Selling a dead or junk car in Harrisonburg

What section 16-10-9 covers

The rule applies to land zoned residential or commercial. It forbids keeping an inoperable car outdoors unless it is "within a fully enclosed building or structure or otherwise shielded or screened from view." The definition runs in three parts, and the last two read: "(ii) any motor vehicle which for a period of sixty (60) days or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for the operation of the vehicle; or (iii) any motor vehicle on which there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal."

Restoring a car buys you some leeway. Prove you are "actively restoring or repairing the vehicle" and keep it screened, and you may hold onto it plus "one (1) additional inoperative motor vehicle" for parts or repair work, so long as nobody can see either one.

If the city takes the car

Once the 15 days pass, the city can remove the car. No later than 15 days after it takes custody, it may start disposal by giving the owner 30 days' more notice. That notice names where the car is held and tells you of your "right to reclaim it within thirty (30) days after the date of the notice after payment of all towing, preservation, and storage charges."

Letting that pass is treated as "a waiver by the owner and all persons having any security interests" and "a consent to the sale of the inoperable motor vehicle at public auction." A lender with a lien loses its claim too.

Zoning: where dead cars cannot sit at all

Many of the city's business zoning districts carry the same blunt line: "No vehicle salvage, storage of inoperable vehicles, or sale of junk is allowed." Repair shops in those districts must keep any car that does not run "completely enclosed within a permitted structure." So a car that died at a shop cannot simply wait out back for months.

Parking that matters for a dead car

Some city streets are residential permit parking zones. There the chief of police may have cars without a valid permit towed off the streets, rights-of-way and alleys (section 13-1-60.01). Section 13-1-69 also bars parking trucks of 10,000 pounds or more, trailers, campers and similar vehicles on streets near homes.

The Peoples Drive DMV

The Virginia DMV office we checked is at 3281 Peoples Drive, about 3 miles southwest of central Harrisonburg, as the crow flies. Phone 540-801-0847. It may not be the only one serving the area.

Title, plates and damage brands

On the front of the title, the seller fills out Section A. It asks for the buyer's name and address, the actual odometer reading, the date and the price, plus a printed name and signature from each owner. Harrisonburg sellers don't need a notary for any DMV step. Then tell the DMV about the Harrisonburg sale online, by phone or at the Peoples Drive office. That way canceling the insurance later won't lead to a license and registration suspension.

Unbolt the plates before your Harrisonburg car leaves on the truck. Deal with the plates before you drop the Harrisonburg insurance: put them on your new car, turn them in, or inactivate them. With six months or more left, form FMS-210 may get part of the fee back.

If the car was wrecked, its title status matters. Virginia law calls a late-model car salvage when the damage would cost more to fix than its actual cash value minus current salvage value. A Harrisonburg car is nonrepairable once its insurer or owner judges it worth only parts and scrap. That car can go only to a licensed auto recycler or vehicle removal operator. It is against the law to sell a rebuilt car unless you disclose it in writing on the Commissioner's form. When a car is sold only for scrap, the demolisher can skip putting the title in its own name. See wrecked or totaled.

Getting an offer

Phone (877) 421-6008 or send the request. Fill in the form for your Harrisonburg car. We load at rentals near downtown, driveways or repair shops. Staunton is 21.8 miles away and Charlottesville 34.7; the Virginia page has the statewide rules.