Austin, TX Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Operable Vehicle On
- Operable vehicle on street: 7-day rule before tow
- Inoperable On Street
- Inoperable on street: 48-hour rule (Tex. Transp. Code 683.002)
- Junked Vehicle On
- Junked vehicle on private property: Austin Code Ch. 9-2
- Apd Tags
- APD tags vehicle before tow
- 20-day Claim
- 20-day claim window before auction
- 10-day Cure
- 10-day cure notice for private-property abatement
Summary
Austin enforces Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683 and Austin City Code Chapter 12-5: a vehicle on public right-of-way is abandoned if inoperable for more than 48 hours or operable but apparently abandoned for more than 7 days. APD posts a warning tag and tows. Junked vehicles on private property are abated under Austin Code Chapter 9-2 as a nuisance with a 10-day notice.
Sec. 683.002. ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) For the purposes of this chapter, a motor vehicle is abandoned if the motor vehicle: (1) is inoperable, is more than five years old, and has been left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours; (2) has remained illegally on public property for more than 48 hours; (3) has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the property for more than 48 hours; (4) has been left unattended on the right-of-way of a designated county, state, or federal highway for more than 48 hours.
Full Breakdown
Austin enforces Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683 (Abandoned Motor Vehicles) together with Austin City Code Chapter 12-5. A vehicle on public right-of-way is considered abandoned if it is inoperable and remains more than 48 hours, or operable and remains more than 7 days under conditions suggesting abandonment. Reports are submitted via Austin 311 (app or phone). Austin Police Vehicle Abatement officers tag the vehicle with a written notice, then return after the waiting period. 011. Junked vehicles, wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or inoperable and stored on private property more than 30 days, are governed by Austin City Code Chapter 9-2 (Nuisance Abatement) and Texas Transp.
071. Austin Code Department gives at least 10 days written notice and the right to a public hearing before the city abates the vehicle. After a tow, the storage facility must mail certified notice to the registered owner; owners have 20 days to claim before the facility may apply for title and auction or salvage the vehicle.
Violations & Fines
Tow fees per Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: light-duty tow about $200-$275, daily storage $20 outdoor / $35 indoor, notification fee $50-$65. First-week recovery typically $350-$700. Junked-vehicle nuisance fines up to $500 per day per Austin Code §9-2-7, plus city abatement and lien if uncured.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report an abandoned vehicle in Austin?
Is my own car safe if I park it long-term on the street?
How do I get my car back after an Austin tow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas parking rules overview
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle abandoned vehicles.