What to Do About an Abandoned Car on Your Property

Property owners need to be familiar with their rights when it comes to dealing with an abandoned vehicle so they can avoid legal complications. You can take action to have the vehicle removed from your property, but you need to follow a strict protocol to protect yourself in the eyes of the law.

Before you start the process of having a vehicle removed from your property, you need to determine if the vehicle qualifies as an abandoned car. The legal definition of an abandoned car can vary from one jurisdiction to another.

According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, a car can be deemed abandoned if it has been on your private property without permission for at least 48 hours. Be sure that you check with your city government officials to determine if you need to meet any additional requirements to classify a vehicle on your property as abandoned.

Once you have determined that a vehicle on your property qualifies as being abandoned, you may wonder how you go about getting rid of the vehicle appropriately.

Start by contacting local law enforcement. Provide the VIN and license plate number, and a police officer can check to see if the vehicle has been reported as stolen or was used to commit a crime. If the vehicle is on record with the police department, they will typically come and remove the vehicle from your property.

If the vehicle isn't on record, you should try to identify the legal owner. Ask your neighbors if they know who the car belongs to. Post pictures and identifying information regarding the vehicle on social media in an attempt to find the owner.

You can also work with the DMV, who have records of the car's registration documents, to contact the owner of the vehicle. If you are unable to locate the legal owner or the owner makes no attempt to collect the vehicle within 20 days, you can have it removed from your property.

When you have exhausted all resources to find the owner of an abandoned vehicle on your private property, it's time to have the vehicle removed. Leaving an abandoned vehicle on your property can pose a threat to the safety of the area.

Vehicles are filled with fluids that are hazardous to the environment. Additionally, an abandoned vehicle can attract criminal activity (like parts-stripping).

First, contact your local DMV for a certificate of authority to deal with the car. Next, a reputable towing company should be able to assist you in the removal of the vehicle.

Before the tow truck driver arrives, take photographs of the vehicle. Include any identifying information (like the VIN and license plates). You should also photograph any personal belongings that are in the vehicle at the time it is towed away. These photographs will help you protect yourself against any potential lawsuits if the owner of the vehicle decides to take action against you.

Keep a copy of the towing company's name, physical address, phone number, and business license number on file so that you can forward this information to the owner if he or she comes looking for the abandoned vehicle in the future.

Discovering an abandoned vehicle on your property can be cause for concern. Contact AA Wrecker Service for help, and we will tow away the abandoned vehicle for free.