Selling a dead or junk car in Wilsonville

The ten-day rule

The nuisance section on open storage of junk, in Chapter 6 of the city code, reaches "inoperable, unusable, partially dismantled automobiles, cars, trucks, trailers and other vehicular equipment or parts thereof." The ten days run separately "as to any one automobile, car, truck, trailer or piece of vehicular equipment," so each car has its own count.

Household junk gets even less time: used appliances, furniture and debris become a nuisance after five days.

The rule does not apply to "junk kept in a duly licensed junk yard or automobile wrecking business," or to a business that sells new or used vehicles or offers vehicle repair. A car parked at a repair shop while you decide is on the shop's lot, not in your yard.

On the street: 72 hours and three car lengths

Chapter 5 defines storing a vehicle as failing to move it "for a period of 72 hours without moving at least three vehicle lengths away." Section 5.210 then says "no vehicle shall be parked on any street for more than 72 hours" unless it has moved that far.

Registration matters too. The same section keeps a car off Wilsonville streets once its registration "has been expired for 90 days or more." Enforcement falls to the Sheriff, a deputy, or anyone the City or the Clackamas County Sheriff authorizes.

Towing and getting it back

Section 5.405 lets an authorized officer tow a car "stored or abandoned" on a street, alley or city property for more than 72 hours, once the required notice has gone out and, if one was requested, a hearing has upheld the tow.

Whoever tows or stores the car holds a lien under state law for "the just and reasonable charges." To get it out, Section 5.455 asks for "proof of registration, if the vehicle was towed for expired registration," and it will not release the car until towing, storage and outstanding fees, fines or bail are paid, unless the Municipal Judge orders it. Wilsonville releases the car to the owner, to whoever lawfully controlled it at the time of the tow, or to "a person who purchased it from the owner and who produces written proof of ownership." See towed or impounded for the rest.

DMV offices we checked

Wilsonville is split between Clackamas and Washington counties, but Oregon titles are state-issued, so the county does not change the steps. Wilsonville has two nearby DMV choices we found. Lake Oswego's is at 3 SW Monroe Pkwy, Suite D, around 9 miles north. Hillsboro's is at 1300 SW Oak St, Suite H, around 18 miles northwest. Both use 503-299-9999.

Before you pull parts

Before you wreck or take apart a car that is titled or registered, the Oregon DMV must hear from you 7 days ahead. Oregon gives dismantling work in Wilsonville 30 days to finish when the public can see it from a right-of-way. A half-stripped car also starts the ten-day clock above. Our page on whether to part it out or sell it whole weighs it up.

Oregon title and plates

On the title's reverse, a Wilsonville seller signs and adds the sale date (a bill of sale can carry the same), and any past lienholder signs off. A 2011-or-later car that is younger than 20 also needs an odometer statement from both sides. DMV's seller steps show no notary.

Tell DMV about the sale on DMV2U before 10 days pass, with your buyer's full name and address. Plates may come off first; moved to a car with another owner, they end the registration left on both cars.

Getting an offer

Got a Wilsonville car to sell? Wilsonville owners can call (877) 421-6008 or fill out the form. We collect from driveways, shops or curbs before 72 hours pass. Nearby pages: Tualatin, Sherwood and West Linn, and Oregon for statewide rules.