Selling a junk or dead car in Plymouth

The 96 hours, written in twice

Plymouth put this limit in two chapters. The traffic chapter says no person shall "leave a Junk Vehicle on any Property within the City for a longer period than 96 hours." Zoning Section 21135.06 says it again for "junked or inoperable vehicles," and names the only escape: "completely within an enclosed building or garage." A carport, a cover or a spot behind the shed does not match that wording.

Required parking stalls are off limits as storage, too. Section 21135.07 bars using them for "storage of inoperable vehicles" unless the Zoning Administrator signs off. Open-air repair beside a parking area is limited to small jobs on a resident's own car.

Plymouth curbs are shorter still

Pushing the car out front does not help. Section 1315.05 forbids keeping or abandoning a junk vehicle on any Plymouth street, highway, roadway or alley. Plymouth's Section 1310.07 caps any car at 12 hours in a row at the curb, and outside emergencies no one may park on the street between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Plymouth's title office

The one we checked is Hennepin's downtown service center, Suite A-025, 300 S. 6th St. Dial 612-348-8240. It lies roughly 10 miles east of the middle of Plymouth, measured as the crow flies. Minnesota also lets you transfer a title at any deputy registrar, and there are nearly 200.

Lost the title? The person named on it, or someone holding power of attorney, files PS2067A for a duplicate. Mailed straight to DVS, it is $21.50; a deputy registrar adds $1. Selling with no title has more.

Plymouth seller checklist

• Back of the title. In the sales tax declaration space, put the price. Then date the sale and fill in the damage disclosure, plus the odometer on 2011 or newer cars.
• Your name. Sign and print it. A Plymouth seller following the DVS steps never needs a notary. When a Plymouth title shows a lien, the buyer also gets the lender's lien release card, or else a notarized release.
• Plates. Leave them. In Minnesota they belong with the car.
• Notice of Sale. Detach it and send it in, or report online, inside ten days. This step covers you after the car leaves.

A Plymouth buyer has 20 calendar days from the sale to apply for a new title, or owes a $2 late penalty.

Getting an offer

Start online or at (877) 421-6008. Starting with the offer form is the fastest route for a Plymouth car. A Plymouth driveway, a repair bay or a cul-de-sac curb are all fine places for the truck to meet it. Close by are New Hope and Maple Grove; the Minnesota page has the statewide rules.