Selling a junk car in Waltham

What section 8-53 covers

The code is blunt: "Storing, parking or leaving a junked or dismantled motor vehicle on private property is hereby declared a nuisance and is prohibited." It then defines the problem broadly. "The presence of a wrecked, dismantled, rusted, inoperative or partially dismantled junk motor vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property" is a public nuisance.

Notice that "inoperative" and "rusted" are on that list, and so are loose parts. So the list is not limited to wrecks.

The 21-day letter

When the Director of Public Health or a designee learns of a junk car, the code says "a notice in writing shall be sent by certified mail to the owner of the land." The letter has to describe the make, if it can be found, and the color of the car.

From there: "Upon receipt of written notice, the owner of the property where the junk motor vehicle is located shall be required to remove or provide for removal of the junk motor vehicle during a period not to exceed 21 calendar days."

The letter goes to the landowner. If you rent, or the car belongs to someone else, the landlord gets the notice and the bill, which is a good reason to settle it quickly with whoever owns the car. See notice to remove a car.

If the city tows it

Miss the deadline, and if the police chief or a designee removes the car, "the fee for such removal shall be $100 for each vehicle removed," plus any added removal costs, charged to the property owner. If that bill stays unpaid for thirty days from its mailing, the Director of Public Health may take legal action.

On the buyer's side of the paperwork

Massachusetts puts several steps on the buyer, so it helps to know them. In this state a licensed insurance agent handles the buyer's application for title and registration, stamping and signing it. The buyer must title it within 10 days of buying it, paying the state $75 for the title plus 6.25% sales tax. Once registered, the Waltham buyer gets 7 days for an inspection, costing $35 for most vehicles. If yours would not pass, see failed inspection or rust.

A Waltham sale needs only a few things. Fill in the mileage, then sign, print and date. Waltham sellers put the price on the title itself or on a bill of sale.

Plates after a Waltham sale

Waltham's excise stops only after an online cancellation, so do that and save the receipt. Keep the plates. Your choices: recycle, cut them up, or reuse them on another car during the 7-day grace period.

Nearby towns

As the crow flies: Belmont 3.2 miles, Watertown 3.5, Lexington 3.9 and Newton 4.3. See Massachusetts for statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Phone (877) 421-6008 or use the site with the year, make, model, miles, running or dead, and the title status. Already holding the health department letter? Tell us. Pickup is at the car's spot, a Waltham driveway or a back lot.