How to find out the PTS on an abandoned car

You are driving down the road when you notice a car in rough shape with flat tires and possibly broken glass parked on the side. At first you don’t think anything, but then you realize that this is the 1973 AMC Gremlin X - the one ...

You are driving down the road when you notice a car in rough shape with flat tires and possibly broken glass parked on the side. At first you don't think anything about it, but then you realize that this is a 1973 AMC Gremlin X - the one that your father wouldn't let you buy when you got your driver's license.

You may wonder how this car got here and if it was abandoned. Maybe if it's abandoned, it could be yours! Before you take it away, remember that state laws force you to go through a process to claim or buy an abandoned vehicle. Here is the process you have to go through to get ownership of an abandoned car.

Part 1 of 5: Find out if the car is really abandoned

This is the most important question you need to answer before you start to take ownership of an abandoned car. You must always verify this by going to your state's DMV website or office to find what is defined as an "abandoned vehicle."

To help, here's a state-by-state guide to determining what counts as an abandoned vehicle:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Арканзас

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Columbia region

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

NH

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Южная Каролина

North Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Part 2 of 5: What to do if the car is by definition abandoned

Step 1. Contact the owner. If you feel like the car has been abandoned, you can try contacting the owner of the car to see if they will sell it to you.

You can find the owner by first looking up the vehicle's VIN number. You can find the VIN number in the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side or inside the door pillar (where the door connects to the rest of the car).

From there, you can contact the DMV and try to find the original owner.

When talking to the DMV, explain what you are trying to do and they should help you with paperwork or other government regulations that you may have to follow in order to obtain ownership of an abandoned vehicle.

Step 2: If the owner cannot be found, you should contact your local authorities.. They will want to check if the car was stolen or connected to some other criminal act.

At this time, you must also declare to the authorities your desire to purchase a car. They can help you understand local procedures for buying abandoned cars.

Step 3: Wait for the vehicle. When the local authorities find out about the abandoned vehicle, it will be towed and stored in a car depot.

The authorities will then try to contact the original owner and give him or her a few weeks to try and get their car back. If the car is not claimed, it will most likely be auctioned off to the highest bidder, known as a lien sale.

Part 3 of 5: Deciding if you want to buy a car

Step 1: Be careful with an abandoned car. They often require extensive repairs to be able to ride again, and major parts may need to be replaced.

Step 2: Inspect the car. See if it's worth trying for the title.

You can inspect the car yourself or have a mechanic inspect it for you. A certified AvtoTachki mechanic will be happy to help you inspect your abandoned vehicle and see what work may be required to make it roadworthy.

Our certified mechanics will not only help you inspect your vehicle, but they can also give you an estimate of the necessary repairs. Based on this assessment, you can decide if you want to try for a car title.

Part 4 of 5: Getting the Title

So you've decided it's worth it. After completing all of the above steps, make another attempt to contact the owner if you haven't already.

Step 1: Enlist the help of the DMV. You can ask the DMV to help you find the owner if you know the VIN number.

Remember that you can find the vehicle's VIN on the bottom of the windscreen on the driver's side or inside the door jamb.

Step 2. Let the owner know of your interest. When you contact the DMV, they will send the owner a notice by certified mail that you are trying to take ownership of their vehicle.

The local county sheriff must also be notified and your attempt at a title may be published in local publications.

Step 3: Buying a car. You may have to buy the car through an auction if the owner cannot be found.

Buying a car at an auction can be stressful, but it can also be one of the easiest ways to get ownership of a car. When a car is sold, ownership of it passes to the new owner.

Part 5 of 5: Possible obstacles

If the owner of the car is located, you may run into some problems with his or her desire to sell the car.

Obstacle 1: Lost Title. Sometimes a car owner can lose ownership of an abandoned car.

In this case, work with the owner to obtain a duplicate title.

You can even ask the owner to sign a power of attorney form allowing you to transfer ownership of yourself.

• Functions: In California, you can apply for a power of attorney online.

Obstacle 2: Going to court. If the car you want to retrieve has been abandoned on your property, you can sue the current owner in small claims court.

Since you have technically kept the car for a certain amount of time, you can place a lien on the title. You should contact a lawyer to see if this method is available to you.

Obstacle 3: Silent claim for ownership. If it is not possible to locate the original owner of the car and the car has not been auctioned off, you can try to obtain what is known as "silent ownership".

Quiet title is essentially a lawsuit that deals with the ownership of certain property. In the case of an abandoned vehicle, although you may not have ownership, you may have "kept" the vehicle, allowing you to claim ownership of it.

It is recommended that you hire a lawyer if you are considering taking ownership of a vehicle, as this can be a complicated process. If you win the lawsuit and are considered the owner of the vehicle, you may be able to take ownership of the vehicle.

The process for obtaining ownership of an abandoned car will be different in each state. You should always contact the DMV for further guidance on how you can transfer ownership of yourself.

Also, don't forget to inspect the car before you decide you need it. A car with serious mechanical problems can be more trouble than it's worth. If you decide you don't want an abandoned car, but it's a concern if it's on your property or near your home, contact your local authorities so the car can be removed.