An abandoned car is on your property in CA. Learn the legal steps to claim ownership or remove it.
Finding an abandoned car on your property in California is more than an eyesore—it’s a legal and financial headache. Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or business owner, you need to know your rights and the exact steps to take.
Towing it away immediately is illegal. The California Vehicle Code has a specific process you must follow to avoid fines and legal trouble.
This guide breaks down the legal process for dealing with an abandoned vehicle on private property in California and shows you how you can potentially gain legal ownership of it.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Lienworks handles the entire abandoned vehicle process from start to finish.
Step 1: Verify It’s “Abandoned” (The 72-Hour Rule)
First, you can’t assume a car is abandoned just because it’s been there a few days. According to the CA Vehicle Code, a vehicle is considered abandoned on private property if it has been left without permission for more than 72 hours.
Key Signs of an Abandoned Vehicle:
- Flat tires, expired registration, or significant damage.
- No record of who owns it or why it’s there.
- It has been stationary for a week or more.
Action: Before anything else, make a reasonable attempt to reach out to the owner.
Step 2: The Legal Notification Process (Don’t Skip This!)
You cannot just call a tow truck. You must follow a strict notification process to protect yourself.
- Report to Law Enforcement: You must notify your local police or sheriff’s department about the abandoned vehicle. They will run the license plate/VIN to try and contact the registered owner.
- Post a Notice on the Vehicle: Attach a clear, weather-proof notice on the car’s windshield. It must state:
- That the vehicle is considered abandoned.
- That it will be removed after 72 hours.
- The date and time the notice was posted.
- Your contact information.
⚠️ Warning: Skipping the 72-hour posted notice is the #1 mistake property owners make. Doing so can lead to the owner suing you for illegal towing and storage fees.
Step 3: After 72 Hours
Once the 72-hour notice period has passed, you have two main paths:
Option A: Tow It Away (The “Get It Gone” Method)
You can have the vehicle towed by a licensed towing company to a scrapyard or auto-dismantler.
- Pros: It’s gone quickly.
- Cons:
- You get nothing. The car is crushed for parts.
- You may have to pay the towing fee out of pocket.
- You lose any potential value the vehicle has.
Option B: File a Lien & Get a Title (The “Get Paid” Method)
This is where you can turn this problem into an asset. By following the California mechanics lien process for vehicles, you can gain legal ownership and sell the car for a profit.
The Basic Lien Process:
- VIN Verification: A licensed Verifier must inspect the vehicle and complete Form REG 31.
- Notify All Owners: You must send a “Lien Sale Notification” via certified mail to the registered and legal owner (if there’s a loan) using the addresses from the official DMV record.
- Notify the DMV: You must submit the required forms and fees to the DMV.
- Wait the Hold Period: You must wait 60-90 days depending on the value of your storage claim.
- Conduct a Lien Sale: You can then sell the vehicle at a public auction. If no one else bids, you can take ownership yourself.
💡 The Secret: The paperwork and legal requirements for this process are incredibly complex. One mistake in the notification process can invalidate your entire claim and force you to start over, wasting months.
Why Most People Fail at the DIY Lien Process
Trying to handle an abandoned vehicle lien yourself is a recipe for frustration. Here’s why:
- Finding the Legal Owner is Hard: You need the official DMV record, which isn’t publicly available.
- The Paperwork is Overwhelming: Forms like REG 31, REG 256, and the Lien Sale Notice must be filled out perfectly.
- Certified Mail Deadlines: Miss one mailing or get the address wrong, and your claim is dead.
- DMV Delays: The DMV is slow, and a simple filing error can set you back 60+ days.
The Easy Button: Let Lienworks Handle Everything
Why spend months navigating DMV bureaucracy when you can have experts handle it for you?
Lienworks is California’s leading title recovery service. We specialize in getting legal titles for abandoned vehicles.
When you work with us, we:
✅ Instantly pull the official DMV records to identify the legal owner.
✅ Handle all VIN verification, paperwork, and DMV filings flawlessly.
✅ Manage every deadline and certified mailing with 100% accuracy.
✅ Guide you to a legal title so you can sell the car and keep the profit.
✅ Turn your headache into cash while we handle the stress.
Stop letting an abandoned car cost you time and money. Let us turn it into an asset.
CALL/TEXT : (951)223-1050