Sell your dead or junk car in San Antonio, Texas

Ten days in view

Section 19-356 defines a junked vehicle as one that is self-propelled or "was manufactured to be self-propelled, or any part thereof, in ordinary public view, which remains inoperable for a continuous period of ten (10) days." Inoperable means no longer usable for its purpose "regardless of the potential for repair or restoration." A wrecked, dismantled or partly dismantled car is presumed inoperable.

Two things make the San Antonio rule stricter than it looks:

• The view counts from next door. The definition counts sightlines from any public right-of-way and from adjoining land, including "the first floor level of a building thereon," when someone else owns or occupies it. A backyard car a neighbor can see from a window qualifies.
• The cover counts too. The tarp itself is part of what is seen.

Under Section 19-357, a junked vehicle or part of one "visible at any time of the year from a public place or public right-of-way" is a public nuisance, and keeping it is an offense. Only a car parked wholly indoors, out of sight from the street and from other parcels, escapes the procedures.

The city's notice page lists junked vehicles among its common violations, whether in yards, on the street or anywhere in ordinary public view. After notification, it says, a fine may follow and the city may tow and destroy the vehicle.

Notice, hearing, conviction

At least 10 days' notice comes first, delivered by hand or sent certified with a five-day return asked for. Copies go out to the car's registered owner, its lienholders, and the household or landlord at the parcel where it is parked. Any hearing request has to be written and made inside the 10 days. If requested, the hearing is held no earlier than the 11th day after notice. The court treats the car as inoperable until its owner proves otherwise, then issues an order or resolution afterward.

The penalties stack up:

• A misdemeanor, fined at no more than $200.
• After one prior conviction, at least $100 for each later conviction.
• Each day the violation exists is a separate offense.

On conviction, the court orders the nuisance gone within 10 calendar days, with proof of removal due within 14 days. If not, the city removes it and recovers its costs. Relocating it within the city mid-case changes nothing when the new location makes it a nuisance too.

Removal and the title

Under Section 19-363, a removed car may go to a scrapyard, a demolisher or a city or county site. Money from the transfer first repays the city's costs for notice, investigation, hearing and disposal. What remains goes to the lienholder, or else the owner of record. "The vehicle may not be reconstructed or made operable after removal." Any removal order must also require that, within five days of removal, the state be notified so the certificate of title is cancelled.

Streets, shops and the police lot

Section 19-169 makes it unlawful to park unused cars in any street or public place for more than 24 hours, or at any time for storage, washing, greasing or repairs, emergencies aside. A car abandoned in a public place, or a wrecked or disabled one that is a traffic hazard, goes straight to the police vehicle storage facility under Section 19-51.

To get it out, Section 19-51.1 charges a $20 impound fee per vehicle before release, separate from towing and storage. Section 19-54 releases the car once those charges are paid, on proof of ownership such as the certificate of title.

If the car died at a repair shop, note Section 35-397 of the development code: repair and vehicle sales businesses "shall not store junked or inoperable vehicles on site for more than five (5) working days."

Report a violation to Code Enforcement at 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000, or online. The One Stop office at 1901 S. Alamo St. is open Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The SAPD non-emergency number is 210-207-7273.

Three counties, three tax offices

San Antonio reaches into Bexar, Comal and Medina counties. Texas titles are filed at the county tax assessor-collector:

The Texas paperwork, seller's side

There is no notary step in Texas. On the title, record the day of the sale and the odometer figure, then sign; the buyer also takes a 130-U you have signed, listing the price. If there is a loan on the car, see still owe on the loan first.

Next comes the transfer notice to TxDMV, due inside 30 days, either through TxDMV.gov/VTN or on the paper VTR-346 form. Filed on schedule, it means any toll or parking violation the buyer racks up is theirs alone. The plates belong to you: put them on another car of the same classification, hold on to them, or deface them prior to disposal. The registration sticker cannot be reused.

More on the Texas page.

Nearby

The closest towns with their own pages are Converse at 13.7 miles in a straight line, Universal City at 14.4, and Schertz at 17.9. New Braunfels is 29.5.

Getting an offer

Start with the offer link above or call (877) 421-6008. Name the car, its rough mileage, whether it will turn over, and who holds the title papers. Pickup can happen at a driveway, an apartment lot, or the repair shop with the five-day clock running.