Selling a junk car in West Bend

West Bend's ordinances: not found

Our search for West Bend's ordinance book online came up empty, so this page leans on state statute. City hall could still keep junk-car or unlicensed-car rules of its own, with different deadlines. Any letter or sticker from the city outranks this page, so follow the date it gives.

The state's take on a parked car

In West Bend, a vehicle left so that it "reasonably appears abandoned" is a violation of Chapter 342. Its 48-hour limit applies to first-class cities, not West Bend. In other places the local governing body picks the number, which is one more reason West Bend's own code would matter.

A closed garage keeps a car clear of the rule, because the statute exempts a vehicle "out of ordinary public view." An official's written finding that it is not abandoned does the same.

A towed car stays in the West Bend impound until someone claims it or it gets disposed of. When towing and storage fees pass the car's value, West Bend can sell or junk it early and charge the owner the full bill. The officer has one day to pass the registered owner's and lienholders' names to the tow company.

Title paperwork for a Washington County car

WisDOT's Division of Motor Vehicles issues every Wisconsin title, and yours must already carry your name before you sell. You record the sale on the back. On a West Bend title, sign it, date it, write the mileage and any brand, and fill in the sale amount plus who bought it and where they live.

A missing title is no barrier to junking, because the DMV waives the replacement in that case. With the title in hand, the word "Junk" goes across it. From then on the car is barred from being titled or plated in Wisconsin again, repaired or not. Co-owners listed with AND must all sign; OR lets either one sign alone. More help: selling with no title.

Plates and the 30-day report

Plates belong to the seller here. Strip them before the car rolls away. In West Bend, plates that haven't run out can go on a like vehicle. It must be registered to you, your spouse or your partner. If not, slice them up. WisDOT doesn't want them mailed back and won't credit unused months. Forgot them on the car? Form MV2514 cancels them.

Then, inside 30 days, file the private-sale report online with the VIN, buyer, sale price and sale date. Keep handy your license number, birth date and the last four digits of your SSN. See after you sell.

Around West Bend

Straight-line distances from West Bend: Germantown 13.0 miles, Mequon 16.5, Menomonee Falls 18.1 and Milwaukee 26.8. Statewide rules live on the Wisconsin page.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in West Bend? Call (877) 421-6008 or send the form. We can pick up at a house by the river, a farm lane outside the city limits, or a mechanic's back lot downtown.