Selling a dead or junk car in Medford

Section 38-35, piece by piece

A Medford car does not need to be a shell to qualify. The rule covers a vehicle that is "inoperable and in a state of disrepair," and the ordinance lists "parts dismantled and or removed" as one of the conditions of a junk vehicle.

Boats, trailers, campers and RVs fall under it too. Placement decides a lot:

• Front yard: off limits to any unregistered or inoperable vehicle. Medford draws that yard as the "15-foot setback from the property line."
• Elsewhere on a residential lot, ungaraged: 48 hours for a car that is inoperable and in disrepair.
• Garage: outside the rule, which only reaches vehicles kept "ungaraged."

The fine is $300 for each offense once the 48 hours' notice runs out.

Streets, city lots and storms

Section 78-11 forbids leaving any "partially dismantled, wrecked, junked, nonoperative or discarded vehicle" on a Medford street, on public grounds, or on private land without that owner's say-so. A car that looks abandoned can be hauled away under state law.

Municipal lots won't hide it either. Section 78-172 holds cars to two hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. That includes the West Medford lot reached from High Street, except on Sundays and legal holidays.

During an emergency, Section 78-93 allows Medford's police chief or public works director to suspend parking on a street, and officers may have parked cars moved. After snow, Section 74-114 asks abutters to open a 36-inch sidewalk path within eight daylight hours of the storm ending or the emergency lifting.

Signing it over

Massachusetts has the seller write today's miles on the title. After that, both people in the Medford sale sign it, print their names and add the date. No notary appears in the RMV's private-sale steps. A price goes on the title when it has a box for one. Otherwise a bill of sale carries it. A licensed insurance agent completes, stamps and signs the buyer's registration and title application.

Missing title? A new copy costs $25 from the Title Division in Boston. Medford owners can request it online or by mail, and delivery may take 10 business days. More at junk car with no title.

Plates and excise

You keep the plates. In Medford, cancel the plates through MyMassGov. Keep the Medford receipt and give your insurance company a copy. Then cut the plates in two or recycle them. In Medford, the assessors send out excise at $25 for each $1,000 the car is valued at. It only stops when you cancel. Under c. 90D s. 15, tickets and crashes after you sign the title and give up the car belong to someone else. After you sell has the checklist.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or fill out the form. Reach out about your Medford car. Our truck can load it near Medford Square, at a mechanic's lot, or on a side street. Somerville sits 2.3 miles off as the crow flies and Malden 2.6. Statewide rules are on Massachusetts.