State guide
Vermont
Vermont’s DMV has a dedicated Abandoned Vehicle Office and publishes a single statewide abandoned-vehicles page that covers definition, private-property removal, owner notice, and certification. Vermont law uses a 48-hour rule for vehicles with valid identifiers, but a vehicle can qualify sooner if it lacks a valid plate or VIN or law enforcement requests removal.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- “Abandoned motor vehicle” generally means a vehicle left more than 48 hours without consent on public or private property or along a highway, with faster qualification if identifiers are missing or law enforcement orders removal.
- Removing one from private property
- A private property owner may have an abandoned vehicle removed directly by contacting a towing service, but must immediately notify the police agency in that jurisdiction; a law enforcement officer may also order removal on the owner’s complaint.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- Vermont uses an abandoned motor vehicle certification process: the landowner or towing service files certification with DMV, DMV notifies any owner or lienholder it can identify, and if no one reclaims in time DMV issues a Certificate of Abandoned Motor Vehicle with an appropriate title or salvage title.
- State agency
- Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Abandoned Vehicle Office.
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Vermont
State DMV instructions for abandoned vehicles, including definition, removal from public or private property, certification, owner notice, and contact information.
Official statute page defining an abandoned motor vehicle in Vermont.
Official statute page on removal of abandoned vehicles from public and private property.
Official statute page on abandoned motor vehicle certification and DMV issuance of a certificate with title or salvage title.
DMV form used to start Vermont’s abandoned vehicle certification process.
Key facts for Vermont
- A Vermont vehicle with a valid plate or VIN is abandoned after more than 48 hours on public or private property without consent.
- A vehicle can qualify immediately if it lacks a valid plate or its public VIN was removed, destroyed, or altered.
- A private property owner may remove an abandoned vehicle and must immediately notify the local police agency with identifying details.
- Within 90 days after removal, the towing service or landowner must apply to DMV for abandoned motor vehicle certification.
- If DMV cannot identify an owner, it may issue a Certificate of Abandoned Motor Vehicle with an appropriate title or salvage title.
- DMV lists the Abandoned Vehicle Office contact as 802.828.2053 and DMV.AbandonedVehicles@vermont.gov.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Vermont
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Department / Burlington Police non-emergency parking option Chittenden | Burlington | (802) 658-2704 | Burlington’s police phone tree directs parking and towing questions to the Parking Department. |
| South Burlington Department of Public Works - Report a Problem Online Chittenden | South Burlington | 802-658-7961 | South Burlington DPW’s contact page links residents to the city’s online maintenance/problem reporting system. |
| Rutland City Police Department Parking Information Rutland | Rutland | Not published* | Rutland’s parking page states overnight restrictions and that violators may be ticketed and towed by the police department. |
| Winooski Police Department Chittenden | Winooski | 802 655 0221 | City police contact used for vehicle-related calls; Winooski’s code and media logs show abandoned-vehicle enforcement activity. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Photograph the vehicle and record the plate, VIN, make, model, color, and exact location before arranging removal.
- If you arrange a private-property tow yourself, notify the police agency immediately after removal with the identifying information DMV requires.
- If you want legal title rather than just removal, make sure the certification is filed within 90 days and use DMV form VN-012.
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 Vermont's population center, for comparison only):
- Report a Concern / Submit a Request, New Hampshire · about 87 miles
- Manchester NH Connect, New Hampshire · about 104 miles
- Public Works Service Requests — SeeClickFix, New Hampshire · about 115 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Vermont DMV Abandoned Vehicles
Website →Phone: (802) 828-2053 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Vermont page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.