Selling a dead or junk car in Farmington Hills

How the 30-day count works

Two separate clocks sit in the same definition. One starts when the registration lapses: a car "not licensed for use upon the highways of the state for a period in excess of thirty (30) days" qualifies. The other starts when the car stops working, "whether so licensed or not." Either is enough on its own. Michigan tacks on $10 once a registration has expired and never prorates an expired plate's renewal, so renewing a car that will never drive again just to reset the first clock is money spent on nothing.

Section 17-52 also treats loose parts as junk. "Parts of machinery or motor vehicles" stored in the open count, "whether or not the same could be put to any reasonable use." Pulling the engine and leaving it beside the garage swaps one violation for another.

Snow emergencies and street tows

Under Section 30-727, the city manager can ban street parking when snow, sleet or freezing rain is falling or forecast. The ban lasts until the city manager ends it, except that a block "substantially clear of snow and ice" for its whole length and width drops out on its own. While it is in force, no one may "park or allow to remain parked any vehicle" on an affected street.

Section 30-732 lets police tow a car that is stalled on a street during a snow emergency, or parked illegally in the way of plowing. In Farmington Hills, the officer must send the owner a written notice with the reason and where the car is stored. If no owner turns up and ten days go by with the car unreturned, a written removal report goes out. To recover it, you show ID and your right to the car, sign a receipt, and pay for removal and storage. Our towed or impounded guide covers the rest.

Michigan paperwork for a Farmington Hills sale

Oakland County plays no part in titles; Michigan issues them from Secretary of State branch offices. A Farmington Hills seller passes over the original title with the mileage entered and the seller's block filled in, and every named owner adds a signature. The SOS seller steps never mention a notary.

Unscrew the plate before the truck pulls away. It's yours to reuse on a later car. In place of a release form, which Michigan doesn't have, the Secretary of State suggests photocopying the finished title on both sides and holding the copies 18 months or longer. A lost title can be replaced by any single owner, for $15 by post or $20 the same day.

If the car was badly damaged, salvage title explains Michigan's 75% and 91% repair-cost lines for late model cars. For a car that simply quit, see car doesn't run.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or online. Tell us the car, its approximate miles, whether the engine fires, and whether you hold the title. We pick up in Farmington Hills from a closed garage, a repair shop or wherever it broke down. See nearby pages for Novi, Livonia and Southfield, and Michigan for the state rules.