Selling a junk or dead car in Central Falls

The 24-hour limit and the 48-hour tag

Section 36-7 says no one shall let a vehicle "remain unoccupied, and out of use" on a roadway, street or highway, or in a city lot, "for a period in excess of 24 hours."

A second clock runs when a junked, dismantled or inoperable car sits on someone's property without the owner's consent. Either the police or the code enforcement division attaches a notice to the car "48 hours prior to towing." If the car has not moved by then, a licensed tow company takes it to its yard.

When the car is on private land with the owner's consent, the code works by letter instead. The landowner gets a written notice, and so does whoever owns the car, or last owned it. A car that leaks fuel or another harmful substance, or is a real hazard, can be handled faster under the same section.

Your own driveway is not a safe spot either

Many people assume the rules stop at the curb. Section 18-49 does not: no one may keep a dismantled, unserviceable or junked vehicle, or "one legally or physically incapable of being operated," "in the open upon public or private property."

Section 18-48 spells out what a nonoperational car is. It has sat unattended on private property "for more than three days." It lacks "both an unexpired plate or plates and a current motor vehicle safety inspection certificate." And it is wrecked, dismantled or inoperative. An old car with lapsed plates and a dead engine in a side yard fits that description.

If the car was towed

The owner is entitled to "a full and fair hearing in the city municipal court within 14 days" of being told the car was towed. Our towed or impounded guide covers getting it back.

A dead pickup or work van brings in Section 36-379. It treats any vehicle over 24 feet long or over 6,500 pounds gross weight as commercial. No commercial vehicle may park on a residential street between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless it is loading or unloading, and nothing over 6,500 pounds may park on any city street. A violator faces "a fine of not less than $100.00" and may be towed, though a vehicle registered with the police gets only the fine.

Title, bill of sale and plates

In this state, the Division of Motor Vehicles takes care of titles. One office we checked is the Woonsocket branch at 2000 Diamond Hill Road, (401) 356-4031, about 10 miles northwest in a straight line.

On a 2001 or newer model, both names go on the reverse of the title: yours as seller, the buyer's as buyer, plus the odometer reading. Cars from before 2001 are not issued a title until ownership changes hands or a lien is created. In both cases, Central Falls sellers also write the buyer a bill of sale. It lists year, make, model, VIN, color and price, and you sign it with your address. If the title is lost, a duplicate comes from the Cranston DMV and can take up to 90 days; see selling with no title.

The plates are yours to keep. End the registration through the DMV's online cancellation and save the email it sends back; after that the plates may be destroyed or recycled. In Central Falls, the back of the registration card also gets the buyer's name, address and sale date, and state law says to mail it to the DMV right away.

Getting an offer

Use the form or call (877) 421-6008. Send us your Central Falls car details on the form. Our truck fits narrow spots near the Blackstone River mills or a lot in Pawtucket, 1.5 miles off. State rules are on the Rhode Island page.