Selling a junk or dead car in St. Cloud

The 14-day notice in Section 1005:60

The city says why it cares in the first line of the section: stored junk cars "reduce the value of real property", "invite plundering" and act as "an attractive nuisance" to children. The rule itself is that no one may leave "any abandoned or junk vehicle upon any real property, including private property, within the city for a period of 14 successive days." Only two cases are exempt: a car "completely enclosed in a building", or one stored in connection with a licensed business.

When an enforcement officer finds one, the notice goes on the car. The notice names the car and where it sits, and states that keeping it there violates the code on a date 14 days out "unless such motor vehicle is removed and stored within a building." The last registered owner gets a mailed copy, as does whoever owns or lawfully holds the property. Once the 14 days run out, failing to move or garage the car "shall constitute a misdemeanor."

What St. Cloud calls abandoned

Section 1005:10 counts a car as abandoned after more than 48 hours on property a unit of government owns or controls, or more than four hours where that property is posted. A car also qualifies if it "lacks vital component parts or is in an inoperable condition", unless it sits in an enclosed garage or storage building. Classic and pioneer cars are excluded, as are cars at licensed junkyards and cars held under police authority or a court order.

State statute 168B.011 supplies the rest of the junk vehicle test for St. Cloud only when every point below holds. First, it is three or more years old. Parts like the drive train, motor, wheels or transmission are missing or wrecked beyond use. It seems unable to run, lacks a valid current plate, and has value only as scrap.

When the city does the cleanup

If the notice runs out and nobody acts, Section 1005:70 lets the health director have the violation abated. Abatement work that needs "the presence of city staff for more than one hour" or "other extraordinary coordination efforts" is billed to the property owner at $60 an hour. Removal and disposal then follow state law. That rule gives the owner and any lienholders a written notice no more than five days after the tow, not counting weekends and holidays. For a St. Cloud car, it may be sold or scrapped once 15 days pass from that notice. A St. Cloud owner has 15 or 45 days to pay for the tow and storage and reclaim the car. The kind of vehicle decides which.

Street and yard rules that catch a dead car

• Odd and even nights. Section 700:05 runs this one from November 1 through April 1. Between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., the side of the street that matches the date's number, even or odd, has to stay clear. A car that will not start has to be moved off that side all the same, so plan around it.
• Posted snow removal. Signs go up at least four hours before plowing starts, and a car left more than two hours after posting can be in violation.
• Trailers. No trailer may stay on a street or city lot for more than 24 consecutive hours.
• The yard. Section 1000:20 keeps parked cars off front and side yard setbacks and off landscaped areas, and requires "an improved parking surface." A car on the lawn breaks this rule even before any junk notice.

If a car was towed for a parking violation, Section 700:75 has the owner pay "the applicable towing charge, storage fees, and outstanding penalties." Section 130:15 adds that whoever wants it released "must produce evidence showing him to be the owner." Our towed or impounded guide covers whether it is worth reclaiming.

Minnesota title and plates

Minnesota titles come from Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). Still, St. Cloud sellers may file at any of the nearly 200 deputy registrar offices. St. Cloud, drive.mn.gov or a call to 651-297-2005 will point you to a nearby office. We looked at two. You will find Hennepin County's office at Suite A-025, 300 South 6th Street in Minneapolis (612-348-8240). That is about 58 miles southeast of central St. Cloud as the crow flies. Olmsted County's sits at number 151 on 4th Street South East in Rochester, phone 507-923-2020, about 134 miles southeast.

Flip the title over. The price you sold for goes in the box marked for the sales tax declaration, followed by the sale date and any disclosures. Every vehicle needs a damage disclosure; 2011 and newer models need the odometer reading for 20 years. Sign the assignment and add your handprint. The DVS steps for sellers name no notary. A loan is the lone exception. If a St. Cloud lender is still on the title, it must hand over its release card or a notarized release.

Plates stay on the car for the buyer, and the registration tax paid goes with them. What you owe the state is the Notice of Sale, mailed back or reported online inside ten days. Under statute 168A.10, a seller who delivered the car and complied with the section is not liable as owner for damage done with the car after delivery. Lost the title? In St. Cloud, a new copy of the title costs $21.50 when mailed, plus $1 at a deputy registrar, where most offices print it that day. See selling with no title and after you sell.

Nearby towns

St. Cloud spreads across three counties: Benton, Sherburne and Stearns. Our closest other town pages are Elk River at 32.2 miles, Otsego at 32.3, St. Michael at 32.5 and Ramsey at 39.4. For statewide rules, see Minnesota.

Getting an offer

St. Cloud owners can send the form online or call (877) 421-6008. We can haul it from a driveway in any of the three counties, a garage near St. Germain Street, or a yard where a 14-day notice is already posted on it.