{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1202.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1202.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1202.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1202.html"}],"law_id":75992,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75992,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1202","catch_line":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","history":"1968, c. 421, \u00a7 46.1-555.4; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 150; 2009, c. 664; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 374; 2024, c. 645.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person in possession of an abandoned vehicle shall initiate with the Department, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner, a search for the owner and\/or lienholder of record of the vehicle, requesting the name and address of the owner of record of the vehicle and all persons having security interests in the vehicle on record in the office of the Department, describing, if ascertainable, the vehicle by year, make, model, and vehicle identification number. A fee of $40 shall be paid to the Department at the time of application. Those fees shall be paid into the state treasury and set aside as a special, nonreverting fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department. A local government agency with a written agreement with the Department shall be exempt from this fee.\n\t\t\tThe Department shall check (i) its own records, (ii) the records of a nationally recognized crime database, and (iii) records of a nationally recognized vehicle title database for owner and lienholder information. If a vehicle has been reported as stolen, the Department shall notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency of that fact. If a vehicle has been found to have been titled in another jurisdiction, the Department shall contact that jurisdiction to ascertain the requested information, unless the Department is provided with such information by a business in possession of the abandoned vehicle that (a) acquired such vehicle from an insurance company in connection with a total loss unresolved claim and (b) obtained such information from a nationally recognized title database with access to such jurisdiction’s records about all entities having security interest in such vehicle. If the Department relies on information provided by a business as authorized in this subsection, such business shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Department and the Commonwealth harmless from and against any claims, actions, penalties, damages, losses, fines, and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the Department’s reliance on such information.B\n\nIf the Department obtains owner or lienholder information as provided in subsection A, the Department shall notify the owner, at the last known address of record, and lienholder, at the last known address of record, of the notice of interest in their vehicle, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and advise them to reclaim and remove the vehicle within 15 days, or, if the vehicle is a manufactured home or a mobile home, 120 days, from the date of notice. Such notice, when sent in accordance with these requirements, shall be sufficient regardless of whether or not it was ever received. Following the notice required in this subsection, if the vehicle remains unclaimed, the owner and all persons having security interests in the vehicle shall have waived all right, title, and interest in the vehicle.C\n\nIf records of the Department contain no address for the owner or no address of any person shown by the Department’s records to have a security interest, or if the identity and addresses of the owner and all persons having security interests cannot be determined with reasonable certainty after the Department has contacted the jurisdiction in which the vehicle was last titled, the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle may proceed with the sale or disposal of the vehicle in accordance with this chapter. However, if a vehicle record exists in another jurisdiction that has refused to release the information to the Department, the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle shall assume all liability for proceeding with such sale or disposal without written notice to the owner or lienholder of record.D\n\nThe Department shall provide to the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle a receipt indicating that the search requested pursuant to this section has been completed.E\n\nResidents or businesses of other jurisdictions in possession of vehicles titled in the Commonwealth, or the authorized agents of such residents or businesses, seeking to enforce laws in those jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the provisions of this article or Article 2 (§ 46.2-1209 et seq.) may request information for such vehicles from the Department. The Department shall conduct the information search as provided for in subsection A, provide the names and addresses of the owner and lienholder, if any, for each vehicle to the requester, and notify the named owner and lienholder, if any, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the request. Such notification shall not replace any notification requirements imposed by the jurisdiction in which the requester and subject vehicle are located, nor shall the enforcement rules of this chapter apply to vehicles not located within the Commonwealth. If the Department finds that the vehicle is titled in another jurisdiction, the Department shall identify that jurisdiction to the requester with no further obligation to the requester or vehicle owner. The Department shall collect a $25 fee for this search.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":272802,"text":"Any person in possession of an abandoned vehicle shall initiate with the Department, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner, a search for the owner and\/or lienholder of record of the vehicle, requesting the name and address of the owner of record of the vehicle and all persons having security interests in the vehicle on record in the office of the Department, describing, if ascertainable, the vehicle by year, make, model, and vehicle identification number. A fee of $40 shall be paid to the Department at the time of application. Those fees shall be paid into the state treasury and set aside as a special, nonreverting fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department. A local government agency with a written agreement with the Department shall be exempt from this fee.\n\t\t\tThe Department shall check (i) its own records, (ii) the records of a nationally recognized crime database, and (iii) records of a nationally recognized vehicle title database for owner and lienholder information. If a vehicle has been reported as stolen, the Department shall notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency of that fact. If a vehicle has been found to have been titled in another jurisdiction, the Department shall contact that jurisdiction to ascertain the requested information, unless the Department is provided with such information by a business in possession of the abandoned vehicle that (a) acquired such vehicle from an insurance company in connection with a total loss unresolved claim and (b) obtained such information from a nationally recognized title database with access to such jurisdiction’s records about all entities having security interest in such vehicle. If the Department relies on information provided by a business as authorized in this subsection, such business shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Department and the Commonwealth harmless from and against any claims, actions, penalties, damages, losses, fines, and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the Department’s reliance on such information.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":272803,"text":"If the Department obtains owner or lienholder information as provided in subsection A, the Department shall notify the owner, at the last known address of record, and lienholder, at the last known address of record, of the notice of interest in their vehicle, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and advise them to reclaim and remove the vehicle within 15 days, or, if the vehicle is a manufactured home or a mobile home, 120 days, from the date of notice. Such notice, when sent in accordance with these requirements, shall be sufficient regardless of whether or not it was ever received. Following the notice required in this subsection, if the vehicle remains unclaimed, the owner and all persons having security interests in the vehicle shall have waived all right, title, and interest in the vehicle.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":272804,"text":"If records of the Department contain no address for the owner or no address of any person shown by the Department’s records to have a security interest, or if the identity and addresses of the owner and all persons having security interests cannot be determined with reasonable certainty after the Department has contacted the jurisdiction in which the vehicle was last titled, the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle may proceed with the sale or disposal of the vehicle in accordance with this chapter. However, if a vehicle record exists in another jurisdiction that has refused to release the information to the Department, the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle shall assume all liability for proceeding with such sale or disposal without written notice to the owner or lienholder of record.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":272805,"text":"The Department shall provide to the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle a receipt indicating that the search requested pursuant to this section has been completed.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":272806,"text":"Residents or businesses of other jurisdictions in possession of vehicles titled in the Commonwealth, or the authorized agents of such residents or businesses, seeking to enforce laws in those jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the provisions of this article or Article 2 (§ 46.2-1209 et seq.) may request information for such vehicles from the Department. The Department shall conduct the information search as provided for in subsection A, provide the names and addresses of the owner and lienholder, if any, for each vehicle to the requester, and notify the named owner and lienholder, if any, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the request. Such notification shall not replace any notification requirements imposed by the jurisdiction in which the requester and subject vehicle are located, nor shall the enforcement rules of this chapter apply to vehicles not located within the Commonwealth. If the Department finds that the vehicle is titled in another jurisdiction, the Department shall identify that jurisdiction to the requester with no further obligation to the requester or vehicle owner. The Department shall collect a $25 fee for this search.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15110,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandoned Vehicles","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13248,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:13","permalink":{"id":229709,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15110,"identifier":"1","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13248,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":229707,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13248,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61628,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/46.2-1200\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200","metadata":false},{"id":63283,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1200.1","catch_line":"Abandoning motor vehicles prohibited; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1200.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.1","metadata":false},{"id":76589,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1200.2","catch_line":"Vehicles registered to active duty military personnel","url":"\/46.2-1200.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.2","metadata":false},{"id":61648,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1200.3","catch_line":"Limitation on removal and sale of abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1200.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.3","metadata":false},{"id":60742,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1201","catch_line":"Ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1201\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1201","metadata":false},{"id":75992,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1202","catch_line":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","url":"\/46.2-1202\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202","metadata":false},{"id":77436,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1202.1","catch_line":"Vehicle Removal Certificates","url":"\/46.2-1202.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202.1","metadata":false},{"id":63644,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1202.2","catch_line":"Notice of intent to auction and sale of vehicle; posting requirements","url":"\/46.2-1202.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202.2","metadata":false},{"id":72914,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1203","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds","url":"\/46.2-1203\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1203","metadata":false},{"id":57574,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1204","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1204\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1204","metadata":false},{"id":82860,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1205","catch_line":"Disposition of inoperable abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1205\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1205","metadata":false},{"id":65709,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1206","catch_line":"Surrender of certificate of title, etc., where motor vehicle acquired for demolition; records to be kept by demolisher or scrap metal processor","url":"\/46.2-1206\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1206","metadata":false},{"id":74419,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1207","catch_line":"Certification of disposal; reimbursement of locality by Commissioner","url":"\/46.2-1207\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1207","metadata":false},{"id":61857,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1208","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1208\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1208","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60742,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1201","catch_line":"Ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1201\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1201","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":77436,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1202.1","catch_line":"Vehicle Removal Certificates","url":"\/46.2-1202.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1202\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1968. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 421 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1968 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1989, chapter 727; in 1997, chapter 150<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 664<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 645<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77436,"section_number":"46.2-1202.1","catch_line":"Vehicle Removal Certificates","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1202.1\/"},{"id":63644,"section_number":"46.2-1202.2","catch_line":"Notice of intent to auction and sale of vehicle; posting requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1202.2\/"},{"id":72914,"section_number":"46.2-1203","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1203\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":74116,"section_number":"46.2-1209","catch_line":"Unattended or immobile vehicles, generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1209\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229731,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75992,"identifier":"46.2-1202","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202","url":"\/46.2-1202\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1202\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202","dublin_core":{"Title":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1202","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person in possession<\/span> of an abandoned vehicle<\/span> shall initiate with the Department<\/span>, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner<\/span>, a search for the owner<\/span> and\/or lienholder of record of the vehicle<\/span>, requesting the name and address of the owner<\/span> of record of the vehicle<\/span> and all persons having security interests in the vehicle<\/span> on record in the office of the Department<\/span>, describing, if ascertainable, the vehicle<\/span> by year, make, model, and vehicle<\/span> identification number. A fee of $40 shall be paid to the Department<\/span> at the time of application. Those fees shall be paid into the state treasury and set aside as a special, nonreverting fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department<\/span>. A local government agency with a written agreement with the Department<\/span> shall be exempt from this fee.\n\t\t\tThe Department<\/span> shall check (i) its own records, (ii) the records of a nationally recognized crime<\/span> database, and (iii) records of a nationally recognized vehicle<\/span> title database for owner<\/span> and lienholder information. If a vehicle<\/span> has been reported as stolen, the Department<\/span> shall notify the appropriate law<\/span>-enforcement agency of that fact<\/span>. If a vehicle<\/span> has been found to have been titled in another jurisdiction<\/span>, the Department<\/span> shall contact that jurisdiction<\/span> to ascertain the requested information, unless the Department<\/span> is provided with such information by a business in possession<\/span> of the abandoned vehicle<\/span> that (a) acquired such vehicle<\/span> from an insurance company in connection with a total loss unresolved claim and (b) obtained such information from a nationally recognized title database with access to such jurisdiction<\/span>’s records about all entities having security interest in such vehicle<\/span>. If the Department<\/span> relies on information provided by a business as authorized in this subsection, such business shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Department<\/span> and the Commonwealth harmless from and against any claims, actions, penalties, damages<\/span>, losses, fines, and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the Department<\/span>’s reliance on such information. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the Department<\/span> obtains owner<\/span> or lienholder information as provided in subsection A, the Department<\/span> shall notify the owner<\/span>, at the last known address of record, and lienholder, at the last known address of record, of the notice of interest in their vehicle<\/span>, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and advise them to reclaim and remove the vehicle<\/span> within 15 days, or, if the vehicle<\/span> is a manufactured home<\/span> or a mobile home, 120 days, from the date of notice. Such notice, when sent in accordance with these requirements, shall be sufficient regardless of whether or not it was ever received. Following the notice required in this subsection, if the vehicle<\/span> remains unclaimed, the owner<\/span> and all persons having security interests in the vehicle<\/span> shall have waived all right, title, and interest in the vehicle<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If records of the Department<\/span> contain no address for the owner<\/span> or no address of any person shown by the Department<\/span>’s records to have a security interest, or if the identity and addresses of the owner<\/span> and all persons having security interests cannot be determined with reasonable certainty after the Department<\/span> has contacted the jurisdiction<\/span> in which the vehicle<\/span> was last titled, the person in possession<\/span> of the abandoned vehicle<\/span> may proceed with the sale or disposal of the vehicle<\/span> in accordance with this chapter. However, if a vehicle<\/span> record exists in another jurisdiction<\/span> that has refused to release the information to the Department<\/span>, the person in possession<\/span> of the abandoned vehicle<\/span> shall assume all liability for proceeding with such sale or disposal without written notice to the owner<\/span> or lienholder of record. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall provide to the person in possession<\/span> of the abandoned vehicle<\/span> a receipt indicating that the search requested pursuant to this section has been completed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Residents or businesses of other jurisdictions<\/span> in possession<\/span> of vehicles<\/span> titled in the Commonwealth, or the authorized agents<\/span> of such residents or businesses, seeking to enforce laws<\/span> in those jurisdictions<\/span> that are substantially similar to the provisions of this article or Article 2 (§ 46.2-1209<\/a> et seq.) may request information for such vehicles<\/span> from the Department<\/span>. The Department<\/span> shall conduct the information search as provided for in subsection A, provide the names and addresses of the owner<\/span> and lienholder, if any, for each vehicle<\/span> to the requester, and notify the named owner<\/span> and lienholder, if any, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the request. Such notification shall not replace any notification requirements imposed by the jurisdiction<\/span> in which the requester and subject vehicle<\/span> are located, nor shall the enforcement rules of this chapter apply to vehicles<\/span> not located within the Commonwealth. If the Department<\/span> finds that the vehicle<\/span> is titled in another jurisdiction<\/span>, the Department<\/span> shall identify that jurisdiction<\/span> to the requester with no further obligation to the requester or vehicle<\/span> owner<\/span>. The Department<\/span> shall collect a $25 fee for this search. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSEARCH FOR OWNER AND SECURED PARTY; NOTICE (\u00a7 46.2-1202)\n\nA. Any person in possession of an abandoned vehicle shall initiate with the\nDepartment, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner, a search for the owner\nand\/or lienholder of record of the vehicle, requesting the name and address of\nthe owner of record of the vehicle and all persons having security interests in\nthe vehicle on record in the office of the Department, describing, if\nascertainable, the vehicle by year, make, model, and vehicle identification\nnumber. A fee of $40 shall be paid to the Department at the time of application.\nThose fees shall be paid into the state treasury and set aside as a special,\nnonreverting fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department. A local\ngovernment agency with a written agreement with the Department shall be exempt\nfrom this fee.\n\t\t\tThe Department shall check (i) its own records, (ii) the records of a\nnationally recognized crime database, and (iii) records of a nationally\nrecognized vehicle title database for owner and lienholder information. If a\nvehicle has been reported as stolen, the Department shall notify the appropriate\nlaw-enforcement agency of that fact. If a vehicle has been found to have been\ntitled in another jurisdiction, the Department shall contact that jurisdiction\nto ascertain the requested information, unless the Department is provided with\nsuch information by a business in possession of the abandoned vehicle that (a)\nacquired such vehicle from an insurance company in connection with a total loss\nunresolved claim and (b) obtained such information from a nationally recognized\ntitle database with access to such jurisdiction’s records about all\nentities having security interest in such vehicle. If the Department relies on\ninformation provided by a business as authorized in this subsection, such\nbusiness shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Department and the Commonwealth\nharmless from and against any claims, actions, penalties, damages, losses,\nfines, and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the\nDepartment’s reliance on such information.\n\nB. If the Department obtains owner or lienholder information as provided in\nsubsection A, the Department shall notify the owner, at the last known address\nof record, and lienholder, at the last known address of record, of the notice of\ninterest in their vehicle, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and\nadvise them to reclaim and remove the vehicle within 15 days, or, if the vehicle\nis a manufactured home or a mobile home, 120 days, from the date of notice. Such\nnotice, when sent in accordance with these requirements, shall be sufficient\nregardless of whether or not it was ever received. Following the notice required\nin this subsection, if the vehicle remains unclaimed, the owner and all persons\nhaving security interests in the vehicle shall have waived all right, title, and\ninterest in the vehicle.\n\nC. If records of the Department contain no address for the owner or no address\nof any person shown by the Department’s records to have a security\ninterest, or if the identity and addresses of the owner and all persons having\nsecurity interests cannot be determined with reasonable certainty after the\nDepartment has contacted the jurisdiction in which the vehicle was last titled,\nthe person in possession of the abandoned vehicle may proceed with the sale or\ndisposal of the vehicle in accordance with this chapter. However, if a vehicle\nrecord exists in another jurisdiction that has refused to release the\ninformation to the Department, the person in possession of the abandoned vehicle\nshall assume all liability for proceeding with such sale or disposal without\nwritten notice to the owner or lienholder of record.\n\nD. The Department shall provide to the person in possession of the abandoned\nvehicle a receipt indicating that the search requested pursuant to this section\nhas been completed.\n\nE. Residents or businesses of other jurisdictions in possession of vehicles\ntitled in the Commonwealth, or the authorized agents of such residents or\nbusinesses, seeking to enforce laws in those jurisdictions that are\nsubstantially similar to the provisions of this article or Article 2 (§\n46.2-1209 et seq.) may request information for such vehicles from the\nDepartment. The Department shall conduct the information search as provided for\nin subsection A, provide the names and addresses of the owner and lienholder, if\nany, for each vehicle to the requester, and notify the named owner and\nlienholder, if any, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the request.\nSuch notification shall not replace any notification requirements imposed by the\njurisdiction in which the requester and subject vehicle are located, nor shall\nthe enforcement rules of this chapter apply to vehicles not located within the\nCommonwealth. If the Department finds that the vehicle is titled in another\njurisdiction, the Department shall identify that jurisdiction to the requester\nwith no further obligation to the requester or vehicle owner. The Department\nshall collect a $25 fee for this search.\n\nHISTORY: 1968, c. 421, \u00a7 46.1-555.4; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 150; 2009, c. 664;\n2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 374; 2024, c. 645.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}