Bloomington: selling a dead or junk car

What Section 8.16 reaches, and what it skips

The code spells out who is excluded. "A classic car or pioneer car" that meets state requirements is not an abandoned vehicle. Neither is a car on a licensed junk yard, or one "held for storage by agreement or being held under police authority or pursuant to a writ or court order." For everyone else, the garage is the line.

The code also defines an inoperable vehicle broadly, as one that cannot be driven "in a safe manner because of its wrecked, junked or partially dismantled condition." A car that starts but should not be on the road still qualifies.

There is a short window for a breakdown. Section 8.47 sets apart a car "not in operation and temporarily placed on-street or off-street for a period of less than 48 hours." Past 48 hours in the same spot, the exterior storage rules apply. A complaint visit can also cost money: Section 12.15 puts abandoned, junk or inoperable vehicles on the list of nuisances that trigger the city's service call fee.

Notices, the tow and the 45-day window

Under Section 8.17, the city tags the car with a notice. Then, "within two working days of the notice placed on or near the vehicle," it mails a second notice to the owner. Section 8.47, a separate rule on illegally parked cars, lets any law enforcement officer use the orange tag procedure to have one towed.

After a tow, Section 8.22 gives the owner the right to reclaim the car "upon payment of all towing and storage charges... within 45 days after the date of the second notice to the vehicle owner." If the city sells the car, Section 8.23 has it repaid first for "towing, preserving and storing the vehicle" and its notice costs, out of the gross proceeds.

Snow tightens all of this. Section 8.46 bars any motor vehicle from staying on a public right-of-way for 48 hours after the city declares a snow emergency, or until the full width is plowed, whichever comes first. The declaration goes up on the city website and the snow emergency hotline.

Title office and Minnesota rules

For Bloomington title work we checked one office. It is in Minneapolis, about 10 miles north of Bloomington's center: 300 South 6th Street, Suite A-025, phone 612-348-8240. You can also finish a transfer at any one of the nearly 200 deputy registrar offices in Minnesota. Bloomington sellers can search drive.mn.gov or dial 651-297-2005.

No title at all? Can't prove you own a Bloomington car older than five years? A Bloomington owner can get a bonded title from DVS by posting a surety bond worth one and a half times the car's value. Our no-title guide covers other routes for a car going to scrap.

If you have the title, sign the assignment and add the price and date. Complete the damage disclosure, and for a 2011 or newer car, record the odometer reading. Nothing on the DVS seller checklist calls for a notary. Do not take the plates off. Minnesota plates stay with the car. Then file the Notice of Sale before ten days pass. Minnesota has no emissions test to clear first; the Twin Cities program ended in 2000.

Getting an offer

Bloomington owners can call (877) 421-6008 or use our offer form. Pickup works from a garage, driveway or shop. Richfield (3.5 miles), Edina and Burnsville (4.8 miles each) and Savage (5.4 miles) have pages too. For statewide rules, see Minnesota.