DMV News Releases

New Law Automates Abandoned Vehicle Elimination Process
Searchable Database Will Help Identify Missing Vehicles

RICHMOND - If you leave your vehicle on the side of a highway, or it is towed, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles encourages you to retrieve your vehicle immediately.

A new law that takes effect on October 1, 2009 will automate DMV's abandoned vehicle process, streamlining the approach to eliminating an abandoned vehicle left on the highway or public property, on private property, in a garage or storage unit.

The new procedure allows those in possession of an abandoned vehicle to remove it from their property and to initiate a records request on DMV's website, dmvNOW.com. The records request helps locate the abandoned vehicle's owners or lienholders. The process costs $25.

If a Virginia vehicle owner or lienholder is found during the records request, DMV will send a certified letter advising them to remove the vehicle from the property. If the vehicle is not claimed after 15 days (120 days for manufactured homes), the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle uses DMV's online process again to post an intent to auction the vehicle. The intent to auction must remain posted for 21 days before auctioning, titling or demolishing the vehicle. However, if no vehicle owner is located during the initial records request, the vehicle may be demolished without posting an intent to auction.

In addition to the new automated process, a searchable database of identified abandoned vehicles will be available on DMV's website after October 1. Using the vehicle's identification number, owners, lienholders and law enforcement may conduct a search to find the location of missing vehicles.

Effective October 1, Virginia code defines an abandoned vehicle as any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer or parts of a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:

• is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours in violation of a state law or local ordinance, or
• has remained for more that 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property
• is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway
• has remained unclaimed in a garage for more than 10 days or for more than 10 days beyond the period the vehicle was to remain on the premises, or
• has remained unclaimed in a self-service storage unit under the provisions of Chapter 23 of Virginia state code 55-418.

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