Selling a dead or junk car in Joplin

Inside, or out of sight

The list in Section 54-35 runs from dirty water to old furniture, and it reaches cars twice. One entry covers "abandoned, discarded or unused objects or equipment such as automobiles." The next is the nonoperating-vehicle entry above, with its two escape routes:

• an enclosed building, such as a garage or shed
• a spot "not to be readily visible from any public place or from any surrounding private property"

A tarp in the front yard is unlikely to meet the second test, since the car under it is still plain to see. The section we read does not give a notice period or a deadline after notice. The city may have its own procedure, so read any letter closely for its date.

Commercial and other nonresidential lots

Section 26-805 is stricter for nonresidential property. There, no wrecked or unlicensed motor vehicle may be stored in the open. Nor may it be in "any state of major disassembly or disrepair" or being stripped or dismantled, except in an automobile establishment.

One exception helps a stranded driver: "Emergency repairs to any currently licensed vehicle shall be permitted in order to permit such vehicle to be removed from the premises." A licensed car that dies in a store parking lot can be patched enough to leave. An unlicensed one cannot be worked on there at all.

Abandoned on a Joplin street

Section 114-671 bars abandoning a motor vehicle on the city's streets or highways. An officer with reasonable grounds may remove it, or have it removed, "at the expense of the owner" to a garage or another place the city designates.

The police department then notifies the registered owner and any lienholder, gives the reason for removal and names the garage. For an out-of-state car it makes a reasonable effort to do the same. A car left in a paid off-street lot without paying the posted fee is presumed to be there without the lot owner's consent.

Joplin's section names no hour count for streets. Missouri law fills in some of it. Police may authorize a tow from private land after 48 hours unattended, or sooner if the car is a safety hazard. On an interstate in an urbanized area, abandoned property can go after ten hours. A city or county holding an abandoned car waits 30 days after notice is sent. In Joplin the wait is only 10 days for a car past six years old, with over 50% damage and a value under $200. Then a licensed salvage or scrap business buys it.

Missouri titles for a wrecked car

Many dead cars in Joplin are dead because of a crash. Missouri counts a Joplin car as salvage when it was damaged no more than six years past its model year and the repair estimate passes eighty percent of its fair market value. An owner, secured party or insurer can also declare it salvage. On a Joplin car's Missouri title, look for "Salvage", "Damaged", "Rebuilt", "Rebuilt Salvage", "Flood Damaged" or "Previously Damaged". Salvage title and wrecked or totaled go deeper.

When a Joplin car is sold for salvage or parts, the buyer mails the Director the title plus an $8.50 salvage certificate application within ten days. The seller's own steps are short:

• Sign the title without a notary, and write in the odometer reading and date.
• Unscrew the Joplin plates, expired or current, before the car leaves.
• Within 30 days, post either form to the state: Notice of Sale (DOR-5049) or Bill of Sale (DOR-1957).

Title gone missing? Any Missouri license office can issue a duplicate for $8.50 plus a $9 processing fee.

Getting an offer

Have a dead car in Joplin? Call (877) 421-6008 or send our offer form. Pickup works on both sides of the Jasper and Newton county line. Republic and Springfield are the next pages east, and Missouri has the statewide rules.