Selling a junk or dead car on Bainbridge Island

The island's impound rules

Chapter 10.32 covers cars on city right-of-way and on city owned, leased or operated property. Section 10.32.040 permits impound after a citation, or "when it is deemed a junk vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.55.010(4)." By that state test, a Bainbridge car counts if it meets three of four points: it's at least three years old, heavily damaged, looks like it can't run, or has only scrap value.

Section 10.32.010 opens a second path. A car with "four or more notices of the same parking violation," none answered for at least 45 days, can be impounded as well.

Once a car is towed, the tow operator must mail the registered and legal owners, within 24 hours, a notice with the details of the impound, the redemption steps, the chance for a hearing, and the forms to ask for one.

Small fines, larger tow bills

The island's parking fines are small on paper, and smaller still when paid within 48 hours of the citation. The tow is where the money goes. Washington law treats a car kept by a tow operator for 120 straight hours as an "abandoned vehicle," and once the notice of custody and sale has been in the mail 15 days, an unclaimed car that isn't stolen is sold at public auction. Towed or impounded covers getting ahead of that.

Title and plates for an island seller

Bainbridge Island is in Kitsap County. Island title work, like all title work in Washington, is handled by the county auditor or a subagent licensing office acting for the Department of Licensing. We did not check a specific office for this page, so find current locations on DOL's site.

• Sign the release-of-interest section on the title. Only the buyer's title application needs a notary.
• When a Bainbridge title leaves out the price and date, seller and buyer each sign a bill of sale.
• Take the plates off. The buyer can't drive on them. You can put them on your next car of that type or hand them in.
• Send in the Vehicle Report of Sale inside 5 days, even if a wrecking yard is the one taking your Bainbridge car.
• Lost the title? A replacement is $39.50 and takes 4 to 8 weeks, and DOL may accept an affidavit instead. See selling with no title.

Nearby towns

Seattle is 7.4 miles from the island in a straight line, Shoreline 10.9 miles and Bremerton 12.1 miles. The Washington page has statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Selling a car on Bainbridge Island? Call (877) 421-6008 or fill out our offer form. On Bainbridge we pick it up where it is, whether that's a lot in the trees or a curb with a notice stuck to the glass.