An unwanted vehicle can be a hassle if it’s parked in an apartment parking lot. The vehicle could stop working, you may be preparing to relocate soon and need the car gone by your lease’s end date, or your vehicle may have been sitting in your assigned parking space so long that the property manager is asking you to move it.
The good news is that removing your own unwanted vehicle doesn’t need to be hard. With some forethought about parking access, permission from your lease office, and timing, you can arrange for your junk car pickup to be seamless.
Confirm That You Are Authorized to Remove the Vehicle
If the vehicle is yours, the first order of business is gathering up your documents and choosing a pickup date/time. The title is typically the most essential document, but you’re likely to need things like a valid photo ID, the vehicle keys, registration or insurance documents, and the vehicle make/model/year and VIN.
If the vehicle is not yours, don’t try to sell it, grant permission for its removal, or otherwise interact with it. Vehicles on private property without the property owner’s permission are considered abandoned with a few specific exceptions. Michigan’s regulations for abandoned vehicles cover cars on private property, and if you’re a tenant or property manager needing to deal with a vehicle not belonging to you, you should contact your local police department or towing agency.
Talk to the Leasing Office Before Organizing Your Junk Car Pickup
Most apartment complexes will have regulations for parking, even within a tenant’s private parking space.
A quick call to the leasing office or property manager to confirm details before scheduling a tow truck for your junk car removal will save you time and heartache on pickup day.
- Ask about restrictions or requirements including:
- Assigned parking spaces
- Visitor-parking restrictions
- Codes for gate access
- Tow-truck access requirements
- Preferred pickup hours
- Loading or fire-lane restrictions
- Notification requirements for commercial pickups
Some communities just want you to stop by the office to give them a heads-up that the tow truck will be showing up, while others may want you to provide the towing company with a description of your vehicle, preferred pickup time window, or even the name of the company.
It’s much easier for you to give a few minutes’ notice than it would be for your tow truck to show up at a gated complex without the right code.
Pick a Convenient Time for the Junk Car Tow Truck to Arrive
Apartment parking lots can get crowded, so it’s often a good idea to pick a time to have your junk vehicle picked up that is convenient for the community
Avoid heavily trafficked times, especially on weekdays, and consider when large-scale maintenance or construction projects are scheduled in the area.
You should also take into consideration school bus schedules or busy times for carpooling if children live in the community. A mid-day pickup on a weekday works well for many apartment complexes, but the best time for your community is ultimately up to them. Ask the leasing office if there are specific times that have worked well in the past.
When contacting ASAP Junk Car Removal to schedule your pickup, be sure to mention that the vehicle is on an apartment parking lot and ask if there are any specific instructions for pickup.
If the community has a gated entrance or parking lot, let the tow company know if the parking lot is gated and if the car is kept in a covered space or other area that may require extra care when accessing.
You should also discuss any potential clearance or access issues with the tow truck, such as the height of carports, the presence of overhanging tree branches, and narrow turns or parking lot lanes.
Confirm the Tow Truck Will Be Able to Access Your Junk Car
You don’t need to perform any repairs or cleaning on the junk car before the tow truck arrives to pick it up.
Here are some ways you can help the tow company gain access to your junk vehicle:
- Clear the front and back of any other vehicle blocking the space
- Allow the tow truck access to whichever parking lot gate or entrance is most convenient
- Ensure that fire lanes, parking spaces, and other areas designated for accessible parking are clear if those areas are near where your junk car is located
- Notify the office if you’ll need an escort or will have to share a gate code with the tow truck upon their arrival
- Check for low-clearance areas such as carports or tree branches before the tow truck arrives
- Confirm the space number or location for the junk car
If your car has any of the following issues, it’s a good idea to let the towing company know ahead of time:
- Flat tires or missing wheels
- A steering wheel that’s been locked
- A dead battery
- Major structural or mechanical damage
- Other challenges that could impact the tow truck’s ability to remove the car
Remove Personal Belongings From the Junk Vehicle
Before the tow truck arrives to pick up your junk car, be sure to look throughout the vehicle to ensure there are no personal belongings inside the car.
It’s easy to overlook small items like documents, cards, remotes, or even valuables tucked in the glove box or center console, but it’s best to double-check just in case.
Personal items to look for include:
- Personal documents
- Registration and insurance cards
- Garage remote controls
- Parking passes for apartment or other parking areas
- Toll tags
- Tools or other personal items
- Medication or valuables
- Child seats or other items
Before turning over the car to the tow truck, Michigan sellers should also remove their license plates, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s vehicle ownership and sales information.
It’s a good idea to keep any documents handy in case the state asks for them and to keep a copy of your own paperwork and any sale-related documents on hand for your records.
Be Honest About the Condition of the Car to Be Removed
When getting an estimate for junk car removal, it’s important to be completely upfront about the vehicle’s condition.
Most junk car buyers are prepared to handle cars that won’t start, have flat tires, are missing keys, are damaged, or have been in an accident, but it’s always a good idea to set realistic expectations by providing accurate information about the car’s condition.
Tell the junk car buyer if:
- The car is not running
- Tires are damaged
- The car is missing any keys
- The car was in an accident
- The car’s engine or transmission is damaged
- The car cannot be put in park or neutral
- The car is in an unreachable space
It’s all about making the process as easy as possible for your tow truck on pickup day.
For more suggestions, check out the ASAP Junk Car Removal FAQs.
Don’t Let an Unwanted Vehicle Become a Hassle
An unwanted vehicle can occupy a desirable parking space and cause headaches with your apartment property manager, so if the vehicle is yours and you’re looking to move on, planning ahead for junk car removal can help you avoid unnecessary issues with your lease, towing services, or time constraints.
Arrange for an Unwanted Vehicle Pickup at Your Apartment in Taylor, MI
Junk car removal from an apartment complex is mostly a matter of communication.
Once you’ve arranged for an unwanted vehicle pickup, you should confirm that you’re authorized to remove the car.
You’ll likely need permission from your property manager or the leasing office as well as a convenient time to allow a tow truck to enter the parking lot and access the vehicle.
ASAP Junk Car Removal looks forward to helping you streamline the junk car removal process.