Abandoned vehicles on my neighbors property?

Question

So I live in Washington.  I moved to this house about 4 or 5 years ago and one of the first things I noticed was that there was an old run down mobile home up the street abit.  It has 2 70's Chevy trucks and a 72 Buick skylark on the property.  All the cars seem like they need some work.  I've never seen the property owner or any other sorts of people going down there at all.  Is it possible to claim these vehicles as mine?  No one else is around at all and I like to work on project cars.  All the cars still have keys in them.

? · Accepted Answer

No, you cannot just STEAL a car off a neighbor's property.

I'm sure the town, county or state you live in has laws that limit the number of unlicensed or inoperable vehicles that can be stored on private residential property.  I'd talk to the local police agency and see what they can do to clean up the mess.

As an alternative, contact the County Clerk and find out who is the legal owner of the property and attempt to contact the owner to see if he is willing to sell one of his "project" cars.

monkeyboy · Answer

If you really want them, leave a note on the door of the trailer.

No, you have no claim to them, and if you call the county, if anything, they will just get scrapped.

Beware, as frustrating as it is, people like that are essentially hoarders. They have no understanding that they will be dead before they do anything with those vehicles, and by that time, they will be so rotten that they will be garbage anyways. Trust me, people like that are weird.

Nice that you'd like to fix something up, but there are plenty of projects out there that you legally attain. Might even put an ad in Craigslist and run it repeatedly. MAYBE you'll find someone that was going to donate a car (or scrap it) who would appreciate someone interested in actually saving the vehicle. If you put that in the ad, people might be more inclined to consider you. I'd certainly want something I had owned saved instead of destroyed.

sc0rpyo_nytes · Answer

What you are about to do is called theft or worse GTA, Grand Theft Auto.  The cars are not yours.  You will be doing some serious time if the owners of the car come looking for their property.

g · Answer

If the vehicles are not on your owned property your do not have legal claim.  Period.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi No they are his property, watch him appear with a gun if you go any where near the cars.

jon_mac_usa_007 · Answer

No, you cannot steal a car because you have never seen the owner, LOL.

Anonymous · Answer

What makes you think you can claim these vehicles as "yours"? Someone owns them.

? · Answer

i would contact the local sheriff and ask what you can do about it, the laws differ regarding abandoned property.

? · Answer

No that would be theft.   They obviously belong to someone so why would you think you could take them?

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Abandoned vehicles on my neighbors property?

9 Answers