Tenant moved out and left a car with no paperwork

General Landlording & Rental Properties
8yFollow

Tenant moved out and left a car with no paperwork

Steve Graves
Rental Property Investor · Lancaster, CA · Member since 2015 · 103 posts · 55 votes

I had a tenant move out without notice and left/abandoned a car without paperwork. I currently have a new tenant and they need the space the abandoned car is taking up. The rental is in California and the car is from Arizona. Has anyone on here ever had to deal with removing an abandoned vehicle?

Thanks

0Reply
49 views

Most Popular Reply

Max Gradowitz
Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2016 · 378 posts · 307 votes
8y

California has specific laws when it comes to abandoned tenant property.  You have to put a good faith effort in providing notice to the tenant that you will dispose of their property if they don't get it themselves within a certain time.  The notice has to have certain info on it (see link below) and can be mailed or emailed.  You can store the abandoned property for a few weeks (again, see the link for the exact time frame) and then may get rid of it.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/handling-tenants-abandoned-property-california.html 

3Reply
See this reply in the discussion

7 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    8y

    You have the right to have it removed from your property. Call a towing company and have it towed. The towing company will file for the right to sell it after a certain period of time. It is not your problem.

    If the old tenant contacts you tell him where it was towed to.

    0Reply
  • Max Gradowitz
    Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2016 · 378 posts · 307 votes
    8y

    California has specific laws when it comes to abandoned tenant property.  You have to put a good faith effort in providing notice to the tenant that you will dispose of their property if they don't get it themselves within a certain time.  The notice has to have certain info on it (see link below) and can be mailed or emailed.  You can store the abandoned property for a few weeks (again, see the link for the exact time frame) and then may get rid of it.

    https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/handling-tenants-abandoned-property-california.html 

    3Reply
  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    8y

    Have no clue.

    I have heard of owners pushing the abandoned car to the street at night and letting a tow truck carry it away.......... : )

    If the vehicle is up on blocks then less options to deal with.

    Not advocating that. No legal advice given.

    Podcast Guest on Show #47
    NNN Invest53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Steve Graves
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Lancaster, CA · Member since 2015 · 103 posts · 55 votes
    8y

    Thanks all for the answers. Definitely gives me some options, even yours Joel ;-)

    1Reply
  • James Wise
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Steve Graves:

    I had a tenant move out without notice and left/abandoned a car without paperwork. I currently have a new tenant and they need the space the abandoned car is taking up. The rental is in California and the car is from Arizona. Has anyone on here ever had to deal with removing an abandoned vehicle?

    Thanks

     Getting a car with no paperwork off of your property is a total pain in the butt. I heard that most tow companies won't touch it due to liability. Sometimes there is one or two in town who will take the risk so call around. 

    If you can't find one I also heard from a friend of a friend that it's really beneficial when the abandoned cars get pushed into the street. Then the city has to come out & tow them. Who knew?

    0Reply
  • Michaela G.
    Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    Contact a BONDED towing company . They know how to deal with all the legal steps. If it's not a worthless clunker, they'll tow it on their dime, according to all the laws, and will go through the motions to contact the owner and possibly auction it off. 

    0Reply
  • Kyle J.
    Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    8y

    The laws vary by state. In California, if you’re the owner or person in lawful possession of private property that is improved with a single family dwelling, you can have the abandoned vehicle towed. 

    The law that addresses this is 22658 CVC, which has additional info/circumstances on when a vehicle can be towed from private property. 

    The tow company will send written notice to the vehicle’s owner of record after they tow it. 

    1Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free