Selling a junk or dead car in Morgantown

Fifteen days, and what else Section 361.07 covers

The 15-day limit binds anyone in control of the property, "whether as owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise," and anyone who leaves such a car on property in the city. The subsection ends with exceptions; read the full text if you think one fits.

Two more pieces of the same section:

• In Morgantown, a car that can't run is abandoned once it sits on public or private land "for any period of time over five days," unless it's in an enclosed building, a demolisher's business, or a licensed salvage yard.
• Morgantown owners can't leave a car on private land they do not "own, lease, rent or otherwise control," or on street rights-of-way or other public property. In Morgantown, that rule doesn't apply at a licensed salvage yard or a demolisher's shop.

The zoning code has an even shorter window. Section 1329.02 defines outside storage as keeping "vehicles not in service" and other property "on an unenclosed, uncovered area" for "more than three consecutive days."

When Morgantown police tow

Section 307.01 lists five situations:

1. an unattended car on a street, bridge or causeway parked so it obstructs traffic, sweeping or plowing
2. a car "abandoned or junked on private or public property" under Section 361.07
3. a car showing illegal plates, or none of the current required ones
4. a car "damaged or wrecked so as to be inoperable," or so short on required equipment that driving it would be hazardous
5. a car left unattended after an ill, injured or arrested driver is taken away

The fourth matters after a crash. An undrivable wreck qualifies for a tow on that ground alone; see wrecked or totaled.

Challenging an impound

Anyone with a legal right to possess the car can ask for a probable-cause hearing under Section 307.04. File the written demand "on forms so provided" with the City within five days after learning of the tow. When the police judge finds no probable cause, the garage lets the car go on the certificate, and "towing and storage fees shall be paid by the City." Bring it to the garage within 24 hours, not counting days it is closed, or you pay storage after that.

Don't drive it on city streets unregistered

Section 351.12 bars using motor vehicles "which have not been licensed for street use" by the state DMV on city streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking lots and city property. A car that is not licensed for street use should be hauled, not driven, to wherever it is going.

Title, plates and the county clerk

The county office we checked is the Monongalia County Clerk, 243 High St., Courthouse Room 123, phone (304) 291-7230, under a mile from the center of Morgantown, to the southwest, as the crow flies. In West Virginia, though, titles are state business: the DMV takes title work through the mail, over the counter at its Regional Offices, or via authorized private license services. Monongalia's own vehicle job is the personal property tax: the assessor values the car, the sheriff takes payment, and plate renewal waits on the receipt.

A few state rules decide how the sale goes:

• Low price: if a Morgantown private sale goes for under 50% of NADA Clean Loan book value, the buyer's title application changes. Both sides sign either a notarized bill of sale or DMV Bill of Sale Form DMV-7-TR, and a copy of each driver's license goes with it. Otherwise tax is assessed on book value. See bill of sale.
• Plates: they come off and stay yours; the registration does not survive the transfer.
• Notice: the DMV hears about the sale through Form DMV-1-S, filed right away. If the buyer is unknown, write UNKNOWN; the form is refused with blank lines.
• Co-owners: with AND, both of you sign. With OR or AND/OR, one signature does it.

Nearby towns

As the crow flies, Wheeling is 49.9 miles from Morgantown, Weirton 62.4 and Parkersburg 89.1. The West Virginia page covers state rules.

Getting an offer

Morgantown sellers can call (877) 421-6008 or fill in our short offer form. City streets are closed to a car not licensed for street use, so the truck comes to it: a home driveway, the lot behind an apartment block, a body shop.