Selling a dead or junk car in Kearney

What the city calls a nuisance

The housing code in Section 9-808 lists "abandoned refrigerators and motor vehicles" among things that "may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors." It also counts "car parts" as debris. When the city wants to inspect, the letter must give "at least three (3) days' notice." Section 8-1002 covers bodies, chassis and loose parts too, so pulling the engine and leaving the shell does not stop the count.

The impound lot and the 90-day sale

Kearney's impound sale has two triggers in Section 8-507. The city can sell when "the impounding fee, towing charge, and storage charges" are more than the car is worth, or when it "has remained in custody in the City for a period of ninety (90) days without a claim of ownership." The sale is announced at least 10 days ahead, in the newspaper or on the city website, by make, model and year where possible. If nobody bids, the city may order the car "junked or disposed of otherwise."

Until then you can still get it back. Section 8-508 lets the owner or a registered lienholder redeem it before the sale by paying the charges. Under Section 8-1111 that means the actual towing cost, the storage cost and an administrative fee from the City of Kearney Comprehensive Fee Schedule. Because storage keeps adding up, an older car can pass its own value while it sits.

Downtown limits and snow routes

On Central Avenue from South Railroad Street to 19th Street, Section 8-913 limits parking to two hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and each two-hour stretch is a separate violation. That is no place for a car that will not start.

Snow is more costly. Once the City Manager calls a snow emergency under Section 8-915.1, parking on the listed streets is a traffic infraction "subject to a minimum fine of Fifty Dollars ($50.00)," and Article 11 allows the car to be impounded. The routes in Section 8-915.2 include 5th Avenue from 11th to 33rd Street, 6th Avenue from 33rd to 48th Street, and Avenue A from 31st to 39th Street.

Buffalo County title and plates

The Buffalo County Treasurer handles titles and plates here, as County Treasurers do across Nebraska. This county's address is not on our list.

To sell, have every owner on the title sign the seller's section, clear any lien first, and fill in the odometer certification. Kearney buyers get Form 6 or a bill of sale from you. The DMV's seller steps never call for a notary. The buyer's name, address and signature must be in place at the time of sale, because an open title can be taken away by a county official, the DMV or police. Kearney sellers who bring the Buffalo County treasurer their plates, registration and decals inside 60 days get the unused registration back. A missing title is replaced with an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, $14.00.

Getting an offer

Kearney car owners can call (877) 421-6008 or fill out our quick offer form. Our driver collects it from its spot, from a rental near the university to a shop off 2nd Avenue. Kearney is 37.0 miles from Hastings and 40.8 miles from Grand Island; see Nebraska for statewide rules.