Selling a junk or dead car in Shelby

When a car counts as junked in Shelby

Section 42-242 borrows the state definition. A junked motor vehicle is one that "does not display a current license plate lawfully upon that vehicle" and fits one more test. State law lists those tests: wrecked or partly stripped, not self-propelled, or older than five years and valued below $100 (an ordinance may set $500).

A plate-less car with a seized engine fits easily. A car with a current plate does not, however long it has sat.

Ten days, then a citation for every day

Most city code violations run through Section 1-4. The city serves a notice of violation in person or by first class mail. "The violator may file an appeal from a notice of violation within ten days." Do nothing in those ten days and a civil citation follows, payable within ten more days.

After that, citations "may be issued for each day the same or similar violation continues." A repeat within two years counts as a continuation of the first violation. In short, the bill keeps growing while the car stays.

Separately, Shelby's city manager can order a junked car hauled away once he finds in writing that "the aesthetic benefits of removing the vehicle outweigh the burdens imposed on the private property owner." Section 42-264 then requires notice before any tow, with removal set "no sooner than seven days after the notice is affixed or mailed."

If it has already been towed

Section 42-268 hands a towed car back to its owner at any stage once the towing and storage charges are covered, or a bond for double them is posted. Pulling a car from the impound lot without one or the other violates Section 42-271.

Street parking downtown

Shelby's marked spaces have a two-hour limit under Section 42-172, with a $10 fine if paid within 30 days. Trucks face a stricter rule. Section 42-176 says "It shall be unlawful for any person to park any truck on any street within the city," allowing only temporary emergency parking, never overnight.

Title and plates

The title office we checked is close by. It is at 118 N. Morgan St. As the crow flies, that is less than a mile northeast of central Shelby.

Shelby sellers sign the title's reverse side with a notary watching. Both parties write in who they are, where they live, the date of the deal and, where needed, the mileage. Known damage also goes on Form MVR-181, so a junk car's wreck history ends up on paper. Selling as is explains what that covers.

The plate stays yours. Unless it is going on another car, bring or mail it to NCDMV before your coverage lapses. Cleveland is not among the 19 emissions counties, though renewal still waits on a yearly safety inspection. After you sell has the rest.

Getting an offer

Send the details online or call (877) 421-6008: what the car is, its miles, if the engine runs and if the title is with you. Pickup can be right from the back yard where the covered car waits. Gastonia, Hickory and Charlotte have their own pages, and North Carolina has the statewide rules.