Do not treat possession as ownership
A car left by a tenant or another driver is different from your own unwanted vehicle. DOR explains that authorized towing and storage firms handle removal requests under the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.
Owner and lender notices are required
The process protects recorded owners, lienholders and security-interest holders. Authorized businesses have notification and lien procedures; a property owner cannot bypass them by signing an ordinary sale document.
A bond is not the workaround
DOR states that an abandoned vehicle cannot receive a title on the basis of a surety bond. Use the official abandoned-vehicle process rather than a routine missing-title application.
Keep the reporting and purchase routes separate
Contact the relevant local agency or authorized removal business about a vehicle you do not own. Our purchase enquiry is for vehicles you own or are legally authorized to sell.
Official sources.
Sources reviewed September 10, 2026. Use the current instructions for your vehicle and transaction.