How to deal with tenant abandoned vehicle

Question

Hi, I am in Orlando just evicted a tenant for failing to pay rent. However he left a car in my front yard. The tenant is not responding, how can I get rid of the car?

Gail K. · Answer

Call a local towing company and ask what the local policy is regarding vehicles left behind in such cases.

In my county once an eviction is completed I can call a local towing company who will come and remove the vehicle (no charge to me).  They can track down the owner through the VIN number; will contact them to determine if they want to pick up the vehicle from their facility.  The towing and storage fees are the responsibility of the owner should they wish to claim the vehicle.  If no response (or the owner refuses to pick up the vehicle) it can be resold after a certain amount of time or, as often is the case, trashed for scrap.

Account Closed · Answer

Depends. If you actually want to get rid of it, you push it into the street and park it so that it is a couple of feet into traffic. Then you call it in as a "traffic nuisance". It will be towed away rather quickly. But, I did not suggest this and if called upon in court I will deny it. ;-) It works, just don't ask me how I know.

Joe Splitrock · Answer

Pushing a car you don't own from private property into the public right away is illegal. You don't want to get caught doing this. Just call a private tow company and they will just haul it minus the illegal part.

Mike McCarthy · Answer

@Joey Gong typically you will not have to pay the towing company. They tow it and either charge the owner to get it out of their lot, or they’ll end up selling it after however much time passes.

They know your local laws and (typically) have to follow them, so it will keep you ‘clean’.

Joey Gong · Answer

I call the county sheriff office and the deputy came just told me to contact a tow company. but the deputy did not answer me who is going to pay for the towing and storing the vehicle. Sounds like calling a towing company is something I should look into.

Thanks folks

Kristen Sarmiento · Answer

Have you contacted the police? I think you start there with reporting it as abandoned.

How to deal with tenant abandoned vehicle

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