Selling a junk or dead car in Kennewick

The seven-day limit on driveway repairs

Kennewick's nuisance chapter, 9.48.010, allows minor repairs at home, with conditions. "Work is limited to the approved parking surface or garage or approved accessory structure; at no time can repairs be made on the lawn, sidewalk, planting strip or street." Then the clock: a vehicle whose minor repairs "exceed seven days shall be moved inside of a building that meets applicable code and zoning requirements or be properly 'screened.'"

So a car stalled mid-repair for more than a week has two places it can legally be under city code: indoors, or behind screening. Selling it is a third way out.

Kennewick adopts the state's tow-operator rules

Sections 11.90.640 and 11.90.670 take in the state code sections "pertaining to abandoned, unauthorized, and junk vehicle tow truck operators," adopted "by reference as a part of this Chapter in all respects as though such sections were set forth herein in full." State law also sets the junk test itself. Under RCW 46.55.010, passing three of four tests makes a Kennewick car junk. It is three years old or older. It is badly damaged. It looks like it can't run. Its only value is as scrap.

State law gives landowners a process too, in RCW 46.55.230. A Kennewick landowner stuck with an abandoned junk car can have it disposed of, or sign an affidavit of sale that doubles as a title, after notice to the owners has gone unanswered for more than 15 days. Leaving one behind is a gross misdemeanor, and the owner on record pays back double the removal bill.

Impounds in Kennewick

Under 11.90.635, a car can be impounded at a Kennewick officer's direction when its driver is arrested for DUI, physical control, or driving on a suspended or revoked license. To get it back, the person redeeming it presents the release order to the towing company and pays "all towing and storage costs." A spouse, or an owner who was not driving, may ask Benton County District Court for an early release on hardship grounds, and still pays the towing, removal and storage fees before the car comes out.

State law sets the deadline for a car nobody claims. After a registered tow operator has held it for 120 hours straight, it counts as an "abandoned vehicle"; once the custody-and-sale letter has been out for 15 days, the car can be auctioned. See towed or impounded.

The Okanogan Place title office

DOL lists a quick title office at 7122 W Okanogan Pl., Suite E120, Kennewick, WA 99336, phone (509) 736-2727. It lies about 3 miles northwest of central Kennewick, as the crow flies. This is the Benton County office we checked; there may be others.

Washington title and plate rules

• Release your interest. Sign the release section on the Kennewick title and pass it to the buyer, with an odometer statement when one is needed.
• Only the buyer needs a notary. Kennewick sellers have no notary step; the buyer signs the title application at a licensing counter or in front of a notary.
• Bill of sale. Sign one with the buyer unless the title shows the price and date.
• Plates stay with you. Unscrew them before the car leaves; reuse them on a like vehicle or turn them in. The buyer cannot use them.
• Five-day report. Kennewick sellers owe DOL the Vehicle Report of Sale within 5 days. It's required even if a wrecking yard hauls your Kennewick car, and it protects you from tow bills and whatever the next owner does.
• Missing title. Replacing it costs $39.50 and the new one comes in 4 to 8 weeks; DOL may take one of its affidavits in its place.

A car that will not start at all has its own guide, car doesn't run, and after you sell lists the final steps.

Nearby towns

Pasco is 5.4 miles from Kennewick in a straight line, and Richland is 8.4 miles. Walla Walla is 41.2 miles. Statewide rules are on the Washington page.

Getting an offer

Want an offer on a Kennewick car? Phone (877) 421-6008 or send us the form. Pickup comes to the Kennewick address where it is parked: a garage, behind a screen, or the parking pad where the repair stalled.