Selling a dead or junk car in Warwick

The sticker test

Warwick writes the same rule into two chapters, Sections 22-74 and 26-266. No owner or occupant may "keep, park, store or leave any inoperative wrecked, junked or dismantled motor vehicle of any kind, or parts thereof, on any premises within the city, except in connection with a legally operated enterprise." The definition follows: "inoperative" means any motor vehicle "that is either unregistered or has no valid inspection sticker."

Rhode Island's schedule puts vehicles up to 8,500 lb through an emissions and safety check biennially, so a parked car can drift out of date without anyone noticing. Warwick drivers of a new car are exempt until 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Failed the check already? Read failed inspection or rust.

72 hours after the order

Under Section 76-301, the owner of an "abandoned, junked or dismantled vehicle shall remove the same within 72 hours after being ordered to do so by the police department." Where the car's owner also owns, leases or occupies the premises, the notice comes "by the police department or the city's property maintenance office." And "An unregistered vehicle on premises not owned or occupied by the owner of said vehicle may be deemed to be abandoned and may be removed."

Every day adds up. Section 76-303 treats each day a junked car remains as "a separate offense", even when one dead car is swapped for another. Three violation notices "within a six month period" make the owner a chronic offender. Can't move it yourself? Police direct you to pick a certificated tower, and they summon one if you don't. See notice to remove a car.

After a tow

Section 76-306 gives a certificated tower two hours to tell police where the car came from. Inside 14 days it must write, registered and return receipt requested, to the last known owner and all lienholders of record. With no claim "within 30 days of the mailing of the notice, the lien will be foreclosed and the vehicle will be sold at public auction."

Unpaid tickets lead to a similar end. Section 76-220 permits a tow or a Denver Boot when "five or more parking tickets" are outstanding and a municipal court judge signs the order. For a street tow under Section 76-216, the stored-vehicle notice arrives "within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays".

Title, office and plates

Warwick is in Kent County. The nearest DMV branch to Warwick is 600 New London Avenue in Cranston, (401) 462-4368, roughly 4 miles northwest on a map. Under state law, the owner must "execute an assignment and warranty of title" to the buyer in the space on the certificate when the car is delivered. The DMV also wants the buyer's signature, the odometer figure and a bill of sale. Plates come off and stay home: cancel online, then keep that confirmation message.

Getting an offer

Warwick owners can phone (877) 421-6008 or fill in the short offer form. Our truck can reach a driveway by City Park, or a spot in West Warwick, Cranston or East Providence. State rules live on the Rhode Island page.