Selling a dead or unregistered car in New Rochelle

What counts as a junk car here

The city's definition is broad. It covers any vehicle "incapable of being self-propelled upon the public streets", any vehicle whose owner cannot be identified, and any vehicle "without current license plates." A car that will not start counts. So does one with expired plates that runs fine. The city's stated reason is that such cars on private property are "detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety."

The rule applies to owners, tenants, occupants and anyone else who stores the car or lets it be stored.

The garage exception

Section 309-3 ends with one carve-out: "Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit the parking of an unlicensed motor vehicle or motorcycle in a private garage." In a private garage, an unlicensed car is allowed. Stored anywhere else on private land, it is not.

On the street: 48 hours, or less

Section 312-65 lets the Police Commissioner remove any vehicle "parked for more than 48 continuous hours on any street or public place." Unregistered cars get less room still. Removal "may be undertaken immediately upon issuance of a notice of violation or summons, or without prior notice where the vehicle is unregistered, improperly registered", or breaks state traffic law. Cars on posted tow-away streets, cars blocking traffic, and cars left out during a snowstorm, flood or fire can also be removed. Pay the removal and storage costs and the towed car is yours again.

Abandoned property left in the streets falls under Section 309-6. The Commissioner of Public Works can declare it worthless and dispose of it. That article does not cover derelict vehicles that the Police Department reports, which go through the police instead.

Inspection, and why a buyer cares

Every New York car needs a fresh safety sticker yearly and again whenever ownership changes, and most of those checks plug into the OBDII port for emissions. Someone buying from a private party gets a 10-day window after registering it. A car that cannot pass is hard to sell to someone who wants to drive it. See failed inspection or rust.

Signing the car over

A New Rochelle seller signs two things: the seller assignment on the title's back and an MV-912 sales receipt. A notary never enters into it, and if the title lists two owners, one of them can sign alone.

The plates and windshield sticker leave with you. Turn the plates in, or move them to your next car promptly, before cancelling coverage, and save the FS-6T slip. This state has no notice-of-sale filing, so that slip counts for more here than elsewhere.

Nearby towns

As the crow flies, Mount Vernon is 2.7 miles away, Yonkers 4.9, White Plains 7.1 and Glen Cove 7.5. See New York for statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Ask online or call (877) 421-6008. For a New Rochelle car, the offer form takes the details. We pick it up at its spot, in a driveway, at a curb or in a garage. If it does not run at all, that is fine.