How to get rid of an abandoned car without title

Vehicles abandoned on private property in Wyoming or towed by a towing company to a Wyoming location:

Vehicles are considered to be abandoned if left on Wyoming private property in excess of 30 consecutive days without the consent of the owner or person in lawful control of the property. Vehicles are also considered abandoned if left for repairs and not claimed 30 days after the date agreed upon by both parties.

Vehicles purchased without clear titles and vehicles left with consent cannot be processed as an abandoned vehicle.

If the property owner or person in lawful control of the property wishes to obtain ownership rights to the abandoned vehicle, the legal owner of the vehicle must be identified. To identify the vehicle owner, the property owner or person in lawful control of the property must request a title and lien search from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Abandoned Vehicle Steps

1. Upon receipt of this request, owner or person in lawful control of the property shall give written notice of sale to the following:

• Owner and any lien holder of record, if identified, by certified mail not less than 10 days preceding the date of sale.
• Sheriff of the county in which vehicle is abandoned, not less than 10 days preceding the date of sale.
• Publication once per week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where vehicle was abandoned.

2. Notification shall include:

• A complete description of the make, year, model, license plate number and state indicator, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.
• Amount of money claimed for expenses incident to the removal, preservation, custody, storage ($20 per day) and sale; and if the vehicle was left unattended at an establishment for service, repair or maintenance, the cost of the services.  The total allowable expenses shall not exceed $1000. 
• Date, time and place of sale.

3. The vehicle may be sold by the owner or person in lawful control of the property at public auction to the highest bidder, or may be sold following an action filed pursuant to w.s. 31-13-112(e).

4. Upon receipt of satisfactory evidence from the seller of compliance and that the vehicle has been sold, the sheriff shall execute a certificate of sale in duplicate for the fee of $7.50. The original certificate of sale shall be delivered to the purchaser and the copy shall be retained by the sheriff. Satisfactory evidence of compliance requires the following.

• A completed copy of this request.
• Copies of the notice of sale.
• Proof of mailing and publication required.

5. No person shall sell a vehicle if a written court order prohibiting the sale is served on the proposed seller. The court order shall be served on the person selling the vehicle prior to the sale and shall not be issued except for good cause.

Michigan law [MCL 257.252a, 81151, or 82161 2014 PA 549] presumes that the last owner of record of a vehicle as kept by the Secretary of State is responsible for abandoning the vehicle unless the person provides a record of sale or transfer. Michigan law (80130f 2014 PA 549) presumes that the last titled owner, or if there is no titled owner the last registered owner of a vessel, is responsible for abandoning a vessel unless the person provides a record of the transfer of the vessel to another person.

A violation for abandoning a vehicle and not redeeming it before disposition is determined under MCL 257.252g or Section 81151(3) or Section 82161(3) 2014 PA 549, or for abandoning a vessel and not redeeming it before disposition is determined under Section 80130k, will result in a civil infraction and subject the owner to a civil fine of $50 plus costs, state assessments, and other statutory penalties.

A person who abandons a motor vehicle or vessel may also be found responsible for littering under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act [MCL 324.8905a(4)]. This is a state civil infraction subject to a civil fine from $500 to $2,500 plus costs, state assessments, and other statutory penalties. The penalty for abandoning a second vehicle or vessel is a civil fine from $1,000 to $5,000 plus costs, state assessments, and other statutory penalties.

To protect yourself, you must do one of the following when you sell or transfer ownership of a vehicle or vessel:

• Accompany the buyer to a Secretary of State branch office to assure that the vehicle's title is transferred.
• Maintain a record of the sale for at least 18 months. A record of the sale means either a photocopy of the reassigned vehicle or vessel title, reassigned vessel registration, or a document that includes the name, address, driver's license number, the purchaser's signature, purchase price and date of sale.

If you fail to maintain proper records of the sale, you are subject to the following penalties if a subsequent owner abandons the vehicle:

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