Montgomery County, VA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Sec 6-55 lets a police officer remove an unattended or abandoned motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer for safekeeping to a storage garage or area under several triggers: the vehicle blocks or endangers traffic, is parked in violation of law, has sat unattended more than ten days on public property or on private property that is not its owner's, or has been abandoned there without the property owner's permission. From privately owned premises, though, the section requires the written request of the property's owner, lessee or occupant before a removal can happen.

A vehicle is presumed abandoned once it both lacks a current license plate, current local plate or sticker, or valid state inspection sticker, and has sat in the same location for four days without being moved. Before the owner can reclaim the vehicle, the owner must pay the reasonable removal, storage and owner-locating costs; if the owner cannot be found or refuses to pay after notice to the owner and any lienholder, the sheriff or another officer designated by the Board of Supervisors may hold the vehicle for 30 days, then sell it at public auction.

If three disinterested dealers or garagemen value it under $150, it can instead be junked or sold privately. Sale proceeds go to the county treasurer, who first pays removal, storage and sale costs; any surplus is held for the owner or lienholder to claim for three years before it lapses to the county's general fund.