How to Get a Title for an Abandoned Vehicle

Getting the title to an abandoned car, truck or other vehicle can be tricky. Simply finding a junked vehicle nobody seems to want does not mean you can legally claim it as your own. Depending on your state, there are steps to take to get legal title to an unwanted vehicle. The following steps and tips will help you navigate the proper channels to avoid being sued or prosecuted.

Instructions

1

Get the car's status. Depending on your state, abandoned cars are usually listed as junked or salvaged. A junked car is one that has been impounded and is no longer in working order. These are cars that insurance companies will not pay to repair because the damage is more than their value. This is traditionally known as a "totaled" car. Salvaged and junked cars are sometimes stored at junk yards and car dealers and are deemed inoperable by police or an insurance company. Contact your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find the car's status.

2

Find the owner. Provide your DMV with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) if you have it. This will reveal the car's legal owner. Typically, for you to obtain legal rights to it, you will likely be required to purchase the car from the owner of record. Try to contact this person and ask them to sign the title over to you if they have it. If they can't produce a title and agree to give you the car, purchase it for a nominal amount (say, $1) and write up an official bill of sale. You will then be able to get a new title in your name legally. If the owner will not give you the car, make them a low-ball offer.
If car is found on your property and you can't locate the legal owner, you may, depending on your state laws, still have the right to it. This usually depends on the current value of the car (usually $4,000 or less). To obtain the car in this way, contact the DMV and complete a Lien Sale Form. The last owner of record and any other interested parties, such as a bank will be notified the car will be sold at public auction. If the owner wishes, he or she could simply sign the car over to you upon receipt of the notice. If nobody shows up to buy the car, you will likely be given rights to it. If other bidders arrive and bid, you must bid against them and win the auction in order to get the car.

3

Title the car. Complete a Certification of Lien Sale Form. Some states have different names for this document. However, this form is simply a document naming you as the buyer and seller of the abandoned car you've obtained through legal channels. You will also need to complete a Transfer of Title Form, just as you would if you were buying or selling in a traditional transaction. This will cost you anywhere from $50 to $100, depending on your state.