How To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in North Dakota

Claiming an abandoned vehicle in North Dakota involves adherence to statutory procedures established by Chapter 23.1-15 of the North Dakota Century Code and the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The process varies based on vehicle value, ownership identifiability, and whether the vehicle is held by a unit of government or a commercial towing service. Strict compliance with notice, waiting periods, and documentation requirements is necessary to obtain legal title to the vehicle.

What Qualifies as an Abandoned Vehicle in North Dakota

An abandoned motor vehicle in North Dakota is defined as a motor vehicle that has remained for more than 48 hours on public property illegally, or that lacks essential parts such as the motor, drivetrain, or wheels, or is located on private property without consent of the property owner, or is in an inoperable condition with no substantial potential for further use. Exceptions exist for antique automobiles as defined by state law, special-interest vehicles, parts cars owned by collectors, and motor vehicles kept in enclosed garages or storage buildings.

The statutory definition encompasses multiple categories:

Vehicles abandoned on public property for more than 48 hours. A motor vehicle left on public grounds, highways, or other publicly accessible areas without authorization qualifies as abandoned.
Vehicles on private property without owner consent. Motor vehicles left on private property without the permission of the property owner or occupant, whether operable or inoperable, are classified as abandoned.
Vehicles lacking essential mechanical parts. Motor vehicles missing critical components—such as the engine, transmission, or wheels—that prevent self-propulsion qualify as abandoned regardless of duration.
Inoperable vehicles with no practical utility. Motor vehicles in an inoperable condition with no substantial potential for further use in their original intended manner meet the definition.

Vehicles valued at $1,000 or less for which the owner, lienholders, or secured parties cannot be identified with reasonable certainty after a search of Department of Transportation records are immediately eligible for disposal and do not require the notice, reclamation, or title procedures outlined in the statute.

Process To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in North Dakota

Understanding the Abandoned Vehicle Process

North Dakota's statutory framework establishes distinct procedures based on vehicle value and owner identifiability. For vehicles valued at more than $1,000 or for which identifiable owners exist, the process requires notice to the registered owner and lienholders, a 30-day waiting period during which the owner may reclaim the vehicle, and subsequent disposition through public auction or at permitted scrap-iron processor facilities. Units of government and commercial towing services are the primary entities authorized to take custody of abandoned vehicles. Private parties do not acquire ownership through possession alone; instead, legal title vests only upon completion of the statutory disposal procedures and receipt of a receipt from the unit of government or towing service.

Request Vehicle Information from the Department of Transportation

The entity taking custody of an abandoned vehicle must first determine the vehicle's registered owner and lienholder information. Complete and submit Request for Vehicle Information (Form SFN 51269) with a $3 processing fee. The form must designate exception 7 (for use in providing notice to the owner or lienholder of a towed or impounded vehicle) and include the towing company contact information. Submit the form and payment by mail to the Motor Vehicle Division, 608 E Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0780. If the Department's records do not identify the vehicle's registered owner or if the vehicle was last titled in another state, contact the motor vehicle authority in that state to obtain certified ownership information. If the registered owner and all lienholders cannot be determined after a reasonable search, the vehicle may qualify for immediate disposal.

Send Certified Notice to Registered Owner and Lienholder

Notice to the registered owner and all readily identifiable lienholders or secured parties must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 10 days of taking custody or within 10 days after communications with the owner, lienholder, or identifiable secured parties cease.

The notice must include the following information:

License plate number and state of registration
Location from which the vehicle was towed
Location where the vehicle is stored
Towing company name, address, and telephone number
Description of the vehicle, including make, model, year, and color
Date and place of towing
Vehicle's serial number

The notice must inform the owner and lienholders of their right to reclaim the vehicle within 30 days upon payment of all towing and storage charges and must clearly state that failure to reclaim the vehicle within 30 days constitutes a waiver of all ownership rights and consent to disposal.

Allow the 30-Day Reclamation Period

The registered owner, lienholder, or secured party has 30 days from receipt of certified notice (or from the date the notice is returned as undeliverable) to reclaim the vehicle by paying all accumulated towing and storage charges. Storage charges for abandoned passenger vehicles, pickups, vans, and trucks with a registered gross weight not exceeding 20,000 pounds are limited to $50 per day. If the owner or lienholder redeems the vehicle during this period, the vehicle is released, and the process ends. If no reclamation occurs by the end of the 30-day period, ownership rights are deemed waived, and the holder may proceed with disposal.

Publish Notice if Owner Cannot Be Identified

If the identity and address of the registered owner and all lienholders cannot be determined with reasonable certainty after searching Department of Transportation records, notice must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle was abandoned or posted on the official website of the unit of government that initiated the impound process from public property. Website notices must remain posted in a designated area for at least 30 days and must include all information required in certified notices. Published notices may be grouped together for convenience and economy. The owner must allow a minimum of 30 days from the publication date of the newspaper or the website posting date before proceeding with disposal.

Conduct Public Auction or Obtain Scrap Processor Release

For abandoned vehicles valued at more than $1,000 that are not reclaimed, the entity holding the vehicle may sell the vehicle to the highest bidder at public auction or sale following reasonable published notice. The purchaser must be provided a receipt in a form prescribed by the Department of Transportation. This receipt entitles the purchaser to register the vehicle and receive a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership. Alternatively, the entity may obtain a release from the Department of Transportation that is sufficient title to dispose of the vehicle to a permitted scrap iron processor. License plates displayed on the abandoned vehicle must be removed and destroyed upon receipt of a new title or prior to disposal.

Generate Receipt and Apply for Title

Following purchase at a public auction or obtaining a release from the Department, the purchaser must complete the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration of a Vehicle (Form SFN 2872). Submit the application along with the receipt obtained from the unit of government or towing service, the Indemnifying Affidavit (Form SFN 60662), proof of legal name (if applying as a business), and the applicable fees. The affidavit must specifically detail the legal authorization for towing or recovery of the vehicle. If the certified mail notice was returned as undeliverable, include the entire letter and envelope with the title application. If a certified copy of vehicle information from another state was obtained, include that documentation.

Apply for Certificate of Title

The title application must be filed with the Motor Vehicle Division at 608 E Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0780. The applicant must submit the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration of a Vehicle (Form SFN 2872), the receipt issued by the unit of government or towing service, and supporting documentation. The Motor Vehicle Division will issue a North Dakota certificate of title free and clear of all liens and claims, provided all required fees and documentation are in order. The title fee is $5. An abandoned vehicle disposal fee of $1.50 applies upon initial application for the North Dakota certificate of title. No motor vehicle excise tax applies to vehicles transferred under the abandoned vehicle disposal provisions.

Special Provisions for Antique Vehicles and Collectors

Antique automobiles (40 years old or older) and other motor vehicles, to include parts cars and special interest vehicles, may not be considered abandoned vehicles under Chapter 23.1-15. A collector may store unlicensed, operable, or inoperable vehicles and car parts on the collector's property, provided the vehicles and storage area are maintained so they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by a fence, trees, shrubbery, or other appropriate means. Collectors should verify that any vehicle believed to be an antique or special-interest vehicle qualifies for these protections before removing it from private property.

Maintain Records

All records related to the abandoned vehicle custody, notice, and disposal must be maintained. Required documentation includes copies of the Request for Vehicle Information form (SFN 51269), the owner and lienholder information provided by the Department, copies of all certified mail notices sent, return receipt documentation, proof of newspaper publication or website posting if applicable, the affidavit of ownership or legal authorization, proof of the vehicle's disposition through auction or disposal, and all receipts and payment documentation. Records must be retained in accordance with Department requirements and remain subject to agency audit or verification.

North Dakota Storage Fees and Financial Considerations

Storage Charge Limitations

Storage charges assessed by a commercial towing service or a unit of government are limited to $50 per day for abandoned passenger vehicles, pickups, vans, and trucks with a registered gross weight not exceeding 20,000 pounds. Heavier vehicles and other vehicle types may have different storage rates. Storage charges accrue from the date the vehicle is taken into custody. However, a commercial towing service that violates the notice requirement under the statute may not collect storage fees and must return the motor vehicle to the registered owner at no cost. Charges for towing and storage are recoverable by the entity holding the vehicle from the proceeds of a public auction sale.

Application of Sale Proceeds and Reimbursement

From the proceeds of a public auction sale of an abandoned vehicle, the unit of government or commercial towing service may reimburse itself for the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle and for all notice and publication costs incurred under the statute. Any remaining sale proceeds must be held for the vehicle owner, the entitled lienholder, or the secured parties for 90 days. After 90 days, unclaimed funds must be delivered to the state abandoned property office in accordance with Chapter 47-30.2 of the North Dakota Century Code. If a vehicle does not sell at public auction and no bid is received, the unit of government or commercial towing service that is a permitted scrap iron processor may dispose of the abandoned vehicle through a permitted scrap iron processor.

Reimbursement for Units of Government and Towing Services

The Department of Environmental Quality may reimburse a unit of government for costs incurred in the disposal of abandoned vehicles, including incentive payments to owners who voluntarily surrender abandoned vehicles to permitted scrap iron processors. The Department may also reimburse a commercial towing service that is a permitted scrap iron processor for towing, up to 30 days of storage charges, and disposal of an abandoned vehicle if the owner, lienholders, or secured parties cannot be identified with reasonable certainty. Reimbursement requests must be made on forms available from the Department and are subject to legislative appropriation limitations and Department discretion.

Contact Information

North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
608 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0780
Phone: (701) 328-2725
Official Website: North Dakota Department of Transportation