the state's registration rolls for good. A second brand records why: Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Collision, Flood, Flood/Salt, or Other. The salvage rules skip a passenger car that was at least a decade old at the time of the loss. A "Junked" status means the car was scrapped and can never be titled again. More in salvage title.

Signing it over

• Put the odometer reading on the title. In a Gardner sale, both people sign, print their names by hand and write the date. Selling in Gardner, you can skip the notary, because the RMV steps leave it out.
• No price line on your title? A bill of sale carries the figure instead.
• Some old cars were never titled: passenger models from 1980 or earlier that changed hands before Nov. 26, 1990. With those Gardner cars, the buyer receives a bill of sale and the latest registration.
• The plates are yours to keep. Once the registration is cancelled online, destroy them or send them to a recycler. That cancellation also ends Gardner's excise bill.

Once you sign the title and hand over the car, state law (c. 90D s. 15) says you are not liable for its later use. Massachusetts has no release form.

Nearby towns

As the crow flies, Fitchburg is 8.9 miles away, Leominster 11.9, Holden 17.0 and Worcester 23.6. Fitchburg's code allows no waiting period at all. For statewide rules, see Massachusetts.

Getting an offer

For a Gardner car, call (877) 421-6008 or send the short form. We load it right where it is, on a side street off Central Street, in a garage, or where it broke down.