State guide
Arizona
Arizona centralizes abandoned-vehicle ownership claims through ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division Abandoned Vehicle Unit. The state process is geared around a custody-and-notice system: if the vehicle qualifies and has been on the property more than 10 days, the applicant files Form 46-4402, gets an inspection, and MVD sends notices.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- ADOT says an abandoned vehicle is a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer subject to registration that has been lost, stolen, abandoned, or otherwise unclaimed on public or private property.
- Removing one from private property
- For a vehicle left on qualifying property, Arizona requires more than 10 days on the property, no written or verbal storage contract, and contact with law enforcement for towing because the Abandoned Vehicle Unit does not tow.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- Arizona MVD says a person with knowledge and custody files Form 46-4402, gets the vehicle inspected, MVD sends 30-day notices, and if the vehicle is not claimed ownership may be transferred free and clear to the applicant.
- State agency
- Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, Abandoned Vehicle Unit
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Arizona
ADOT MVD Abandoned Vehicles
Main state instructions page for abandoned vehicle eligibility, timing, inspection, notices, and ownership transfer.
Abandoned Vehicle Application (Form 46-4402)
Official form-library page for the application used by a person with possession of an abandoned vehicle.
Abandoned Vehicle Record Request
Official form-library page for requesting abandoned vehicle records and notices from MVD.
Abandoned Vehicle Report Filing
ADOT page stating that Arizona towing companies must file abandoned vehicle reports electronically.
Key facts for Arizona
- ADOT says a vehicle must be abandoned on the property for more than 10 days before a private claimant begins the ownership process.
- ADOT says the vehicle must not have been left under a written or verbal contract for storage.
- ADOT says MVD sends notice to the owner, lienholder, and other interested parties and gives them 30 days to reclaim the vehicle.
- ADOT requires an inspection before a private claimant submits the completed abandoned vehicle application.
- ADOT says a mailed abandoned vehicle application must include a $10.00 non-refundable check or money order payable to MVD.
- ADOT says the Abandoned Vehicle Unit does not tow vehicles or arrange towing and directs people to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Arizona
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| myPHX311 / Crime Stop Maricopa | Phoenix | 602-262-6151 | Official Phoenix page says residents can report inoperable, abandoned, and illegally parked vehicles on the street through Crime Stop non-emergency; the city also links to myPHX311. |
| Tucson 311 Pima | Tucson | Not published* | Official Tucson 311 service lists abandoned vehicles among non-emergency issues residents can report by phone, app, or online portal. |
| Environmental and General Services Department - Report Weeds, Trash, Junked Vehicles, and Other Code Violations Pima | Tucson | Not published* | Official Tucson page says code violations including junked vehicles are handled by Environmental and General Services and can be reported through Tucson 311. |
| Mesa Police - Abandoned Vehicles Maricopa | Mesa | Not published* | Official Mesa page says abandoned vehicles can only be reported there if they are on a public street and have not moved for more than 48 hours. |
| Scottsdale Police - Abandoned/Illegally Parked Vehicles Maricopa | Scottsdale | 480-312-5000 | Official Scottsdale Police page includes a report option for abandoned or illegally parked vehicles. |
| Chandler Police Department (non-emergency) Maricopa | Chandler | Not published* | Official Chandler code-enforcement brochure lists this number for abandoned vehicles and noise complaints. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use ADOT's abandoned-vehicle page first to confirm your situation qualifies; vehicles with a sales-paperwork problem or a storage contract do not qualify.
- Before mailing Form 46-4402, arrange the required inspection through MVD, a third party, or local law enforcement.
- If the vehicle is only a neighborhood nuisance on the street, start with the city's reporting channel or police non-emergency line rather than the ownership application.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Arizona's population center, for comparison only):
- Traffic Bureau online request, Nevada · about 245 miles
- Contact City, Nevada · about 262 miles
- Parking Services online request, Nevada · about 265 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.ADOT MVD Abandoned Vehicles
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Arizona page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.