Selling a junk or dead car in Jackson

Two ways a car becomes junked

Section 54-46 gives two tests. The 120-day one above is the simple one. The other covers a car that "is inoperative and which does not have lawfully affixed thereto both an unexpired license plate and a valid motor vehicle safety inspection certificate and which is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or abandoned."

That second test still names an inspection certificate. Annual inspection stickers ended statewide in 2015, a Picayune Item story from that July reported, so that part may not fit today. Either way, a car that won't run and has a lapsed plate and body damage plainly fits.

Where a junked car may stay

Section 54-49 makes "any junked vehicle on any lot, tract, parcel of land or portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, improved or unimproved" a public nuisance. Three cases are exempt:

• a car "completely enclosed within a building" and "not visible from the street or other public or private property"
• a car "stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed vehicle dealer or automobile junkyard"
• "Unlicensed inoperable vehicles stored on private property," provided they are "maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view"

Throwing a fitted cover over it in the front yard does not make it enclosed. A privacy fence that hides it from the street may fall under the third exception. If you're unsure, ask the city.

Ten days after the notice

Notice comes from the chief of police, the building official or their designees. Section 54-51 sets a ten-day window after you receive it. During that window, whoever owns or occupies the premises may sign a written OK letting the city haul the car away.

When a Jackson car hasn't moved after notice, Section 54-52 says "official action shall be taken by the city to abate such nuisance." An impounded car is then held until its owner reclaims it or it is handled under Mississippi Code 63-23-1 to 63-23-11.

90 days, then it is gone

Section 54-52 sets a hard end date: impounded junk cars "shall be held for 90 days and thereafter shall be disposed of with all rights of ownership being forfeited." Up to day 90, the titled owner of record may get it back "upon the payment of all costs including towing, storage and other such administrative costs."

Other impounds follow Section 118-580. The record title owner pays "the total civil penalty, including delinquent fees, for each violation, along with any and all wrecker and storage fees." See towed or impounded.

Trailers and campers on the street

If the dead vehicle is a trailer, Section 118-318 limits a trailer "not attached to a licensed vehicle" to two hours on a public right-of-way. Attached trailers and recreational vehicles over 22 feet get 24 hours. Industrially zoned areas are exempt.

Where title forms go

The DOR's Motor Vehicle Services takes mailed title forms at P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215-1383. Tags are a county job for the Tax Collector. Jackson reaches into Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.

• The assignment. The seller completes it; just the buyer's printed name and signature are left for the buyer. Handing over a title with no buyer named breaks state law.
• Family sales. Selling to close family, such as a parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent or grandchild? Add an Affidavit of Relationship, the DOR says. See selling for a relative.
• The plate. It leaves with you, not the buyer, and goes to your county's Tax Collector; credit is dated from when it arrives there.
• A lost title. Start by getting a new one with Form 78-006, for $9.00.

The Mississippi page collects the statewide rules.

Nearby towns

Several towns we cover are close to Jackson. As the crow flies, Pearl is 7.7 miles away, Clinton and Ridgeland 8.0 each, Madison 11.9 and Brandon 13.2.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or by form with the basics. Those are the basics on your Jackson car that the form asks for. In Jackson the driver can collect from a house, an apartment lot near Capitol Street, or a garage that has been storing the car.