Pennsylvania Statewide Rule
Pennsylvania Abandoned Vehicle Removal and Disposal Law
Key Facts
- Highway threshold
- 48 hours unattended
- Repair shop threshold
- 20 days past completion
- Owner fine
- Up to $300
- Governing title
- 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 73
Summary
Pennsylvania Title 75 Chapter 73 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, defining when a vehicle is abandoned and authorizing law enforcement and authorized salvors to remove, store, and dispose of them through a uniform process.
(a) General rule.-Police officers may immediately remove or direct removal of any vehicle abandoned or presumed to be abandoned from any roadway, including the roadway's berm or shoulder, to the nearest point off the roadway where the vehicle will not interfere with or obstruct traffic.
Full Breakdown
Under 75 Pa.C.S. Sections 7301-7306, a vehicle is abandoned if left unattended on a highway over 48 hours, on private property without consent, or at a repair facility past 20 days. Police may tag and tow abandoned vehicles, and authorized salvors must follow notice procedures using PennDOT Form MV-952. Owners receive certified-mail notice and may reclaim by paying towing and storage fees. Unclaimed vehicles transfer to the salvor by application to PennDOT after the statutory waiting period.
Violations & Penalties
Owners who abandon vehicles face fines up to $300 per offense, plus towing and storage charges. Salvors who fail to follow notice rules forfeit title rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Pennsylvania municipality shorten the abandonment period?
How does an owner reclaim a towed abandoned vehicle?
Sources
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