Leesburg: selling a dead or junk car

That leaves a garage, a screen, or a sale. We buy whole non-running and junk cars. You sell the whole car as it sits, and pickup is free anywhere in the US, from the historic district out to the town line.

How the nuisance notice works

The town's notice names the car, explains what makes it inoperable, and sets a deadline "at least ten days following the date on which the notice is mailed." Here is the sequence after that.

• A town employee chosen by the town manager may take the car to the town's impoundment yard or another facility.
• Within five days, written notice goes to the owner at the address the county's office of real estate assessments keeps, to the occupant, and to the car's owner of record.
• The car's owner and any secured lender can reclaim it "within 15 days from the date of the notice" by paying removal and storage and promising to bring it into compliance.
• If costs run past what the sale brings in, the landowner, the occupant and the car's owner can be billed, and it is collected like taxes.

Not acting on the notice is a violation in itself. The section says failing to remedy the conditions in time "shall constitute a violation of this section."

The rule is town law, so it covers property inside Leesburg. Land elsewhere in Loudoun County falls under the county, which may have its own rules.

The street and the garage

A dead car stashed in the town parking garage has a time limit: Section 32-205 says "in no event shall a vehicle be parked for more than 72 hours without obtaining approval from the town manager."

In winter, Market Street, King Street and Loudoun Street are named snow emergency routes. Public works clears them first, in the order the code lists them.

Loudoun inspections and the DMV

The Virginia DMV lists Loudoun County as an emissions locality. A car kept here needs an emissions inspection on top of its yearly safety inspection. The emissions fee adds $2 at registration. A car that cannot pass is a common reason to sell instead; see failed emissions.

The DMV office we checked is at 400 Fort Evans Road NE (703-737-6056). The office sits roughly a mile east of downtown Leesburg. A lost title can be replaced for $15 there, or online with form VSA 67. Any one co-owner may apply. When an old loan still shows open, the new title is sent to the lienholder of record. Lien still on the title explains that case.

After the sale, report it to the DMV, take the plates off, and then tell your insurer.

Nearby

Herndon is 13.2 miles away, Fairfax 22.4, Manassas 25.2 and Winchester 33.4, straight-line. See Virginia for the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Leesburg sellers can phone (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. Got a notice from the town? Keep its date nearby. Pickup can happen in a Leesburg driveway, a garage or a lot near downtown, wherever the car is parked now.