Abandoned Vehicles in Texas: Definition and Disposal Through the TxDMV in 2026

When a vehicle is abandoned

The TxDMV's abandoned vehicles page lists six cases: a vehicle that is inoperable, more than five years old and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours; one that has remained illegally on public property for more than 48 hours; one on private property without the consent of the owner or the person in charge of the property for more than 48 hours; one left unattended on the right-of-way of a designated county, state or federal highway for more than 48 hours; one left unattended for more than 24 hours on the right-of-way of a Texas Turnpike Authority project or a controlled access highway; and an impounded commercial motor vehicle at a storage facility whose delinquent administrative penalty has not been paid to the Department of Public Safety by the 11th day after impoundment.

The Certificate of Authority

A person or entity that needs to dispose of a motor vehicle to a demolisher applies to the TxDMV for a Certificate of Authority, which facilitates the transfer for crushing and destruction. Three kinds of applicant may do so, including an entity or a unit of government: the recorded owner; a person to whom ownership of the vehicle has been transferred; and a person who holds an abandoned vehicle in their possession or on property they own. The documents follow the applicant: a vehicle last titled in Texas needs the Texas title surrendered unless it is lost or destroyed, or unless the TxDMV can verify the applicant as owner in its system; a vehicle last titled outside Texas needs the out-of-state title in the applicant's name; and an applicant who is not the recorded owner submits a certificate of title or other valid ownership evidence showing the transfer, such as a manufacturer's certificate of origin, a registration receipt for a non-titled vehicle, or a law enforcement auction sales receipt.

The 20-day notice

When the applicant is neither the recorded owner nor holds evidence of a transfer, the TxDMV must notify by first class mail every owner and lienholder it can identify, and when it finds no motor vehicle record it posts the notification on its list of abandoned motor vehicles. In either case the owners and lienholders have 20 days to claim the vehicle, and if it stays unclaimed the certificate is issued on the 21st day after the notice was mailed or posted.

The application

Complete the Application for Authority to Dispose of a Motor Vehicle to a Demolisher (VTR-71-2) and submit it with the required documents and the $2 application fee by check or money order payable to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, ATTN: Title Control Systems, Austin, Texas 78779-0001. The TxDMV says not to mail cash, that credit or debit cards and temporary checks are not accepted, and that the fee is non-refundable; questions go to the division at (512) 465-5659, option 1. Related forms on the TxDMV's forms page: the applications for an abandoned nuisance vehicle (VTR-71-6) and an abated public nuisance vehicle (VTR-71-4), the sales receipt for an unclaimed seized vehicle (VTR-71-8), the bill of sale for a junk motor vehicle (VTR-203), and the surrendered ownership evidence forms for vehicles to be dismantled or destroyed (VTR-340 and VTR-340-M).

Questions about abandoned vehicles

When is a vehicle abandoned under Texas law?

In the TxDMV's list: inoperable, more than five years old and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours; illegally on public property for more than 48 hours; on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge for more than 48 hours; unattended on the right-of-way of a county, state or federal highway for more than 48 hours; unattended on a turnpike or controlled access highway for more than 24 hours; or an impounded commercial vehicle whose administrative penalty to DPS is unpaid by the 11th day.

What is a Certificate of Authority?

A TxDMV document that lets a person transfer a motor vehicle to a demolisher to be crushed and destroyed, applied for on form VTR-71-2 with a $2 fee by the recorded owner, a person to whom ownership was transferred, or a person who has an abandoned vehicle in possession or on their property.

How does the owner get notice?

When the applicant is not the recorded owner and has no transfer evidence, the TxDMV notifies any owners and lienholders it can identify by first class mail, or posts the vehicle on its abandoned vehicles list when it finds no record; they have 20 days to claim it, and the certificate issues on the 21st day.

What do I send with the application?

The Texas title if the vehicle was last titled here and the title is not lost (not needed when the TxDMV can verify ownership in its system), the out-of-state title in your name if last titled elsewhere, or for a transferred vehicle a title or other ownership evidence such as a certificate of origin, a registration receipt for a non-titled vehicle or a law enforcement auction receipt; plus the $2 by check or money order payable to the TxDMV, no cash, cards or temporary checks, non-refundable.

Where does it go?

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, ATTN: Title Control Systems, Austin, Texas 78779-0001; questions to the division at (512) 465-5659, option 1.

Is this how a city removes a nuisance vehicle?

The TxDMV's forms page carries separate applications for authority to dispose of an abandoned nuisance vehicle (VTR-71-6) and an abated public nuisance vehicle (VTR-71-4), and a sales receipt for an unclaimed seized vehicle (VTR-71-8), alongside the VTR-71-2 for other applicants.