Selling a junk car in Yonkers

Damaged, no plates, on the street

Yonkers has a quick rule for wrecks left on the street. A car "in a damaged condition" left on a public street or city property "without proper license plate identification or other identification" is deemed abandoned or junk. The Police Commissioner, with the Mayor's approval, may then arrange to have it removed. Taking the plates off a crashed car and leaving it at the curb does not buy time. It is the exact case this rule describes. If the car was in a crash, wrecked or totaled covers your options.

What the notice looks like

After a car is removed, the Police Commissioner or an agent looks up the owner through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The owner then gets written notice by first-class mail, with proof of mailing. If the precinct commander cannot find the owner, or the car is not returned within 10 days, the code moves the case forward. The one-month title rule above comes after that.

Getting the car back means showing ID plus proof that it is yours or that you may claim it. Towing and storage rates are set by arrangement between the Police Commissioner and the yards the city uses, with the Mayor's approval.

Snow and other emergencies

During snowstorms, floods, fires or other emergencies, the Police Commissioner can have cars towed off city streets "to parking places which shall be designated by the said Police Commissioner in each precinct." If yours will not start, you have no way to drive it off the street first.

State law on top of the city's

Albany's rule, VTL 1224, runs alongside the city's. Its abandonment clocks are six hours for a plateless car in public, a day for any car in public, and four days on another person's land without consent. Under that law, a plateless car the market would value at $2,250 or under wholesale passes straight to the local authority.

Who signs, and what you sign

Signing power belongs to whoever is named on the title. Co-owners can each sign alone, and a company car is signed over by someone from the business. The seller fills in the assignment on the title's reverse, then both parties sign MV-912, which records buyer, seller, vehicle, VIN, sale figure and date. Copies go to both of you, and the buyer carries the original to the DMV. Notaries play no part. See bill of sale for what to write.

Plates stay with you

Unbolt the plates and strip the registration sticker off the glass as the car leaves. Yonkers owners should hold onto insurance until the DMV gets the plates back or they move to another car. A registered car without coverage brings a DMV letter and fines or suspension. Keep the FS-6T receipt.

Nearby towns

In a straight line, Mount Vernon sits 3.0 miles off, New Rochelle 4.9 miles and White Plains 8.1 miles. For statewide rules, see New York.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or reach us online. Let us know the car, its rough miles, if it cranks, and the state of the paperwork. In Yonkers the truck comes to the car, up a steep river-view street, in a driveway, or at a garage.