Significance

• A vehicle is considered abandoned under Michigan law in many cases including vehicles left on public property for more than two days and those left on the side of a state road. Vehicles that have been towed for reasons such as being parked in a tow-away zone or being a threat to public safety are also considered abandoned if not claimed by their owner within seven days.
  
  

Considerations

• Vehicle owners must visit the agency that is holding the abandoned vehicle, often a police department, towing company or impound lot, within 20 days of being mailed notification of the vehicle's status. Owners must pay any associated fees to have their vehicle released. If the vehicle is not claimed, all vehicle rights are lost and it is eligible for sale at a public auction.
  
  

Warning

• The vehicle owner, considered under Michigan law to be the person listed on the title, is responsible for paying all fees associated with the abandonment. State law defines abandonment as littering and may come with a fine, ranging from $500 to $2,500 as of December 2010.