{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1203.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1203.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1203.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1203.html"}],"law_id":72914,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72914,"structure_id":15110,"section_number":"46.2-1203","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds","history":"1968, c. 421, \u00a7 46.1-555.5; 1989, c. 727; 2004, c. 369; 2013, c. 241; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 374.","full_text":"If an abandoned vehicle in the possession of a locality or an authorized agent is not reclaimed as provided for in \u00a7 46.2-1202, the locality or its authorized agent shall, notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-617, sell it at public auction. For the purposes of this article, “public auction,” when conducted by any county, city, or town, shall include an Internet sale by auction. The purchaser of the vehicle shall take title to the vehicle free of all liens and claims of ownership of others, shall receive a sales receipt from the sale, and shall be entitled to apply to and receive from the Department a certificate of title and registration card for the vehicle upon submission of the sales receipt, the completed Vehicle Removal Certificate, and the receipt produced by the Department pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. The sales receipt from the sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling, and in that case no further titling of the vehicle shall be necessary; however, such demolisher shall provide the Department acceptable documentation indicating that the vehicle has been demolished. From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned vehicle the locality or its authorized agent shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned vehicle in custody, and all costs, if any, incurred pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the abandoned vehicle or any person having security interests in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days, and then be deposited into the treasury of the locality in which the abandoned vehicle was abandoned.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":262660,"text":"If an abandoned vehicle in the possession of a locality or an authorized agent is not reclaimed as provided for in \u00a7 46.2-1202, the locality or its authorized agent shall, notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-617, sell it at public auction. For the purposes of this article, “public auction,” when conducted by any county, city, or town, shall include an Internet sale by auction. The purchaser of the vehicle shall take title to the vehicle free of all liens and claims of ownership of others, shall receive a sales receipt from the sale, and shall be entitled to apply to and receive from the Department a certificate of title and registration card for the vehicle upon submission of the sales receipt, the completed Vehicle Removal Certificate, and the receipt produced by the Department pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. The sales receipt from the sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling, and in that case no further titling of the vehicle shall be necessary; however, such demolisher shall provide the Department acceptable documentation indicating that the vehicle has been demolished. From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned vehicle the locality or its authorized agent shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned vehicle in custody, and all costs, if any, incurred pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the abandoned vehicle or any person having security interests in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days, and then be deposited into the treasury of the locality in which the abandoned vehicle was abandoned.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1203\/","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 3 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 2004, chapter 369<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 241<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69665,"section_number":"46.2-1603.1","catch_line":"Duties of licensees","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1603.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75992,"section_number":"46.2-1202","catch_line":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1202\/"},{"id":86372,"section_number":"46.2-617","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle without certificate of title","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-617\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229743,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72914,"identifier":"46.2-1203","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1203","url":"\/46.2-1203\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1203\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1203","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1203","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If an abandoned vehicle in the possession<\/span> of a locality or an authorized agent<\/span> is not reclaimed as provided for in \u00a7 46.2-1202<\/a>, the locality or its authorized agent<\/span> shall, notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-617<\/a>, sell it at public auction. For the purposes of this article, “public auction,” when conducted by any county, city, or town, shall include an Internet sale by auction. The purchaser of the vehicle shall take title to the vehicle free of all liens<\/span> and claims of ownership of others, shall receive a sales receipt from the sale, and shall be entitled to apply to and receive from the Department<\/span> a certificate of title and registration card for the vehicle upon submission of the sales receipt, the completed Vehicle Removal Certificate<\/span>, and the receipt produced by the Department<\/span> pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202<\/a>. The sales receipt from the sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling, and in that case no further titling of the vehicle shall be necessary; however, such demolisher shall provide the Department<\/span> acceptable documentation indicating that the vehicle has been demolished. From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned vehicle the locality or its authorized agent<\/span> shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned vehicle in custody<\/span>, and all costs, if any, incurred pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202<\/a>. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner<\/span> of the abandoned vehicle or any person having security interests in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days, and then be deposited into the treasury of the locality in which the abandoned vehicle was abandoned.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSALE OF VEHICLE AT PUBLIC AUCTION BY LOCALITY; DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS (\u00a7\n46.2-1203)\n\nIf an abandoned vehicle in the possession of a locality or an authorized agent\nis not reclaimed as provided for in \u00a7 46.2-1202, the locality or its authorized\nagent shall, notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-617, sell it at public\nauction. For the purposes of this article, “public auction,” when\nconducted by any county, city, or town, shall include an Internet sale by\nauction. The purchaser of the vehicle shall take title to the vehicle free of\nall liens and claims of ownership of others, shall receive a sales receipt from\nthe sale, and shall be entitled to apply to and receive from the Department a\ncertificate of title and registration card for the vehicle upon submission of\nthe sales receipt, the completed Vehicle Removal Certificate, and the receipt\nproduced by the Department pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. The sales receipt from the\nsale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the vehicle to\na demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling, and in that case no\nfurther titling of the vehicle shall be necessary; however, such demolisher\nshall provide the Department acceptable documentation indicating that the\nvehicle has been demolished. From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned\nvehicle the locality or its authorized agent shall reimburse itself for the\nexpenses of the auction, the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle\nwhich resulted from placing the abandoned vehicle in custody, and all costs, if\nany, incurred pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-1202. Any remainder from the proceeds of a\nsale shall be held for the owner of the abandoned vehicle or any person having\nsecurity interests in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days,\nand then be deposited into the treasury of the locality in which the abandoned\nvehicle was abandoned.\n\nHISTORY: 1968, c. 421, \u00a7 46.1-555.5; 1989, c. 727; 2004, c. 369; 2013, c. 241;\n2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 374.","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}}