Abandoned Vehicles

You can claim your vehicle at any time. You will need to contact the tow company identified in the notification to claim your vehicle.

You will owe the towing fee and any daily storage fees. The fees you are charged should match what was provided in the notification you received regarding the tow.

What happens if you don’t claim the vehicle:

If the vehicle is not claimed within 30 days from the first DMV notice, the tow company may apply for a title or junk certificate. This will give the tow company ownership of your vehicle, after which the tow company can sell or scrap your vehicle to recover the costs of the tow.

What you should do right now:

• If something seems wrong, request a tow hearing or file a declaration of opposition within the deadlines.

• Call the tow company listed on the notice or contact law enforcement to find out where your vehicle is.

• Pick up your vehicle quickly to avoid daily storage fees.

• Ask for an itemized bill.

Retrieve your personal belongings—you have the right to do so.

You can dispute the tow. You have two options:

1. Tow Procedure Hearing

• If your vehicle was towed at the direction of law enforcement, you can request a hearing under section 49‑1809 to challenge whether the tow was lawful and if proper procedures were followed.
• A hearing must be requested in writing within 10 days of the first DMV notice. The hearing request can be emailed to Abandoned.Vehicles@itd.idaho.gov.
• The hearing will be conducted within 2 business days of the request by the law enforcement entity that directed the tow.

2. Declaration of Opposition

• This occurs if you disagree with the tow company’s fees or claim, specifically if the tow company is charging rates that don’t align with their rate sheet or the tow company is charging storage when statute does not permit them to.

• To file a declaration of opposition with the DMV, complete the form linked below, and email it to Abandoned.Vehicles@itd.idaho.gov.
• It must be filed within 20 days of the first DMV notice
• To stop the tow company from claiming ownership of your vehicle, you must also file against the tow company in civil court and provide proof to the department before the 30-day mark from the first DMV notice. Providing proof of court filing will pause the tow company’s ability to get a title until the dispute is resolved.

• You have the right to access and remove personal belongings from the vehicle.
• This must occur during reasonable business hours, and you should not be charged any fee to have your personal belongings returned to you.
• Items that are attached to your vehicle are not considered personal belongings.