Abandoned car laws??

[trpower7]

There has been a black turbo MR2 sitting abandoned on the interstate around me for around a week now. It has been stickered by the DOT and will be picked up for abandoned soon. It plainly has a blown engine or severe BHG, and I suspect the owner has abandoned it (it is really crappy on the inside and looks like it's been neglected) What are the laws regarding salvage here? What happens if someone just goes and decides to tow it? Can I go get it? Someone fill me in here..... btw I live in tennessee

[Repo Man]

There has been a black turbo MR2 sitting abandoned on the interstate around me for around a week now. It has been stickered by the DOT and will be picked up for abandoned soon. It plainly has a blown engine or severe BHG, and I suspect the owner has abandoned it (it is really crappy on the inside and looks like it's been neglected) What are the laws regarding salvage here? What happens if someone just goes and decides to tow it? Can I go get it? Someone fill me in here..... btw I live in tennessee

Well, I don't live in TN, but I really doubt you can just go get it. What are you going to do about a title? I think your best bet is to contact the DOT or BMV. Get the VIN for reference. You may be able to pick it up cheap at a salvage sale and have less hassle with the title.

[Bubba1]

Yep, without that title, you're S.O.O.L., and the owner still has it. I strongly suggest you not touch it, and let the authorities tow it. I hope the words "CAR THEFT" sound familiar. That's precisely what you'd be doing if you took it, and it's a rather serious crime even in Tennessee. Hell, the car may already be stolen. I suggest calling The DOT, or perhaps the state police. They may be able to tell you when they'll have an upcoming unclaimed/forfeited auto auction in your area.

[ninjak84]

Keep a very close eye on it.Track the legal papers on it, and approach the police when they take control of the vehicles title.It will end up in a police auction anyways, or getting demolishedin a junkyard. If you offer to buy it from the police station on the spot for a few hundred bones, I'm sure no one would have a problem with it.

[Stoneage_Turbo]

or take the platenumber to the DMV , maybe theyd be able to let you know who the owner is and maybe a way to get ahold of them

[Cold_Zero]

Heck,Try to contact the owner and see if he will give the car to you. If you offer a little bit of money, the owner will get something out of the whole deal.

[ninjak84]

Haha, keep us updated! This could be interesting.There's a Native reserve a few hours away with a million abandoned cars, maybe I could learn from your experience....

[specialkonrd]

tow it, hide it in ur garage, get another mr2 from the wreckers, use this as a parts car to fix up the other mr2 and then dispose of it. Illegal, but hey, it'll work.