If an abandoned vehicle in the possession of a locality or an authorized agent is not reclaimed as provided for in § 46.2-1202, the locality or its authorized agent shall, notwithstanding the provisions of § 46.2-617, sell it at public auction. For the purposes of this article, "public auction," when conducted by any county, city, or town, shall include an Internet sale by auction. The purchaser of the vehicle shall take title to the vehicle free of all liens and claims of ownership of others, shall receive a sales receipt from the sale, and shall be entitled to apply to and receive from the Department a certificate of title and registration card for the vehicle upon submission of the sales receipt, the completed Vehicle Removal Certificate, and the receipt produced by the Department pursuant to § 46.2-1202. The sales receipt from the sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling, and in that case no further titling of the vehicle shall be necessary; however, such demolisher shall provide the Department acceptable documentation indicating that the vehicle has been demolished. From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned vehicle the locality or its authorized agent shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned vehicle in custody, and all costs, if any, incurred pursuant to § 46.2-1202. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the abandoned vehicle or any person having security interests in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days, and then be deposited into the treasury of the locality in which the abandoned vehicle was abandoned.
1968, c. 421, § 46.1-555.5; 1989, c. 727; 2004, c. 369; 2013, c. 241; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 374.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 12 - Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking
§ 46.2-1200.1. Abandoning motor vehicles prohibited; penalty
§ 46.2-1200.2. Vehicles registered to active duty military personnel
§ 46.2-1200.3. Limitation on removal and sale of abandoned vehicles
§ 46.2-1202. Search for owner and secured party; notice
§ 46.2-1202.1. Vehicle Removal Certificates
§ 46.2-1202.2. Notice of intent to auction and sale of vehicle; posting requirements
§ 46.2-1203. Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds
§ 46.2-1205. Disposition of inoperable abandoned vehicles
§ 46.2-1207. Certification of disposal; reimbursement of locality by Commissioner
§ 46.2-1209. Unattended or immobile vehicles, generally
§ 46.2-1210. Motor vehicles immobilized by weather conditions, accidents, or emergencies
§ 46.2-1211. Removal of motor vehicles obstructing movement; storage; payment of costs
§ 46.2-1214. Sale of personal property found in unattended or abandoned vehicles
§ 46.2-1217. Local governing body may regulate certain towing
§ 46.2-1217.1. Towing of certain large vehicles; civil penalty
§ 46.2-1218. Reports by persons in charge of garages, parking places, etc.; unclaimed vehicles
§ 46.2-1219. Regulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on certain parking lots
§ 46.2-1222. Regulation of parking on secondary highways by certain counties
§ 46.2-1222.2. Local ordinances prohibiting parking of certain vehicles
§ 46.2-1224. County ordinances prohibiting certain parking in streets and highways
§ 46.2-1224.1. Local ordinances regulating certain parking; penalty
§ 46.2-1225. Enforcement provisions in city or county parking ordinances
§ 46.2-1226. Enforcement of regulations governing parking in Capitol Square
§ 46.2-1227. Enforcement of state regulations governing parking on primary and secondary highways
§ 46.2-1228. Enforcement of parking regulations of boards of visitors of educational institutions
§ 46.2-1230. Authority of counties, cities, and towns to issue parking permits
§ 46.2-1231.1. Immunity from liability for certain towing
§ 46.2-1232. Localities may regulate removal or immobilization of trespassing vehicles
§ 46.2-1233. Localities may regulate towing fees
§ 46.2-1233.1. Limitation on charges for towing and storage of certain vehicles
§ 46.2-1233.3. Improper towing; penalty
§ 46.2-1235. Authority of Chesterfield County law-enforcement officers to issue parking tickets
§ 46.2-1239. Parking in certain locations; penalty
§ 46.2-1239.1. (Contingent expiration date - See Editor's note) Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact