Sell Junk Car in Norfolk for Cash

What do I need to sell my junk car in Norfolk?

To sell junk cars in Norfolk one must be able to prove ownership of the vehicle. One can prove ownership of a vehicle by providing the valid vehicle title in their name. If the vehicle title is missing a replacement or substitute must be procured to sell a junk car in Norfolk.

A salvage or nonrepairable certificate and bill of sale may be used in place of a certificate of title in Norfolk. The owner of private real estate can sell an abandoned car in Norfolk without a title by applying for a Vehicle Removal Certificate from the Norfolk police department. These are the only two situations in which a person can sell a junk car in Virginia without a title.

How does Norfolk define a junk vehicle?

Junk vehicle does not have a specific definition in Norfolk or Virginia. Norfolk calls junk vehicles a public nuisance and defines them in that aspect in Sec. 17-26 of the city code. Any new or old car that is unlicensed, wrecked, junked, partially dismantled, and inoperable vehicles are a public nuisance because they draw vermin and pose health and safety hazards to neighborhoods in Norfolk.

In general, a junk vehicle is one that has reached the end of its life. They have either been damaged beyond repair or they will cost more to repair than they are worth. Junk cars are called decrepit cars, scrap cars, junkers, and jalopies. Junk vehicles are usually at least 15 years old unless they have been totaled.

In Norfolk, junk vehicles can be in any condition as long as they meet one of the criteria detailed above. Even a brand new vehicle can be declared a public nuisance if it does not have a current registration and license plates. Junk vehicles are most often damaged, totaled, wrecked, abandoned, dismantled, or have been stripped of their useful parts for use in another vehicle repair or restoration.

It is unlawful to have a junk vehicle on private property in Norfolk. There is a 30 day limit on keeping a junk car on private property unless it is in an enclosed building up to code for the purpose. Junk cars are tagged by Norfolk code enforcement and must be removed within 30 days to avoid penalties and fines. Norfolk gives property owners 30 days to get rid of junk cars so that they have plenty of time to get the appropriate title or alternative paperwork to sell the junk car in Norfolk. These laws and their consequences are laid out in the same section as the Norfolk junk car definition.

What are the laws around junking a car in Norfolk?

The laws for junking a car in Norfolk are set by the Virginia state code and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Here are the most important laws about selling a junk car in Norfolk.

• Sec. 46.2-1602 Title required to sell junk car to junk car buyer in Norfolk. Junk car removal facilities, junkyards, auto recyclers, and scrap metal recyclers are not allowed to accept junk cars unless they have a salvage certificate, nonrepairable certificate, or certificate of title. A Vehicle Removal Certificate may be used according to Norfolk junk car recycling laws.
• Sec. 46.2-1601 Junk car removal facilities must be licensed in Norfolk. The state of Virginia requires all junk car buyers to be licensed by the DMV. The license must be renewed annually and costs $100 per year.
• Sec. 46.2-1603 Penalty for breaking junk car title law in Norfolk. The penalty for selling a junk car without a title illegally is a Class 3 Misdemeanor which carries a fine of up to $500.
• Sec. 46.2-1200 Selling an abandoned junk car without a title in Norfolk. Virginia has a process that allows private property owners to sell cars abandoned on their property for scrap to get them removed and disposed of in Norfolk. The application is filed with the Norfolk police department who will then issue a Vehicle Removal Certificate entitling the property owner to sell the abandoned vehicle for scrap.

Junk car laws in Norfolk are few but strict. It is important that you sell your junk car to a reputable and licensed junk car buyer that follows all applicable laws.

What is the penalty for breaking the junk car removal law in Norfolk?

The penalty for breaking the junk car removal law in Norfolk by not removing a junk car within 30 days of being tagged by code enforcement is a civil penalty, as well as paying towing and storage fees. The vehicle then must be redeemed by the vehicle owner who must still arrange for junk car removal for cash that won’t equal the costs incurred by not removing the vehicle in the first place.

The penalty for breaking a junk car recycling law in Norfolk by not having an appropriate ownership document is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Can I get cash for junk cars with no title in Norfolk?

No, you cannot get cash for junk cars with no title in Norfolk. A nonrepairable certificate or salvage certificate together with a bill of sale may be used in place of a title. The only exception is that you can sell a junk vehicle without a title when it was abandoned on your private property but only after obtaining a Vehicle Removal Certificate from Norfolk police department. It is otherwise impossible to sell a junk car without a title in Norfolk.

Vehicle Titles	Percent	Value
Junked Car With Title in Norfolk	83%	$688.81
Junked Car With Rebuilt Title in Norfolk	4.23%	$1,335.00
Junked Car With No Title in Norfolk	12.68%	$356.67

Read more about junking a car with no title.

How to get a replacement title in Norfolk?

To get a replacement title in Norfolk the vehicle owner must complete an Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles online or in person at the DMV. You will  need the current registration information for the vehicle and your Virginia Drivers License. The replacement title will be mailed to you unless there is a lien, in which case the title will be sent to the lienholder. This is the same process to get a substitute title, which is used when title information changes without a transfer of ownership.

Is it a requirement to notify the DMV when you junk a car in Norfolk?

Yes, the Department of Motor Vehicles in Virginia must be notified when you sell, junk, donate, or trade a junk car in Norfolk because they require details on every vehicle sale and transfer. This tracking allows the DMV to ensure that every vehicle has a successful and legal transfer of ownership.

Can I store junk cars on my property in Norfolk?

Yes, you can store a junk vehicle on your property in Norfolk for up to 30 days. A vehicle stored in a fully enclosed permanent structure or building such as a garage are exempt and can be stored without limit. A privacy fence or temporary carport are not sufficient.

Can I sell my car for parts in Norfolk?

Yes, you can sell your car for parts in Norfolk if you have a garage or can do so within the 30 day time period that you are allowed to have a junk car on private property in Norfolk. To sell a car for parts in Norfolk you need mechanical knowledge, tools, cleaners, and buyers for the used parts once they are removed.

There are 4 steps to selling a car for parts. First, find online sources to sell car parts near you. Once you know you have buyers, remove the parts and clean them. Third you should sell the car parts for cash to the buyers you have lined up. Finally you need to sell the remaining scrap car shell to a metal recycling facility or junkyard. It is unlawful for a citizen to scrap a car for metal without selling it to a junk car removal service or junkyard. Sell a car for parts to get more cash out of the junk vehicle, but spend more time on the process that you might not have. Here's everything you need to know to sell a car for parts.

Is it possible to junk a car with a lien in Norfolk?

No, it is not possible to junk a car with a lien in Norfolk. The lien holder has an interest in the vehicle when you still owe money on the car. The lien holder must be paid off for the car to be fully yours. You cannot junk a car that does not fully belong to you. If there is a lien on your vehicle it will need to be paid off before you can get a clear title to sell a junk car in Norfolk.