State guide
West Virginia
West Virginia defines an abandoned motor vehicle in state code using a more-than-five-day rule on both public and private property. The DMV’s abandoned-title process is tightly limited: ordinary abandoned titles are for licensed businesses, while a separate antique-abandoned path exists for vehicles 25 years old or older left on private land.
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
- Under West Virginia Code §17-24A-1, an abandoned motor vehicle includes an inoperative vehicle left on public property for over five days or left on private property without consent for over five days.
- Removing one from private property
- Under West Virginia Code §17-24A-3, an enforcement agency may remove an abandoned vehicle from private property only after giving the property owner and ascertainable vehicle owner a 30-day registered or certified mail notice unless the vehicle is restored to functional use.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- WV DMV says ordinary abandoned titles may be applied for only by licensed towing companies, licensed dealers, repair facilities, auto auctions, and salvage yards, while private property owners may use the antique-abandoned process for vehicles 25 years old or older.
- State agency
- West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
Official resources in West Virginia
Official DMV page with abandoned vehicle title rules, who may apply, and links to required forms.
Official statutory definitions of abandoned and junked motor vehicles.
Official statute on removal from public and private property, including notice before private-property removal.
Official notice and reclaim procedure after an enforcement agency takes custody of an abandoned vehicle.
Key facts for West Virginia
- WV Code §17-24A-1: a vehicle on public property is abandoned after more than five days if inoperative.
- WV Code §17-24A-1: a vehicle on private property without consent is abandoned after more than five days.
- WV Code §17-24A-3: before private-property removal, enforcement must mail a 30-day notice unless the vehicle is restored to functional use.
- WV Code §17-24A-4: after custody, owner and lienholders get certified-mail notice and 10 days to reclaim.
- WV DMV Titles: only licensed towing companies, dealers, repair facilities, auto auctions, and salvage yards may apply for ordinary abandoned titles.
- WV DMV Titles: private property owners may claim abandoned antique vehicles that are 25 years old or older.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in West Virginia
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Charleston - Vehicles abandoned Kanawha | Charleston | 304-348-6470 | City call-list entry for reporting abandoned vehicles. |
| City of Charleston - Vehicles/Junk on Prop. Kanawha | Charleston | 304-348-8105 | City call-list entry for junk vehicles on property. |
| Morgantown 311 Monongalia | Morgantown | 304-284-7405 | City service-request portal that lists Abandoned Vehicle among report categories. |
| City of Huntington 311 Cabell | Huntington | Not published* | City portal for submitting and tracking service requests; official city page says it is an online portal and mobile app. |
| City of Huntington Report page Cabell | Huntington | Not published* | General city reporting page residents use to start service requests. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the vehicle is on private land, document the VIN, plates, photos, and the date it first sat there without consent.
- For a non-antique vehicle, expect to work through local enforcement and licensed tow or repair businesses rather than titling it yourself.
- If the vehicle is 25 years old or older, review the DMV antique-abandoned checklist before moving or dismantling it.
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 West Virginia's population center, for comparison only):
- 311 Response Center, Pennsylvania · about 117 miles
- Operations Branch - Abandoned Cars, Pennsylvania · about 117 miles
- Columbus 311 Customer Service Center, Ohio · about 150 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.WV DMV Titles page
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the West Virginia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.