Facing HOA fines or a code enforcement notice over a junk car in Florida? Sell it for cash before the deadline — free towing, cash at pickup.
Direct answer: HOA fines piling up or a code enforcement removal notice? Selling the car is the fastest fix. Call Junk Cars Yard at 561-559-5865 — we buy junk cars in any condition, tow free, and pay cash at pickup, usually before your deadline.
It starts with a letter. Maybe it is from your HOA, warning that the old car in your driveway violates the community rules and that daily fines start now. Or it is from the county code enforcement office, giving you 15 days to remove a junk vehicle or face bigger fines and a county tow truck hauling it away at your expense.
Either way, the clock is ticking. You could pour money into a car that is not worth repairing — or do the one thing that ends the fines, clears the violation, and puts cash in your pocket: sell it. That is what this page is about, and it is what we do every week for Florida drivers in this exact situation.
A quick note: we are a junk car buyer, not lawyers. What follows is general information based on Florida law and common county codes, not legal advice. If you are disputing a fine, talk to an attorney.
Why HOAs and Code Enforcement Come After Junk Cars
Florida is packed with HOA-governed communities, and nearly every one has vehicle rules: cars must be operable, currently tagged, and parked on a prepared surface — not the lawn. Flat tires, a missing bumper, expired tags, or weeds around the car violate those rules on sight.
County code enforcement works the same way. Most Florida counties define a junk vehicle identically — flat tires, undergrowth, dismantled, wrecked, no plate, expired tag — and typically give owners about 15 days to remove or repair it before the county’s contractor tows it at your expense. A dead car drags down the street, leaks fluids, and draws pests; nobody at the HOA or county office cares that you meant to fix it someday.
Daily Fines Add Up Fast
Here is the part that shocks most people: HOA fines in Florida can run daily. A daily fine becomes hundreds in a couple of weeks and thousands in a few months. Unpaid HOA fines can turn into a lien against your property — meaning the HOA can eventually force collection against your home over a car you were not driving anyway.
Code enforcement works the same way: miss the deadline and daily fines start stacking after a hearing. Every day you wait costs money — selling turns a money-loser into cash in your hand.
Can Your HOA Actually Tow Your Car?
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer is narrower than most HOAs want you to think. Under Florida Statute 715.07, the right to tow comes from ownership of the land the vehicle sits on — not from the HOA rulebook. An HOA can only tow from property it actually owns: common areas, HOA-owned streets, and guest lots. It generally cannot tow from your private driveway or deeded lot.
Do not treat that as a loophole. The HOA has other tools — daily fines, suspension of common-area privileges, and liens — that hurt worse than a tow over time. The car still has to go.
The Signage Rules Protect You
Florida law is strict about towing from HOA property. Before any tow, the association must post tow-away zone signs at every entrance — “tow-away zone” in letters at least four inches high, a notice that vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense, and the towing company’s name and phone number. Signs must be permanently mounted three to six feet high and in place for at least 24 hours before a tow. (Single-family homes are exempt from the signage rule, but HOA common areas and lots are not.)
If your car was towed from HOA property without proper signs, that tow may not have followed the law. Read the full statute at Florida Statute 715.07 on Justia. But fighting the tow does not solve the underlying problem — the car still needs to go.
If the Tow Truck Is Already There
One right worth knowing: if you catch the tow operator while they are still hooking up your vehicle, Florida law says they must release it for a drop fee of no more than half the posted tow rate. Once the truck leaves, you owe the full tow plus daily storage. Either way, you pay to keep a car you were not using — selling it first costs you nothing, because our towing is free.
The 15-Day Code Enforcement Notice: What It Means
A county code enforcement notice carries the weight of local government. The typical notice gives you a short window — commonly 15 days — to comply: remove the vehicle, repair it, or store it fully enclosed where it cannot be seen.
For most people, “stored enclosed” is not realistic — the garage is full, or there is no garage. And repairing a car worth less than the repair bill makes no sense. That leaves removal, which is where we come in.
Miss the deadline and the county escalates: a hearing, daily fines set by the board, and eventually the county’s own contractor tows the vehicle — with the tow and storage billed to you. At every step, costs rise and options shrink. Acting early is always cheaper.
Why Selling Beats Every Other Option
Fix the car. If it needs a battery and tires, fixing it ends the violation and you keep a running car. But if it needs an engine, a transmission, or major body work, the repair costs more than the car is worth — that is not compliance, it is an expensive way to keep a violation.
Wait it out. The most expensive option. Fines accrue daily, hearings add penalties, and the eventual county tow costs you money with zero cash back. Every week of waiting is money lost.
Sell it. One phone call. The car leaves on our truck, free of charge. You get cash at pickup. The violation is gone, the fines stop, and you have documentation — a bill of sale — proving the vehicle is no longer on your property. It is the only option that pays you instead of billing you.
How to Sell Before Your Deadline Runs Out
Step 1: Call and Mention Your Deadline
Call 561-559-5865 and tell us two things: what the car is, and when your deadline hits. An HOA fine start date or a code enforcement compliance date helps us understand your timeline. We are open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Step 2: Get Your Cash Offer
Describe the car honestly — year, make, model, condition, what is wrong with it. We make you a cash offer for your specific vehicle. No obligation; if the number works, we schedule pickup.
Step 3: We Tow It Away Free, You Get Paid
Our driver comes to you, loads the vehicle, and handles the towing — free with every purchase, anywhere in Palm Beach County and nearby South Florida communities. At pickup, you get paid cash on the spot, and we help with the Florida title paperwork. Keep your bill of sale: it proves the vehicle left the property if the HOA or county follows up.
Deadline approaching? Call Junk Cars Yard at 561-559-5865 — tell us your compliance date and we will work with your timeline.
What We Need From You at Pickup
The Title
The certificate of title signed over to us is the main document. Fill out the transfer section on the back with the buyer information, sale price, and date. Our Florida title signing guide walks through each field, and our paperwork checklist covers lost titles and special cases.
A Lien Release, If Applicable
If an old auto loan still shows on the title, get a lien release from the lender before the sale. This is the one item that can genuinely delay a deadline-driven sale, so check your title the day you call us, not the day before the deadline.
Your License Plate
Remove your plate before the tow truck leaves — in Florida, plates belong to you, not the car. Then file Form HSMV 82050, the Notice of Sale, with the state so you are officially off the hook for anything tied to that vehicle. Details are on the Florida DHSMV website.
Serving Palm Beach County and Nearby South Florida
Junk Cars Yard is based at 4096 S Military Trail in Lake Worth, FL. We buy these vehicles across Palm Beach County — Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach — plus nearby South Florida communities (see our service areas). HOA pressure is most common in planned communities, where the rules are strictest. If your community sent the letter, you are not the first — we handle these sales routinely and discreetly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my HOA tow my car from my driveway in Florida?
Generally, no. Under Florida Statute 715.07, an HOA’s tow right comes from owning the land — common areas, HOA streets, guest lots — not your private driveway or deeded lot. But the HOA can still fine you daily and lien for violations, so the car needs to go regardless. (General information, not legal advice.)
What is considered a junk vehicle in Florida?
County codes typically define it as a vehicle with flat or missing tires, vegetation growing around it, missing parts, visible wreck damage, no license plate, or an expired tag. A car that has not moved in months with a dead battery and flat-spotted tires usually qualifies.
How long do I have to remove a junk car after a code enforcement notice?
It depends on your county, but 15 days is common in Florida. Check your notice for the exact compliance date. Call us as soon as you get the letter so pickup happens with time to spare.
Can code enforcement fine me for a non-running car?
Yes. If the vehicle meets your county’s definition of a junk or abandoned vehicle, code enforcement can cite you, set a compliance deadline, and impose daily fines through a hearing if you miss it. Selling the car before the deadline is the cleanest way out.
Do I need a title to sell a car under HOA pressure?
In most cases, yes — Florida requires a certificate of title to transfer ownership. If you lost it, apply for a duplicate through the DHSMV right away, since this can take time. Call us and describe your situation; we will tell you honestly what is workable.
What if there is still a lien on the car?
You will need a lien release from the lender before the sale. Check your title the day you call us — this is the most common delay in deadline-driven sales, and catching it early keeps you on schedule.
Will selling the car stop the fines?
Removing the vehicle brings the property into compliance, which is what was asked for. Keep your bill of sale as proof the car left. Fines already assessed before the sale may still need to be resolved with the HOA or county directly.
End the Fines, Clear the Violation, Get Paid
That letter on your door is not going away, and neither is the car — until you act. Every day you wait is another day of fines and another step toward a county tow that bills you instead of paying you.
One call changes the math. Call Junk Cars Yard at 561-559-5865 — Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tell us about the car, tell us your deadline, get your cash offer: free towing, cash at pickup, Florida paperwork done right. Or learn more about how the whole process works first.
Junk Cars Yard
4096 S Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463, USA
Phone: 561-559-5865
Email: junkcarsyard@gmail.com
Website: https://junkcarsyard.com/
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
More Ways We Can Help
- Sell Junk Cars in Kendall, FL — HOA communities are one of the most common reasons Kendall owners call us.
- Abandoned Vehicle on Your Property in Florida? — what you can legally do when the car is not yours.