Selling a dead or junk car in Rio Rancho

One week for a car that will not run

Section 91.21 makes it unlawful to keep "a dismantled, partially dismantled, not properly registered, or inoperative motor vehicle, or any parts of a motor vehicle" on any land inside city limits, built on or vacant. Licensed businesses doing that work in the right place are the exception.

An owner or tenant gets a short allowance: "a period not to exceed one week if the motor vehicle is registered in his name". For a longer stay, the code lets you ask the city: "in the event of hardship," an owner or tenant may "secure permission from the municipality to extend the period of time." Ask before the week runs out, not after a notice arrives.

The code defines inoperable in plain terms: a vehicle that "by reason of dismantling, disrepair or other cause is incapable of being propelled under its own power." A locked-up engine counts. A car sitting on blocks until a transmission shows up counts too.

Not the street, and not the hydrant

Pushing a dead car out to the curb solves nothing. The section says it "shall not be construed to permit the parking or placing" of those vehicles "on any public street."

There is also a fire rule in the same section. Nobody may keep a vehicle near a fire hydrant, fire department connection or control valve where it hides the equipment or slows firefighters down. You stop noticing a car that has sat for months, right up until it gets in the way of one.

Which county you are in matters

Rio Rancho sits in two counties, Sandoval and Bernalillo, and that changes the emissions question. New Mexico tests only vehicles registered or commuting in Bernalillo County. Around Rio Rancho, a 1991 or newer car rated 10,000 lbs GVW or less gets tested every two years and whenever it changes hands. Diesels, dedicated electric vehicles and cars under four years old are left out.

Title office and the paperwork

The state Motor Vehicle Division does the title work. We looked up a field office in Albuquerque at 9651 Eagle Ranch Rd. NW, about 7 miles south of downtown Rio Rancho on a map. Rio Rancho residents can call MVD at 1-888-683-4636. Nearby you may find more offices, plus private MVD partners that do this work.

Rio Rancho sellers transfer the car by signing the title's back. Rio Rancho sellers can write the miles in that spot, on the odometer statement (MVD-10187), or on the Bill of Sale (MVD-10009). The MVD seller steps list no notary.

Plates stay with you in New Mexico. Remove them before our driver pulls away. Inside 30 days, bring them to MVD for destruction or put them on another vehicle of the same class. The Notice of Vehicle Sold, MVD-10048, then goes by post to the Sold Unit in Santa Fe.

A lapsed registration is not a reason to keep paying for a car you will not drive. If you do renew, under 31 days late costs a $10 penalty plus the fee, and 31 days or more adds a penalty of 75% of the registration fee. See tickets or registration hold.

Getting an offer

Got a car in Rio Rancho? Call (877) 421-6008 or use the offer form. Driveways, block-wall side yards and storage lots all work. You can find Albuquerque 12.8 miles off. Rules for the whole state sit on the New Mexico page.