Selling a dead car in Hoboken

A square mile and a quarter

The Census puts Hoboken at 59,027 people on 1.25 square miles of land. The photo above shows how close together the brick rowhouses and apartment buildings stand.

We could not read Hoboken's ordinances online. That means this page leaves out any local rule on junk cars or storing cars on the street. One may exist. The state rules below always apply.

Flood cars and salvage titles

In Hoboken a car counts as salvage when it was wrecked, destroyed or hurt so badly that an insurer says fixing it doesn't pay. New Jersey uses no damage percentage. Every salvage vehicle "must be titled in New Jersey, even if not restored." A flooded car can end up in that group, and the flood label stays on later titles either way. Our flood damage and salvage title guides explain what that means for a sale.

Inspection due and the car won't pass

Most gasoline cars in New Jersey get an emissions inspection every two years. A car less than five model years old is eligible for a five-year exemption. Diesels under 8,500 pounds are included. If an old car fails and the fix costs more than it is worth, selling it as is is often the simplest exit. See failed inspection or rust.

When a car is left too long

State law covers three cases. A car abandoned on public property is auctioned or junked under N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 and following. A car left on private property "must be put up for public sale/auction" under N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.6. And a garage holding a car for 60 days without consent, or for 60 days after saying the work is finished, may call it abandoned and dispose of it by storage, sale or junk title.

Signing over the title

The seller's signature goes on the title's reverse side. Along with it, the buyer gets a bill of sale noting buyer name and home address, sale date, mileage and amount paid. In Hoboken, the transfer happens in person at a motor vehicle agency. Take your plates off before that. Turn them in, or put them on a different car you own.

For a missing title, we looked up the MVC Vehicle Center at 438 Summit Ave in Jersey City. In a straight line it is about 2 miles southwest of central Hoboken. A duplicate is $60 by appointment, with form OS/SS-UTA.

Getting an offer

Use the form or (877) 421-6008. Mention the car, its miles, whether water got inside, and the title. Pickup works on your block or at a rented garage. Union City and Jersey City are close by, and New Jersey has the statewide page.