Cars get abandoned on private and public property all the time, leaving the owner in a dilemma of what to do with them. Should the police be contacted? Should the car be towed? Should it be claimed by the owner? If the owner decides to claim the car, how long should the car be abandoned?
The length of time a car can be abandoned before you can claim it depends on the laws of your state of residence regarding abandoned vehicles. In some states, it can take between 48 hours to 30 days before you can claim ownership of an abandoned vehicle.
What is an Abandoned Car?
An abandoned vehicle is one that has been abandoned with no known owner. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that the vehicle is junk or cannot be driven again.
An abandoned vehicle could also be one that fits the following category:
- A vehicle that is on public property for close to 48 hours or more
- A vehicle that when operated can cause an immediate hazard to the public
- A vehicle on a state truck line for not less than 18 hours with a valid registration affixed
- A vehicle parked on private property without the permission of the owner etc.
Can I Take Ownership of an Abandoned Vehicle on my Property?
Yes, and No. You may or may not be able to take ownership of an abandoned vehicle on your property, however, a more direct answer will be yes, you can take ownership of an abandoned vehicle on your property. It all depends on the law of your state and the procedures required to claim the car.
You do not just see a vehicle on your property and decide you want it to belong to you, it doesn’t work like that, there are steps and processes to follow for this to happen.
The process of taking ownership of an abandoned vehicle will depend on what the state law says about abandoned vehicles.
Therefore, there are different ways to take ownership of an abandoned vehicle with some less stressful than others.
How Long Does a Car Have to be Abandoned Before you Can Claim It?
The length of time for which a car has to be abandoned before you claim it depends on the state. In some states, if after 48 hours no one comes for the car, you can claim it but of course by following due process. While in some other states, it could be up to 30 days.
In order to be sure how long a car has to be abandoned for you to claim it, you should verify from your state as claiming a car without following the due process can lead to a potential lawsuit in which the legal owner may end up winning. Even if you are right, the law may not really be in your favor because you didn’t claim it legally.
How Do I Claim an Abandoned Vehicle?
The process of claiming an abandoned vehicle varies from state to state, therefore you will need to find out what works in your state of residence.
To claim an abandoned vehicle, you should do the following;
1. Contact the Police
The first course of action when you want to claim an abandoned vehicle is contacting the police, this is so they can help you get the details of the legal car owner.
Before you can proceed with claiming the vehicle legally, you need to notify the original owner and get the VIN. This however depends on what the state law says about claiming abandoned vehicles.
2. Get in Touch with the Car Owner
After you must have gotten details enough for you to contact the car owner from the police, you will need to get in touch with them to inform them of your interest in claiming the car.
Do not however expect to get a positive response from them on the first attempt. In some cases, the police may decide to contact the owner on your behalf.
3. Visit the DMV
For you to be legally recognized as a new car owner, you have to visit the DMV. The DMV is responsible for issuing a driver’s license and registering a car, therefore, your visit to the DMV will be to have the car registered in your name and get a title.
How to Get an Abandoned Vehicle Title?
If you find an abandoned vehicle on your property and decide to claim it, you need to get a title. The title is to show that you are now the new car owner.
The process of getting a title differs from state to state and you must also be sure of what the state law says about it.
To get an abandoned vehicle title you must:
- Get Information on the Previous Owner: To get information on the previous owner, you will have to make a request with the local authorities and they will help you pull up the car owner’s information.
- Inform the Owner About Your Decision: With the information handy, you can reach out to the previous owner and inform them of your decision to claim the car and get a title. Bear in mind that getting the owner’s consent may not be easy as they may see this as an opportunity to get money.
- Proceed to the DMV with the Necessary Documents: After you must have gotten the owner’s consent, you can then proceed to the DMV to get the title with the necessary documentation in hand (you should find out about the needed documents before going).
You will need to fill out some forms, and append your signatures, and of course, getting a title doesn’t come for free, therefore, you will need to make some payments.
In most cases, when the previous owners give their consent, they will hand over the title to you which will make up part of the documents you take to the DMV. In the event that you don’t get the title from them, things may not be so easy.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Abandoned Vehicle Title?
Just as the process of getting a title or claiming an abandoned vehicle varies from state to state, the length of time it will take to get an abandoned vehicle title also varies. Typically, getting a title for an abandoned vehicle should take approximately 2 months.
Conclusion
It is sometimes said that abandoned cars are most times stolen cars, although there are no valid points to back up this claim. Whether the abandoned car was stolen or not, you should always be careful when dealing with them. If you are not sure what to do with it, contact the local authority as they are in the best position to help out.