Selling a dead or junk car in Traverse City

When the car is finished, we buy whole non-running and junk cars. You sell the whole car as it sits, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.

Downtown lots and garages

Section 480.04 lets the city set time limits in any public parking facility with signs or pavement markings, and makes it unlawful to let a car "be parked in or upon any part of a public parking facility" without following those rules. It also says everyone "shall obey the parking instructions" of an identified parking services employee. A car that dies in a downtown lot is still held to the posted time, so it needs to leave on a truck before the limit runs out.

A stranger's car on your property

If a car shows up on your property without permission, state law lets you call a local towing agency. Near Traverse City the tow company must store the car within 15 miles of the local unit and alert police before taking it. Police can also remove a car to safekeeping, at the expense of its last titled owner. Car abandoned on your property has the steps.

After a tow: the 20-day window

After a Traverse City tow, the Secretary of State has 7 days to name the owner and any lender on the car. Traverse City's notice says a sale follows if 20 days go by without the car being redeemed or a hearing being requested. To fight a Traverse City tow, file in court before those 20 days end and pay a $40.00 bond plus whatever storage and towing is owed so far. A public sale in Traverse City can come 20 days or more after the hearing, or after the notice if no hearing was requested.

A car that sat with dead tabs

Cars that wait out a northern winter in a side yard often come out with expired plates. Michigan charges no back years: renewing adds a $10 fee, and expired-plate fees are not prorated. Driving on the expired registration risks a ticket. For other issues a long-parked car raises, read Sitting for years.

Signing the title

The Michigan Department of State issues titles here; Grand Traverse and Leelanau County do not. Once a Traverse City seller signs and fills in the odometer statement and seller part, the original title, not a copy, goes to the buyer. Every Traverse City owner on the title signs. The Department of State's seller steps mention no notary.

Picked up an old car long ago and the title never came? Form TR-205 lets a Traverse City buyer self-certify for a title. The car needs a Michigan purchase, a value no higher than $2,500, and an age of 10 or more calendar years. Cars titled in other states can't use it. See selling with no title.

Scrap title, if it comes to that

Applying for a scrap certificate of title is $15. The holder may move the car but can't drive it. Ownership passes to a scrap processor, recycler or parts dealer, and the car won't ever get a title again.

The plate and the 18 months

Take the plate off at the sale. Leave your plate on the Traverse City car you sold and the buyer's parking tickets may come to you. A Traverse City seller can put it on another car they have or get. Michigan has no release-of-liability form. What you get is MCL 257.240. A Traverse City seller is protected by a branch office visit with the buyer, or by keeping the sale records no less than 18 months. Photocopying both sides of the signed title works. Skip this in Traverse City and the seller risks a $15 civil infraction. Should the car be dumped later, the law presumes that seller owes the towing and storage.

Far from the next town

No other town on this site is close. Mount Pleasant is 89.9 miles away as the crow flies, Midland 103.5 and Muskegon 110.5. Pickup still comes to Traverse City. Statewide rules are on the Michigan page.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Traverse City? Call (877) 421-6008 or use our form. Traverse City pickups happen in driveways, side yards and downtown lots.