On what ownership documents may I buy and sell
vehicles/hulks?
(1) Supporting
acquisition for transport, resale. The hulk hauler may acquire vehicles or
hulks for transport and resale to a licensed motor vehicle wrecker or scrap
processor upon obtaining ownership documents in the form of a certificate of
ownership properly endorsed, from a state issuing a title, or a certificate of
registration and notarized bill of sale from a jurisdiction issuing only a
registration certificate or other approved ownership documents as follows:
(a) Affidavit of lost or stolen title signed
by the owner on record with the department, and release of interest from the
owner.
(b) Affidavit of sale of a
junk vehicle from the landowner who has complied with
RCW
46.55.230.
(c) Affidavit of sale from a registered tow
truck operator.
(d) A court
order.
(e) Acquisition from
wreckers licensed by the department may be supported by obtaining the wrecker's
invoice or bill of sale listing each vehicle by the wrecker's "yard number."
Such invoice or bill of sale must be given to the scrap processor or vehicle
wrecker purchasing the vehicles listed.
(f) Bills of sale pursuant to WAC
308-63-020 for vehicles from
nontitle jurisdictions that have had their titles surrendered to a state after
having been declared a total loss and for vehicles of the type to which titles
are not issued.
(2) Must
possess supporting documentation. Before a hulk hauler may transport any
vehicle for resale, he/she must have in his/her possession ownership documents
to support lawful acquisition or possession, as enumerated in subsection (1) of
this section. Such documentation must be in his/her possession at all times
while the vehicle is transported.
(3) Handling vehicles. A hulk hauler may not
operate as a wrecker or remove parts from vehicles, provided that the hulk
hauler may remove the parts necessary to sell vehicle salvage to a licensed
scrap processor, example, the upholstery, gasoline tank, and tires, so long as
such parts are removed on the premises of a licensed wrecker or scrap processor
where prior permission is granted or at a location approved by the
department.
(4) May sell to
licensed wreckers and scrap processors. Vehicles in the possession of a
licensed hulk hauler may only be sold to a licensed wrecker or scrap
processor.
(5) When sold to a
licensed wrecker or scrap processor in another state or country, the licensed
hulk hauler must furnish a written report to the department by the tenth of the
month following sale of the vehicle. The report must contain the following:
(a) A description of each vehicle acquired by
make, model, year and vehicle identification number;
(b) The date acquired, name of the person,
firm or corporation from which obtained;
(c) A description of the ownership document,
including any title or registration number.
This report must be made in duplicate, retaining the duplicate
for the hulk hauler's files for a period of three years. The report must be
accompanied by properly endorsed certificates of title or registration or such
other adequate evidence of ownership as may come into the hulk hauler's
possession.
