Junk/Vehicle on a property...is it mine?

Question

I recently purchased a piece of vacant land property with junk/vehicle sitting on there.

Can I consider this my belonging since nobody has come to claim it since the last owners for several months? I’ve got an RV (messed up inside), and a pickup truck with a motorcycle sitting in it.

I’m currently working on a rehab project with a home and all of the belongings inside were mine and we were able to bring in people to salvage the junk and make some cash on it.

So 2 questions

• Is the junk min because it’s been sitting on my property?
• Is it worth marketing these junk as “salvageable” for buyers? or does that scare away buyers?

Greg Dyer · Answer

I have run into this situation twice and called a tow service that advertises that they tow abandoned vehicles away. When they picked-up the car, I asked them what they did with the car. They first put a lien on the automobile for a fixed period of time but than have the option to sell the care themselves if it is not claimed. There are very specific procedures to follow and each state is different. My advice is to focus on the your rehab and leave the car up to someone else who has the expertise. I did have a neighbor come outside and chase a tow truck because it was actually his car and the previous occupant of the house had told them they could store the car on the property. Good luck.

Matthew Paul · Answer

Good luck getting rid of an old rv . Odds are you will be paying someone to take it .

Gene Hacker · Answer

Check out what your local rules and regulations require.

I don't want or need drama so I follow my local laws. I have had tow companies tow off abandoned vehicles.  My understanding is that they will put a tow lien on the vehicle.

Jessey Kwong · Answer

Thank you for all the help!

Rachel H. · Answer

@Jessey Kwong It may need to be declared as abandoned. Check with your local government entity in charge of titling vehicles. They should be able to give you more information on the process. Good luck!!

Dustin Beam · Answer

I strongly disagree with @Mark Fries. That's terrible advice.

To sell a vehicle, you should have a title as the owner. If you did sell it without a title and are not the owner, I would imagine that's akin to selling stolen goods. Do you want that charge for a bombed out RV?

I'm actually going through this now, only is not junk, it's a 2016 abandoned vehicle.

Regardless of year, go through the proper channels to be the legal owner if they are worth anything. If they are not, you can legally have them towed away and let the tow company handle the legalities of scrapping/auctioning/etc.

Junk/Vehicle on a property...is it mine?

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