Matthews, NC Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Public streets
- 7 days triggers abandoned
- Private property
- 24 hours without consent
- Notice
- 10 days before tow
- Redemption
- 30 days post-tow
- Statute
- NCGS 160A-303, 20-137.7
Summary
Matthews enforces NCGS 20-137.7 and 160A-303 for abandoned vehicles. Vehicles left on public streets over 7 days or on private property without owner consent over 24 hours may be tagged, towed, and sold at auction.
§ 160A-303. Removal and disposal of junked and abandoned motor vehicles.
(a) A city may by ordinance prohibit the abandonment of motor vehicles on the public streets or on public or private property within the city, and may enforce any such ordinance by removing and disposing of junked or abandoned motor vehicles according to the procedures prescribed in this section.
(b) A motor vehicle is defined to include all machines designed or intended to travel over land or water by self-propulsion or while attached to any self-propelled vehicle. (b1) An abandoned motor vehicle is one that:
(1) Has been left upon a street or highway in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking; or
(2) Is left on property owned or operated by the city for longer than 24 hours; or
(3) Is left on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant, or lessee thereof for longer than two hours; or
(4) Is left on any public street or highway for longer than seven days or is determined by law enforcement to be a hazard to the motoring public. (b2) A junked motor vehicle is an abandoned motor vehicle that also:
(1) Is partially dismantled or wrecked; or
(2) Cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it was originally intended to move; or
(3) Is more than five years old and worth less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or is more than five years old and worth less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) as provided by the municipality in an ordinance adopted under this section; or
(4) Does not display a current license plate.
Full Breakdown
Under NCGS 160A-303 and 20-137.7 the Town of Matthews may declare a vehicle abandoned if it has remained on public property more than 7 days, is missing license plates or registration, is wrecked or dismantled, or has remained on private property longer than 24 hours without owner consent. After posting a 10-day tow notice (5 days for junked vehicles) the vehicle may be towed to a storage facility. Owners have 30 days to redeem upon payment of tow and storage fees before the vehicle is sold at public auction per NCGS 20-116. Junked vehicles on residential property also violate the Matthews UDO nuisance provisions.
Violations & Fines
Tow and storage fees typically 150-400 dollars plus daily storage. Unrecovered vehicles sold at auction. Property owners cited for harboring junked vehicles face civil penalties up to 500 dollars per day.
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Matthews
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle abandoned vehicles.