Selling a dead or junk car in Walla Walla

The yard rules in Section 20.134.070

The zoning code's residential storage section covers anything "not operable or licensed" kept outside. Three limits apply.

Placement. The vehicle must be "stored within the rear yard (or for corner lots, stored within the side yards) and screened from view by a six-foot high sight obscuring fence or six-foot high dense landscaping." The alternative is "a cloth or vinyl cover designed for that purpose." An uncovered dead car on the front drive fails both.

Count. Two inoperable or unlicensed vehicles at most, and boats, trailers and RVs count toward the two.

Total. Separately, vehicles "parked or stored outside" on a residential lot "shall not exceed six, including trailers and RVs."

The code's test for inoperable is direct: a car that "cannot legally be driven on the streets of Walla Walla under its own power." Clearing more than two? See several junk cars.

When the city calls it junk

Section 10.05.010 is stricter than the yard rules: "the storage or retention of junk motor vehicles or parts thereof, on any private property in the city is a public nuisance which shall be abated." Because the city adopts Chapter 46.55 RCW by reference, the state's three-of-four test also counts: older than three years, badly damaged, seemingly unable to run, and worth only its metal.

The steps, in order:

1. First letter. Regular mail reaches the last registered owner at the address the Department of Licensing holds, and the landowner too.
2. Hearing, if asked for in time. That notice goes to the landowner plus the registered and legal owners "by certified mail, with a five-day return receipt requested."
3. Removal. Once notice and any hearing are done, the vehicle "shall be removed at the request of a law enforcement officer," and the State Patrol and DOL get word that it was wrecked.

The gap between the first letter and the tow is when a sale still makes sense.

Wrecking yards

The city's definitions describe a wrecking yard as a place for "the storage or sale of used automobile or truck parts, or for dismantling, or abandonment of junk," and add: "Automobile wrecking yards must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Licensing." Washington still expects a report of sale from you when the yard takes the car.

Main Street title office

The Walla Walla County office we checked is 315 W Main St, phone (509) 524-2545. Measured directly, that office is under a mile southwest of central Walla Walla. It appears on DOL's quick title list; there may be others in the county.

Signing over the title

• Title. Sign the release-of-interest section, plus an odometer disclosure when one is needed.
• Bill of sale. Walla Walla buyers and sellers both sign one, unless the title already notes the amount and sale day.
• Plates. Off they come. DOL's reasoning: plates left on a sold car keep drawing tickets, camera fines and tolls back to the old owner.
• Report of sale. Within 5 days, online, by mail or at a counter.

Notarizing belongs to the buyer. A replacement title is $39.50, with a wait of 4 to 8 weeks. Unfinished restorations are covered in old project car, and statewide rules on the Washington page.

Getting an offer

Walla Walla owners can call (877) 421-6008 or fill in our short form for an offer. We can load it from behind the back fence, from under its cover by the garage, or at a downtown shop. Nearest other pages are the Tri-Cities: Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.