Had a similar headache with my old truck—sat in my driveway for a month while I waited on a part. Got a notice about “abandoned vehicles.” I get the city wants to keep things tidy, but honestly, it’s a bit much. Not everyone has the cash for off-site storage or a garage. I just made sure the tires were aired up and didn’t let it get dusty. Still, feels like these rules punish people who are just trying to keep their cars safe at home.
Yeah, I’ve run into this too—my old Mustang sat out for a few weeks while I was tracking down a rare part, and next thing I know, there’s a warning on the windshield. I get that the city doesn’t want junkers piling up, but if the car is clearly being cared for, shouldn’t that count for something? Not everyone has a spare garage or the budget to rent storage. Do these rules actually help, or are they just making life harder for folks who love their cars?
if the car is clearly being cared for, shouldn’t that count for something? Not everyone has a spare garage or the budget to rent storage.
That’s the tricky part—what counts as “clearly being cared for”? From an insurance angle, I’ve seen claims denied because a car was considered “abandoned” by city standards, even if it was just waiting on a part. The rules can be pretty black and white, but real life isn’t.
One thing I always wonder: are these city rules actually reducing risks, like vandalism or liability if someone trips over a car parked too long? Or is it more about appearances and neighborhood complaints? I get why they exist, but sometimes it feels like they’re aimed at the wrong folks.
Have you tried reaching out to your local code office? Sometimes they’ll give you a temporary permit if you explain the situation, though not every city is flexible. Curious how others have dealt with this—does anyone actually factor in insurance implications when leaving their classic outside for weeks?
Honestly, I’ve had my old Mustang parked out front for a few weeks before—covered, tires aired up, no trash around—and still got a warning sticker slapped on it. Insurance didn’t care that I was “maintaining” it, either. I get the city wants to keep things tidy, but not everyone can shell out for storage. Sometimes it feels like these rules are more about keeping up appearances than actual safety.
Sometimes it feels like these rules are more about keeping up appearances than actual safety.
I’m right there with you. I had my ‘89 Supra in the driveway, looking clean, but still got flagged. Here’s what I figured out: 1) Some cities get picky if your registration’s out, even if it’s insured and maintained. 2) Even a car cover can draw attention—sometimes they see it as “hiding” an unused car. 3) If you can’t afford offsite storage, parking in different spots every few days helps, but it’s a hassle. It’s like they want us to either drive classics daily or pay up... which isn’t always realistic.
