How do I get a title for my husband's abandoned car?

Traffic Laws Forum
1

My husband passed away and left an abandoned car in our yard. He never updated the title in his name. I’m trying to figure out how to get a title for it in order to sell it. I heard something about having to do an abandoned vehicle ad for 14 days and then holding an auction for 25 days? Anyone know what the steps are to claim title to it?

2

Sorry to hear about your husband. I think you’re right, there’s a process in Virginia for abandoned vehicles. It starts with the ad for 14 days to give the owner a chance to claim it, and if no one does, then it goes to auction for 25 days. If it doesn’t sell, you can apply for the title. You should check with the DMV to make sure you’re following the steps correctly.

3

@Ashwin
Oh, so after the auction, if no one buys it, that’s when you can apply for the title? Sounds like a long process…

4

Chen said:
@Ashwin
Oh, so after the auction, if no one buys it, that’s when you can apply for the title? Sounds like a long process…

Yep, exactly! But it seems like that’s the way to go about it legally. Just be patient with the whole process, it can take a while.

5

@Ashwin
Yeah, it’s a bit of a hassle, but that’s how it works. You can’t just claim the car without going through the official steps. Also, you’ll need to deal with the DMV for the paperwork. Definitely check their website for the exact requirements.

6

I’ve been in a similar situation. In Virginia, you have to wait 15 days after notifying the owner, so that’s probably what you’re referring to. Then after the auction period, you can apply for the title if it doesn’t sell. It’s a process, but it’s doable.

7

@Chen
Thanks for the info! So the 14 days is just for notifying the owner, right? Then I do the auction if no one claims it?

8

@Chen
Yep, exactly! The 15-day notice period is required, then you can move on to the auction if it’s still abandoned. Make sure you follow all the steps or the DMV could make it harder for you.

9

I think you’re supposed to send the notice to the DMV, right? They’ll give you the steps after that. The car’s technically still owned by your husband’s estate, so you’ll be handling it that way.

10

If your husband died, you can definitely handle this through his estate. You’ll just need to submit the required forms to the DMV to get the process started.

11

Zan said:
If your husband died, you can definitely handle this through his estate. You’ll just need to submit the required forms to the DMV to get the process started.

That makes sense. So I just go to the DMV and handle everything through his estate?

12

Zan said:
If your husband died, you can definitely handle this through his estate. You’ll just need to submit the required forms to the DMV to get the process started.

Yep, exactly. Just make sure you have all the documentation, like the death certificate and any other estate paperwork they might ask for.