A vehicle that has been left abandoned on your private property can legally be transferred to you, provided that you go through the MVD procedure to acquire ownership, which is normally completed by obtaining a valid title. All you have to do is confirm no active storage or repair agreement exists, wait 10 days, submit MVD Form 46-4402 with required checks, and allow 30 days after MVD notice before title can be legally put in your name.
A person in private ownership or an owner of personal property in Arizona may claim the title of an abandoned vehicle through Arizona’s Abandoned Vehicle Laws; however, simply having possession of such a vehicle does not give this person ownership rights.
The vehicle needs to conform to Arizona’s legal definition of an abandoned vehicle, and normally no fewer than 10 days must elapse since the automobile is considered abandoned.
The Motor Vehicle Division must approve the application for this type of transfer of ownership.
Below we dive into related topics as they relate to getting ownership of a vehicle that’s been abandoned on your Arizona property. To sell an abandoned vehicle, Sell Us Your Car wants to make you a fair, market-rate offer (assuming you’re legally allowed to sell the automobile).
Who Commonly Seeks Ownership of an Abandoned Vehicle in Arizona?
Individuals may include private property owners, lawful tenants, tow companies, auto repair facilities, storage facilities, public parking buildings, and parking lot managers in their applications for abandoned vehicle removal in Arizona.
A private person typically applies for the removal of a vehicle that is left on private or residential property. A business typically applies for the removal of a vehicle that is associated with an unpaid service or contract for vehicle removal, storage, or repair.
How Should You Record an Abandoned Vehicle on Your Arizona Property?
Photographs of the abandoned vehicle, along with its exact location and the date it was first seen, are useful for proving that the owner of the vehicle has left it on private property without permission. In order for the owner of a repair shop, towing company, storage yard, or parking facility to prove abandonment rights to retain possession of an abandoned vehicle, the business must maintain records such as invoices, work orders, parking receipts, tow orders, and/or service contracts.
How Does Arizona Handle Abandoned Vehicles Based on Where They Are Found?
Typically, an abandoned car on an Arizona road or other public property is an issue for local law enforcement because a private property owner cannot remove it from public property. However, if there is an abandoned vehicle on private property, and after verifying that it has not been in compliance with the MVD abandoned vehicle process for at least 10 days due to no signed storage agreement between the parties, the owner of the private property can pursue MVD’s abandoned vehicle process.
In other locations, such as parking lots, apartment complexes, automotive repair shops, vehicle storage areas, or vehicle impound yards, the applicant may be a business with documented evidence of lawful possession of the vehicle, unpaid fees associated with storage of the automobile, or documentation showing the vehicle was brought to the filing entity by some other transactional basis.
Who Should You Contact About an Abandoned Vehicle in Arizona?
If you find an abandoned car in Arizona, you need to contact the police department to report it, as long as it is on public streets or public grounds, or if it requires official removal. The process for filing an abandoned vehicle is handled by the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles.
If a vehicle is on your private property, generally you use the same application process as an individual to file for the vehicle with the MVD. Other businesses such as tow companies, repair shops, storage companies, etcetera have their own business processes to file for abandoned vehicles that may include specific filing paths, company records, and compensation or legal possession records.
How Can You Identify the Owner or Lienholder of an Arizona Abandoned Vehicle?
When searching for owner and lienholder information on abandoned vehicles in Arizona, it should be done formally through official channels rather than via informal methods by an individual. MVD uses motor vehicle records to conduct its abandoned vehicle review, locate and contact the registered owner, any lienholder, and any other interested party.
An individual must supply vehicle identifiers, such as the VIN or plate number, as well as the property address of the vehicle when requesting MVD action. A business that possesses the vehicle, such as for towing, repairing, storing, or placing it into a lot, must supply possession documentation to support its request for MVD action.
How Long Is Arizona’s Waiting Period After Owner Notice?
Arizona has an abandoned vehicle timeline that includes two important points in time. A vehicle generally must remain at the abandoned vehicle site for more than 10 days before a private property filing meets the criteria for the abandoned vehicle category.
After the application to MVD is accepted, the recorded owner, any lienholder, and anyone else interested in the vehicle receives notice from MVD and has 30 days from the date they receive that notice to claim the vehicle. The business should maintain separate records for the MVD notice period as opposed to records for any contractual repair, towing, parking, or storage agreements.
How Do You Apply for an Arizona Title When the Vehicle Remains Unclaimed?
A request for an Arizona title for an unclaimed, abandoned vehicle is possible once the steps for applying to MVD, completing the vehicle inspection, and sending the required notice are completed. The vehicle owner files an application for title as an abandoned vehicle, with appropriate payment and documentation of the vehicle.
Should the registered owner, and/or a lienholder or other notified above-listed party not claim the vehicle within the 30-day notice period, MVD can approve the transfer of ownership. Private applicants can rely on property-based facts of abandonment, while applicants as a business should provide evidence that the vehicle was towed, repaired, parked, or stored in support of the application.
