Selling Abandoned Vehicles 

Determining the vehicle's previous owner

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, owner information is available on request to a representative of a towing company or garage (upon payment of the applicable fee for the purpose of locating the owner of an impounded vehicle for which storage charges are due).

Selling abandoned vehicles

Only warehouse keepers and mechanics (lien holder) are permitted to sell abandoned vehicles. 

Warehouse Keepers

If a vehicle has been stored and no work commissioned, the following steps must be taken to sell an abandoned vehicle, as per the  Warehouse Keepers Lien Act:

1. Within two months of deposit of the vehicle, a notice of lien and a notice of sale must be sent to the vehicle owner and anyone else with a security interest.   
    
   A notice of lien must contain:  
   ◦ the vehicle identification number (VIN)
   ◦ vehicle make and model
   ◦ warehouse location
   ◦ date of vehicle deposit
   ◦ name of depositor
   ◦ a statement that refers to the Act.  
    
   A notice of sale must contain:  
   ◦ the vehicle identification number (VIN)
   ◦ vehicle make and model
   ◦ location of the warehouse
   ◦ date of vehicle deposit
   ◦ name of depositor
   ◦ an itemized statement of charges.
   ◦ a demand that the charges be paid and statement that the vehicle will be sold by public auction unless charges are paid within 21 days of expected notice delivery.
   
   
2. Once 21 days have passed without payment, an advertisement must appear in a local newspaper once a week for two weeks and must contain:  
   ◦VIN
   ◦vehicle make and model
   ◦the vehicle owner
   ◦the location and time of public auction, which must be at least 30 days after the publication of the first advertisement.
   
   
3. Once sold, any surplus proceeds must be given to the previous vehicle owner, as the intent of a public auction is to recover costs.

Mechanics (lien holder)

If the vehicle has had work commissioned and the vehicle remains in the possession of the garage or mechanic, the following steps must be taken as per the  Mechanics Lien Act:

1. The vehicle can be sold after 90 days of costs owing.
2. A notice of sale must be delivered in person or by registered mail to the vehicle owner.
3. A notice of sale must be placed in a local newspaper and must contain:  
   ◦ name of person indebted
   ◦ the amount owing
   ◦ the vehicle identification number (VIN)
   ◦ vehicle make and model
   ◦ the time and location of sale
   ◦ the name of the auctioneer.
4. Once sold, any surplus proceeds must be given to the previous vehicle owner, as the intent of a public auction is to recover costs.

If the vehicle is no longer in your possession and a lien exists, the  Garage Keepers Lien Act, please contact the RCMP for more information