Selling a junk or dead car in Taylor

The 30-day and 60-day tests

Section 20-171 defines a junk vehicle as one "not licensed for use upon the highways of the state for a period in excess of 60 days," and also any car "inoperative for any reason for a period in excess of 60 days," whether it has plates or not. A repair garage gets 120 days instead, plus one 30-day extension when the car is caught up in an insurance claim.

Section 20-264 is the stricter one for a house. In any area zoned residential, it names "the storage upon any property of junk automobiles, except in a completely enclosed building" as a cause of blight. Its junk automobile is one unlicensed or inoperative "for any period in excess of 30 days."

Section 20-183 sets the base rule behind both: nobody may keep junk vehicles or their used parts on public or private land "unless the same is wholly contained within a fully enclosed building."

Driveway repairs run on a 48-hour clock

Zoning section 15.09 limits outdoor work in residential districts. A job that takes longer than 48 hours, or keeps the car inoperable past 48 hours, has to move into an enclosed building, and "inoperable vehicles and vehicle parts shall be stored inside an enclosed building." A stalled engine swap on the driveway runs out of time quickly.

When the city comes to remove it

Under 20-183, once a city employee identifies a junk vehicle on private property, the city may enter and haul it away, after written notice to the owner. You can dispute the label. Ask for a hearing before the building department hearing officer within ten days of the notice. If the officer agrees with the city, you get an order to remove the car by a specific date. When a car creates an immediate risk of harm, the city can act with no notice at all.

Repeat offenders pay more. From the third violation on, it is a misdemeanor. In Taylor a court can order a fine up to $500.00, jail up to 90 days, or both.

Four inches of snow clears the streets

Section 48-44 has the mayor declare a snow emergency once four inches have piled up, or when four or more inches are forecast within 12 hours. All street parking in the city is then banned. A car left at the curb can be ticketed, towed or both, and you get it back only after paying every towing cost.

Signing it over in Michigan

Taylor titles go through state Secretary of State branches, not Wayne County. The buyer must receive the original title, not a photocopy. Write the mileage on the odometer statement, complete your part as seller, then sign, and have any co-owner sign beside you. You won't find a notary anywhere in the SOS seller steps.

Pull the plate before the car leaves. Left on, it could make you answer for the buyer's parking tickets. With no release form in Michigan, MCL 257.240 shields a seller who saves proof of the deal for 18 months or longer, and a photocopy of the endorsed title counts. Lost the title? Start with selling with no title.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Taylor? Call (877) 421-6008 or send the form. Taylor pickups can beat the next snow ban. Taylor sits 3.5 miles from Southgate and 5 miles from Romulus, and the Michigan page holds the statewide picture.