Selling a junk car in Des Moines, WA, before it reaches court

The rule in one sentence

Section 7.32.020 reads: "No person shall keep, permit, or allow a junk vehicle to be placed, maintained, or stored on real property." Section 7.32.025 adds that "It is unlawful for any individual firm, entity or corporation to allow, cause to allow or place a junk vehicle on any premises." The chapter's stated purpose is to protect "the character and safety of the city's neighborhoods" by clearing junk vehicles off private property.

A car becomes a junk vehicle here once it is certified. Under Section 7.32.025, the certification is made by "a law enforcement officer or the director designated by the director according to RCW 46.55.230." That rests on RCW 46.55.010, where a car must meet three of four points: three or more years old, badly damaged, looks like it can't be driven, and worth scrap or less. The city's own definition of inoperable includes "expired or a lack of current licensing," along with missing brakes, lights, tires or safety glass.

What the notice says

The city sends the notice "by certified mail, with a five-day return receipt requested," to "the owner of the land as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the last registered and legal owner of record of the vehicle." It lists:

• the plate number or VIN, the model year, the make, and what makes the car a nuisance
• the date, time and place of the court hearing
• a warning that the city "may remove, impound, and dispose of the vehicle," with the costs charged to the landowner or the registered owner as the court orders

When the judge concludes the landowner never agreed to the car being there and has not accepted it since, Des Moines bills the landowner nothing. Otherwise the car can be hauled off, with word sent to the State Patrol and DOL "that the vehicle has been wrecked." It then goes to a licensed wrecker, hulk hauler or scrap processor.

Title, plates and the report of sale

The King County quick title office we checked is at 201 South Jackson Street #206, Seattle, phone (206) 477-4000. In a straight line, it is about 15 miles north of central Des Moines. The county may have other offices.

If the city's wrecker takes the car, DOL's file records a wreck. If you sell it first, your record is the Vehicle Report of Sale, and DOL gives you 5 days from the sale date to file it. Your signature goes on the title's release section. A bill of sale is needed as well, except where the title already states the price and date. The notary is the buyer's concern, on their own title application. As for the plates, they leave with you, for a future vehicle of the same class or for surrender to the state.

Nearby

SeaTac is 3.9 miles away, Kent 4.9 and Federal Way 5.4. Statewide rules are on the Washington page.

Getting an offer

Ring (877) 421-6008 or use our form. Give us the car, its miles, the title story, and if it can still drive. If a court notice already came, mention the hearing date. We can pick up from a driveway above the marina, a rental lot, or the shop that has the car.