Selling a junk or wrecked car in Wyandotte

Junk, inoperable and in between

Section 190.004 also defines a car that is past driving: one "damaged, dismantled or is deteriorated to such an extent that it cannot be operated under its own power and will require repairs before being made useable," or one that does not comply with state or city laws. Unlicensed plus rusted or partly stripped is the line where zoning starts calling it junk.

The same section shows where junk is meant to be. A junkyard includes "any area of more than 100 square feet for storage, keeping or abandonment of junk," unless it is entirely indoors. A yard full of parts can start to look like one.

The 72-hour wheel rule

Section 72.003(H) is unusually specific about a car up on blocks. "No person shall remove or cause to be removed the wheels or tires from any vehicle, except for the purpose of repair which shall be limited to 72 hours." It also bans raising, blocking or stabilizing a car with anything other than "jacks designed, provided and intended for such purpose." A car propped on cinder blocks breaks the second half. Pull its wheels for storage instead of repair and it breaks the first half too.

If you are weighing whether to strip it yourself, our part it out or sell it whole guide lays out the tradeoff.

Street parking and towing

Section 72.003(A) lists certain vehicles that may park on a city street if they are no longer than 22 feet and are "moved after 48 hours." Section 72.048 lets the mayor or a designee have the police tow and impound any car "parked or left abandoned on any city street" in violation, and nobody gets it back without paying for removal and storage. Section 70.008 adds the same power for cars illegally parked or stored in a parking lot.

During a snow emergency declared under 72.045, parking is restricted on designated streets, meaning any street with a snow emergency sign. It ends at the earlier of two points: when the mayor's set period runs out, or when the block is cleared of snow and ice curb to curb.

Protecting yourself after the sale

Wyandotte sellers have no state release form to send in. Instead, MCL 257.240 protects a Wyandotte seller from the buyer's later actions if you join the buyer at a branch office for the title transfer, or keep sale records for 18 months. In Wyandotte, keeping a copy of the signed-over title counts as proof. Wyandotte sellers may file away a sheet instead. It shows the sale price and date, plus the buyer's signature, name, home address and license number. If you do neither, a $15 civil infraction is possible. The law will also assume the towing and storage are yours to pay if the buyer ditches the car.

The buyer gets the original title; you fill in the mileage and your seller's block, then sign, and any co-owner signs too. The SOS seller steps don't require a notary. Take the plate off before the Wyandotte car goes to its buyer, or their parking tickets could end up with you. See after you sell for the remaining steps.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Wyandotte? Call (877) 421-6008 or fill in our short form. A backyard, an alley garage or a downtown side street can all be the pickup point. Wyandotte is 2.5 miles from Southgate and 2.6 from Lincoln Park; Michigan-wide rules sit on the Michigan page.