Getting rid of a car that doesn't run before you move abroad

If you can't finish before your flight, a power of attorney lets someone at home sign for you. What you shouldn't do is leave it parked and hope.

Two ways out: sell it here or ship it

Most people moving abroad with a broken car pick between two paths.

Sell or scrap it in the US. You sign the title over, handle the plates, file whatever sale notice your state uses, and you're done. If the title is in your name and there's no loan, this is the short road.

Export it. You ship the car with you, or after you. The US side of that is set out in federal rules, and it doesn't care whether the car runs. Whether your new country will let it in, and on what terms, is a separate question you'd have to answer with that country.

For a car that already needs major work, the first path usually wins. Repairs abroad, import duties and shipping all land on top of the problem you already have.

What exporting takes on the US side

If you do want to ship it, these are the rules that apply when a used car leaves by sea or air.

• The timing. Under 19 CFR 192.2, the car and its documents must be presented to Customs "at least 72 hours" before export.
• The title. For a US-titled car, you hand Customs the original certificate of title or a certified copy, plus two complete copies.
• The export filing. CBP says Electronic Export Information has to be filed in the Automated Export System for used self-propelled vehicles 72 hours before export, "regardless of destination, value or condition." A non-running car is not exempt.
• No filing after the fact. The Census Bureau's FTR FAQ says post-departure filing is not allowed for used self-propelled vehicles. The Internal Transaction Number, the VIN and the title go to the port of export 72 hours ahead.

That means the original title, or a certified copy, goes to the port with two complete copies. If the title is lost, get a replacement or certified copy before you book shipping, and the no-title guide covers what that involves.

If you still owe money on it

A loan follows the car whichever path you choose.

To sell it here, you need the lien cleared first; until then the title is stuck. The loan payoff guide walks through the payoff letter and closing any gap.

To export it, 19 CFR 192.2 adds a step: if a lien is recorded on the car, you must also give Customs a separate writing from the lienholder that expressly says the car may be exported. Without that letter, it doesn't ship.

Leaving before it's sold: a power of attorney

Flights don't always wait for buyers. If the car will still be in the driveway when you leave, give someone a power of attorney and leave them the title.

Each state has its own form and its own rules, so check yours. Ohio is a clear example:

• The form. BMV 3771 is Ohio's official power of attorney for a certificate of title. It names an attorney-in-fact who can sign the title assignment or a title application for you (BMV 3771).
• No notary for the POA. Under R.C. 4505.063, a power of attorney used to title a motor vehicle needs no notarization.
• But the sale itself does. On Ohio's casual-sale form, BMV 3770, the seller signs before a notary or another officer authorized to witness it (BMV 3770). The same form is used to sell an electronic title when neither side is a licensed Ohio dealer.
• The plates come off. R.C. 4503.12 says that when ownership transfers, the registration expires and the original owner must remove the plates right away.
• The buyer has a clock. Under R.C. 4505.06, the buyer must apply for a title within thirty days, and BMV 3770 lists a $5.00 late fee after that.

Why "leave it parked" goes wrong

Walking away from a dead car doesn't make it someone else's problem. It makes it the tow lot's, and the paperwork still points at you.

How long a parked car can sit before police tow it, and what happens to it after, differs by state. Check your state's rules before you leave the car behind.

From overseas, you won't see the notices. Selling first, or at least filing the sale notice, closes that door. The after you sell guide lists each state's notice. If it has already been towed, the impounded car guide is the place to start.

The plates, before your flight

You won't be putting your old plates on a new car if you're leaving the country, so the question is what your state wants done with them. Ohio is a clear case: when ownership transfers, the registration expires, and Ohio wants the seller to pull the plates off at once (R.C. 4503.12). Other states differ, and the after you sell guide covers plates state by state.

Repair it, ship it, or let it go

Repair and sell it running if the fix is small and you have weeks, not days. A running car is easier to sell privately, but a buyer, a test drive and a title signing all take time you may not have before a move.

Repair and ship it only if you're attached to the car and you've already confirmed your new country will accept it. You'll pay for the repair, the freight and the export paperwork above.

Sell it as it sits when the repair estimate dwarfs the car's value, the move date is close, or you don't want to leave anything behind with your name on it.

We buy whole non-running and junk cars. You can sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US, and sign the title before you go. Mention your move date in your offer request, along with any loan and whether someone else will sign under a power of attorney.

Want to talk it through before you book the flight? Call (877) 421-6008.

Before you leave: the order that works

1. Find the title. If it's lost, start the replacement now.
2. If there's a loan, get a payoff figure.
3. Decide: sell here, or export.
4. If selling, sign the title, hand over the car, deal with the plates and file the sale notice.
5. If you'll be gone before the sale closes, leave the title and a power of attorney with someone you trust.
6. Cancel insurance only after the plates and registration are handled where your state requires it.