Selling a junk car in Neenah

Streets get no clock at all

The same section has a flat ban with no hours attached: "No person shall leave any partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked or junked vehicle on any street or highway within the City." A car that quits beside the curb and is left there is already in violation.

Sections 16-38 and 16-133 let any officer move a car that is parked against city or state law and "interferes with the movement of traffic, snow removal or the maintenance" of streets and city lots. It goes to a lot or towing company the police choose. The owner pays for the move and the storage, and the Police Department "shall hold such vehicle until all such costs have been paid."

When the car is someone else's

The 108-hour rule mostly helps property owners. It is aimed at a vehicle parked on land without the owner's say-so, such as a former tenant's car or a stranger's. Your own car at your own home is not there "without permission." If someone else's car is the problem, see car abandoned on your property.

The impound and the letter

Section 16-255 keeps an abandoned car in impound until it is properly claimed or the city disposes of it. The Chief of Police may also find that the tow and lot fees would be more than the car could bring, and in that case the city may junk it before the impound period runs out.

Section 16-256 sets out the notice. Police notify the registered owner or any lienholder, "giving the grounds for removal and the name of the garage or place of storage." For a car registered in another state, they make a reasonable effort to reach the owner. The garage holding the car gets a copy too. More on what to do next is in towed or impounded.

Title and plates in Wisconsin

Neenah sellers deal with a state-issued title from WisDOT's Division of Motor Vehicles. In Neenah, the seller signs and dates the assignment section and fills in the odometer statement, brand disclosure, agreed price, and buyer's name and address. A listed loan means the lender's release goes along too. With AND between co-owners' names, all of them sign; with OR, one is enough.

For scrap, mark "Junk" across the title. Even with the title lost, the DMV does not require a replacement before a car is junked. Afterward, the state will not title or license it again.

Plates are the seller's to keep. Plates still valid can go on a comparable vehicle registered to you or your spouse or partner. If not, wreck them so no one else can use them. The DMV refunds no unused time and wants no plates mailed in. Sold to a private Neenah buyer? Within 30 days of a Neenah sale, go online and give WisDOT the VIN, the buyer, the price and the date. Winnebago County is not one of Wisconsin's emission-test counties, so no test stands in the way.

Up and down the lake

In a straight line, Appleton is 9.1 miles from Neenah, Oshkosh 10.6, De Pere 27.0 and Fond du Lac 27.2. The Wisconsin page has the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Use the form or call (877) 421-6008. For a Neenah pickup, start with our offer form. We can pick up from a garage near downtown, a rental's parking pad, or the storage lot on the police notice after the charges are paid.