§ 46.2-1208. Vehicles abandoned on private property other than garages
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, if an abandoned motor vehicle is left on private property, other than an establishment covered by the provisions of § 46.2-1204, regardless of whether the vehicle had been brought to that location with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property, the owner or person in control of the private property may send a notice, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of record of the motor vehicle and all persons having security interests in the vehicle of record in the office of the Department, describing the motor vehicle by year, make, model, and serial number, and advising that unless the vehicle is reclaimed and removed within 30 days or, if the vehicle is a manufactured home or a mobile home, 120 days, from the date of the notice, its owner and all persons having security interests in the vehicle shall have waived all right, title, and interest in the vehicle. The owner of record of the manufactured home or mobile home and all persons having a security interest therein shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of unpaid actual rent to the owner or person in control of the private property for no more than 90 days following the end of the 30-day notification period. If the motor vehicle is not reclaimed by its owner or a person having a security interest in the vehicle of record within the required number of days from the date of the notice, the owner or person in control of the private property on which the motor vehicle was abandoned may apply to the Department for a title to such vehicle. On verification that the notice provisions of this section have been complied with and payment of the certificate of title fee prescribed by § 46.2-627, the Department shall issue a certificate of title to the vehicle in the name of the person submitting the application. The Commissioner shall issue appropriate forms and promulgate appropriate regulations governing applications for title to abandoned motor vehicles pursuant to this section.
The provisions of this section shall be applicable in the case of any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer abandoned on private property, whether or not the locality in which the private property is located has provided by ordinance for the removal and disposition of abandoned vehicles in accordance with this article.
The provisions of this section shall apply only to motor vehicles registered in Virginia. In cases of motor vehicles registered in other states, the Commissioner shall issue certificates of title to their owners on proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that the persons required to be notified by registered or certified mail have received actual notice fully containing the information required by this section.
(1976, c. 227, § 46.1-555.10; 1978, c. 168; 1984, c. 143; 1989, c. 727; 2004, c. 353.)
Sections: Previous 46.2-1201 46.2-1202 46.2-1203 46.2-1204 46.2-1205 46.2-1206 46.2-1207 46.2-1208 46.2-1209 46.2-1210 46.2-1211 46.2-1212 46.2-1212.1 46.2-1213 46.2-1214 NextLast modified: April 16, 2009