Selling a junk car in Danville

What Danville calls a junk vehicle

Under 35-201, a vehicle is junk if it "is not in operating condition," if it has been "partially or totally disassembled" for 60 days or more by removing the tires and wheels, the engine or other essential parts, or if "there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal." Both must be missing for that last test: a running car with valid plates and an old sticker does not meet it.

The rule reaches land zoned residential, commercial or agricultural.

Thirty days, then a misdemeanor every day

The process begins when the Nuisance Code Official finds a violation and delivers a written Notice of Violation to the owner, the occupant or another violator. It orders the car gone within 30 days of the notice date.

Let that pass and it becomes "a Class 4 misdemeanor, and each day thereafter that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense." The city may also take the car away and store it. You then get a notice listing the car's year, make, model and VIN, where it is stored, and your right to redeem it within 21 days by paying the fees and costs. After 21 days unredeemed, the city or its agent may sell it at public auction.

More than five dead cars in one open spot is a different matter. Section 20-14 calls any lot holding more than five vehicles that cannot run, and are not worth fixing, an automobile graveyard, which needs a junkyard license and screening from city streets.

The Sandy Court office

We looked at Danville's DMV office at 126 Sandy Court, Suite C. On a straight path it is about 1 mile northwest of the city center. Phone 434-791-2535. There may be other offices, so check the DMV's location list.

Virginia title steps from Danville

Section A, on the title's face, is the Danville seller's part to complete. In Danville, write who bought it and their address first. Next comes the true mileage, the date, the price, and each owner's printed name and signature. The DMV's seller steps list no notary. Let the DMV know about the sale through its website, by phone or at Sandy Court, or risk a license and registration suspension if your insurer drops the car later.

Take the plates off before pickup. Put them on your next car, or return or inactivate them, and only then cancel the insurance.

Lost the title? A replacement is $15. The demolisher doesn't have to retitle the car. In Danville, a titleless car aged 10 or more model years may be accepted once a DMV record search is done.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or go online. Start your Danville car on the offer form. Side yard, back lot or repair shop, we'll collect it there. Lynchburg is 57.6 miles away in a straight line; the Virginia page covers the rest of the state.