Selling a dead car in Elk River

Section 46-34, line by line

Elk River's public nuisance list names a car three ways:

• a motor vehicle that is inoperable, not currently licensed, or "generally is not being driven"
• "The outside piling, storing, or keeping of old machinery, junk, junk vehicles or inoperable vehicles, unlicensed vehicles, car parts, debris, trash, or abandoned motor vehicles"
• and the tarp rule above, which shuts off the usual workaround

Section 30-124, on the outside of premises and parking areas, is shorter still: "Unlicensed and/or inoperable vehicles are prohibited at the premises." A truck that hasn't moved since its tabs ran out fits the second half of the first line, even if it would start.

Street parking, snow and the tow

Moving the car to the curb trades one problem for another:

• Snow emergency. Under section 74-102, no vehicle may stand or park on any city street "between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. when the city has declared a snow emergency," unless that block has been cleared curb to curb. The removal and storage charge "shall be paid by the owner."
• Downtown. Section 74-97 bans parking from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. on Main Street between Parrish Avenue and 717 Main Street (south side) and 708 Main Street (north side), and on the western side of Jackson Avenue between Highway 10 and Main Street.
• Towing. Section 74-93 lets any police officer remove an unattended car that obstructs traffic or hinders snow removal, and it "shall not be released until the fees for towing and storage are paid, in addition to any fine."

If the car is impounded as junk, Minnesota law makes it eligible for sale or disposal 15 days after notice goes to the owner. That holds even if the car still has a valid plate.

Selling for scrap, with the title

Under section 168A.1501, a scrap buyer needs three things from you:

1. The title plus any lien releases, or a bill of sale from an impound lot.
2. Identification.
3. A written statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that nobody stole the car and no lien sits on it.

If the Elk River title still names a lender, DVS expects that lender's release card, or a notarized release, to travel with the transfer. For your own signature, DVS's seller instructions include no notary step. Junkyard or scrap yard explains where a dead car usually ends up.

Title offices we checked from Elk River

From Sherburne County, both offices we checked are a drive. Measured straight from central Elk River, Hennepin's Minneapolis office sits about 29 miles southeast (Suite A-025, 300 South 6th Street, 612-348-8240). Olmsted's, in Rochester, is some 106 miles southeast (507-923-2020). Elk River sellers don't need either one: a deputy registrar can do the transfer, and Driver and Vehicle Services has roughly 200 of them around Minnesota. Find yours through drive.mn.gov or 651-297-2005.

Plates and the Notice of Sale

In Elk River the plates stay put on the car. The buyer takes them along with the registration tax already paid. Before ten days are up, send in the Notice of Sale, either the part torn from the title or an online filing. Section 168A.10 protects a seller who did so, or did so no later than 48 hours after delivery, from liability as owner for damage the car causes afterward.

Down the road

Otsego is 5.4 miles away, Ramsey 7.5, St. Michael 11.0 and Andover 12.4. See Minnesota for statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Elk River? Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or through the offer form. The truck can pull it from a yard, a shed or a downtown lot.