Abandoned Vehicle on Your Property in Washington State: How to Get Rid of It [2026]

When Is a Car Legally "Abandoned" on Private Property in Washington?

Washington State defines an abandoned vehicle in RCW 46.55.010. A vehicle left on private property is considered abandoned when:

• It has been left without the property owner's permission, AND
• It has remained for 24 hours or more without being moved

This definition sounds simple, but the process for removing that vehicle — legally — is anything but. Washington gives vehicle owners strong rights to recover their property, even if it's sitting on your land. Skipping any step in the legal process can expose you to liability.

One important distinction: Washington law is about who has authority to have the car removed, not who owns the land. A private property owner has the right to request removal, but only a licensed tow operator registered with the county can execute that removal and eventually acquire the title if the car goes unclaimed.

Your 3 Options as a Property Owner

When you find an unauthorized vehicle on your property in Washington, you have three legitimate paths:

Bottom line: Calling a licensed tow company directly is almost always the fastest resolution. They are legally authorized to act, they bear the notification burden, and the cost falls entirely on the vehicle owner — not you.

The Legal Removal Process Under RCW 46.55 (Step by Step)

Here is exactly what happens when a licensed tow company removes an abandoned vehicle from private property in Washington State:

1. 1 You authorize the tow. As the property owner, you give written or verbal authorization to a licensed tow company (registered with your county under RCW 46.55.105). Keep a record of this authorization — date, time, company name.
2. 2 Tow company removes the vehicle. The vehicle is taken to a licensed impound lot. The tow operator must be certified — ask for their DOL tow operator certificate number if you're unsure.
3. 3 Law enforcement notified within 24 hours. The tow company is legally required to notify local law enforcement within 24 hours of the tow (RCW 46.55.110). This creates an official record that the vehicle was impounded — not stolen.
4. 4 WA DOL owner lookup. The tow company runs the VIN and license plate (if present) through Washington DOL to identify the registered owner and any lienholders on the vehicle.
5. 5 Owner notified by certified mail. Within 5 business days of the tow, the tow operator must send certified mail notice to the vehicle's last registered owner and all lienholders, informing them of the tow, storage location, and their right to redeem the vehicle. If the owner is unknown, a DOL inquiry is filed instead.
6. 6 15-day redemption period. The owner has 15 days from the date of notice to reclaim the vehicle by paying all tow, storage, and administrative fees. If they appear, they get the car back. You have no further involvement.
7. 7 If unclaimed: abandoned vehicle report filed with WA DOL. If no owner claims the vehicle within the redemption period, the tow/storage company files an abandoned vehicle report (AVR) with WA DOL under RCW 46.55.130.
8. 8 Tow company acquires the vehicle. After the DOL process is complete, the tow/storage operator receives a certificate of title for the vehicle. They can then sell it, strip it for parts, or scrap it. The vehicle owner's debt for tow and storage is resolved through the vehicle's sale.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

Here's a realistic timeline from the day you call the tow company to final resolution:

For you as the property owner, the car is gone from your land on Day 0 — that same day the tow truck shows up. Everything after that is between the tow company, the vehicle owner, and WA DOL. You're done.

Can You Keep or Make Money from the Abandoned Car?

This is the question most property owners ask first — and the honest answer is: not directly, and not easily.

Washington law does not give private property owners any right to keep or acquire title to a vehicle just because it was left on their land. The state's abandoned vehicle law is designed to protect vehicle owners from having their property taken without due process — even if they were the ones trespassing on your land to leave it.

The one exception: become a licensed tow/storage operator

If you are a licensed tow operator registered under RCW 46.55.105, you can tow the vehicle to your own licensed storage facility, follow the notification and redemption process, and ultimately acquire title if the vehicle goes unclaimed. This is not a practical path for most property owners — it requires a state tow operator license and a DOL-compliant storage facility.

What if the car has obvious value?

If the vehicle on your property appears to be worth real money — a running truck, a late-model car — document everything before the tow: photos, VIN, make, model, condition. Your documentation won't give you a legal claim to the car, but if there's a dispute about damage that occurred during or before the tow, your record protects you.

Special Cases: No Plates, Unknown Owner, Rural Property

The car has no license plates

No plates doesn't mean no process. A licensed tow company can still remove the vehicle and use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — stamped on the dashboard near the windshield and on the door jamb — to query WA DOL for the registered owner. The same notification and redemption timeline applies.

The owner is completely unknown

If the DOL VIN lookup returns no record (an out-of-state vehicle, a vehicle with an altered or missing VIN, or one that was never registered in WA), the tow company files a "no-owner-found" report with DOL. The redemption period still runs. After it expires, the tow company can petition for title through the DOL abandoned vehicle process.

You're on rural or unincorporated land

In rural King, Snohomish, Pierce, or Eastern Washington counties, response from county law enforcement on abandoned vehicle calls can take much longer than in cities. Calling a licensed tow company directly — rather than waiting for an officer — is often faster. The tow company's notification obligation covers the law enforcement requirement, so you don't need an officer present before the tow can happen.

The car has been there for years

A long-abandoned vehicle (plates expired 5+ years ago, overgrown vegetation around it) doesn't change the legal process — it just makes it more likely the vehicle is worth very little. The tow company will still run the VIN. If the car is truly junk, they may decline to tow it if the tow cost exceeds what they can recover from the vehicle's scrap value. In that case, you can sometimes negotiate with a junk car buyer directly — particularly if you can document that the vehicle was abandoned and you have some evidence the owner has relinquished interest (like a note from the owner).

Frequently Asked Questions