Selling a dead or junk car in Copperas Cove

The 45-day test in Sec. 9-1

Copperas Cove's definition stacks several conditions. The vehicle is self-propelled. It sits outside any building and is not ringed by a privacy fence. It does not run. It is missing a lawful plate or a valid inspection certificate. Finally, it is wrecked, abandoned, discarded, or fully or partly dismantled, or it has been inoperative for more than 45 continuous days.

A second clause catches cars whose paperwork is fine. Any car "wrecked or dismantled to the extent that it has become inoperable" qualifies once that has lasted over 45 days, "regardless of the validity of its license plate or safety inspection certificate."

Sec. 9-3 makes a junked vehicle on any private lot a public nuisance. Sec. 9-4 makes it unlawful to keep one on your own land or dump one on another person's. The city's Code Compliance page adds loose, dismantled vehicle parts to the junk that may not pile up in a yard.

Ten days from the certified letter

Sec. 9-7 has the police chief or a representative give "not less than ten (10) days' written notice," certified, five-day return requested. It is addressed "to the last-known registered owner of the junked vehicle, any lien holder of record, and the owner or occupant of the premises." The letter gives ten days to clear the car and says any hearing must be requested before day ten.

Within those ten days there are three ways to comply under Sec. 9-10: haul the car off yourself; sign written permission for the police to haul it and pay the actual fee; or fix things so the car fits an exemption, such as that full cover.

A hearing asked for in time goes to an examiner the planning and zoning commission appoints, or to municipal court if a criminal complaint was filed. A conviction is a misdemeanor, and Sec. 9-11 gives 30 days to clear the nuisance before the judge can send the police chief to do it.

Chapter 9 names no fine of its own. The catch-all penalty in Sec. 1-5 tops out at $500; for offenses touching health, sanitation, zoning or fire safety the cap is $2,000. Every day is charged separately. A car the city removes is hauled to a scrap yard or demolisher and can never be rebuilt. Meanwhile, "Towing and storage fees on junked vehicles will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner, landowner or occupant that was notified."

Streets and driveways

Sec. 18-42(b) bars leaving a car on the paved part of a street or alley beyond 72 consecutive hours. Under Sec. 18-48 the police chief may impound it, collect every fee before letting it go, and sell it to cover them. At home, driveways and residential parking spaces need an all-weather surface, asphalt or concrete.

Code Compliance works out of 914 S Main St., 254-542-8966, weekdays 8 am to 5 pm. Police take non-emergency calls at 254-547-8222.

One city, three county tax offices

Titles in Texas run through each county's tax assessor-collector, where the Copperas Cove buyer files. Straight-line distances from the center of Copperas Cove:

All three are measured as the crow flies. On your end: sign the title over with the date and odometer reading, put your signature on Form 130-U beside the selling price, and leave the notary out of it. Let TxDMV know about the sale before 30 days pass. The plates come off with you, and putting them on your next same-class car costs nothing at a county office.

Getting an offer

Online or at (877) 421-6008, say whether the car starts, whether it is under a cover or in a garage, and which parts are gone. Killeen lies 11.2 miles away, Harker Heights 16.6 and Belton 26.1. See Texas for the statewide rules and after you sell for the last steps.