Selling a junk car in Gladstone

No clock in Gladstone's junk-car rule

The same section sets a flat ban: "no motor vehicle that is inoperative, unlicensed or has expired registration tags shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises." It also forbids any vehicle in "a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled." The rule opens with "except as provided for in other regulations," but the text itself names no grace period.

The definitions in Section 9.1000.202 are broad. An inoperable car is one that "cannot be driven upon the public streets for reason including but not limited to being unlicensed, wrecked, abandoned, in a state of disrepair, a flat tire or incapable of being moved under its own power." So lapsed tags or one flat tire can be enough.

Even a car that runs has to park on "an approved driveway, parking area or paved area" at least four inches thick, made of concrete, asphalt or a similar approved material. A commercial motor vehicle cannot be parked on a residential lot at all.

Two inches of snow, one hour

On snow emergency routes, the ban starts on its own. Section 4.110.020 starts it when "there has been an accumulation of snow and ice of two inches or more for one hour or more between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m." It stays on until the city manager calls it off, but any block plowed curb to curb is released on its own.

When a car dies on a Gladstone snow route, Section 4.110.060 tells the driver to "take immediate action to have the vehicle towed or pushed off" onto the nearest cross street that is not a route. Raising the hood does not count as permission to leave it.

Towing from private lots

Section 3.100.040 sets out how a property owner can have abandoned cars towed without an officer. The owner or manager must be present, and a sign at every entrance must be at least 17 by 22 inches, with letters at least one inch tall. Whoever orders the tow files an abandoned property report "within one hour of the tow," and the police send a copy to the Director of Revenue. On a state highway outside an urbanized area, a car left unattended "for more than 48 hours" can be removed. For a stranger's car left on your land, read car abandoned on your property.

Signing over a Clay County title

Gladstone residents get titles from the state, through any Missouri license office. Gladstone isn't in an emissions area. A Gladstone buyer receives the signed title, plus a safety inspection certificate dated in the last 60 days if the car isn't exempt. No notary is needed for your signature. If a loan was paid off but the lien still shows, you need a notarized Lien Release (Form 4809); lien still on the title walks through it.

If your Gladstone car has a recent Missouri title, a Notice of Sale (DOR-5049A) tears off the bottom. Gladstone sellers fill out that stub, or mail in DOR-5049, or mail a Bill of Sale (DOR-1957), getting it to the Department of Revenue within 30 days. Pull your plates before the car gets driven or towed off.

Getting an offer

Reach us online or at (877) 421-6008 about your Gladstone car. We take it from where it sits, so no for-sale sign by the road. Kansas City is about 6 miles away and Liberty about 8. See Missouri for state rules.