Last Update: July 27, 2026

How To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in Idaho

Claiming an abandoned vehicle in Idaho is governed by Idaho Code Title 49, Chapter 18, which establishes a centralized process managed through the Idaho Transportation Department. The process involves notification requirements, a 30-day waiting period, and a title or junk certificate application through the state system. An abandoned vehicle becomes available for claim or title transfer only after statutory procedures are followed.

What Qualifies as an Abandoned Vehicle in Idaho

Under Idaho law, a motor vehicle is classified as abandoned under specific circumstances and for a specified duration. A vehicle meets the definition of abandoned when it is left unattended under the following conditions:

• Left on a highway or public property for more than 24 hours without a current license plate attached, or left in a location that presents a hazard or is in violation of parking regulations.
• Left on private property for more than 24 hours without permission of the person having rights to possession of the property.
• Left in a condition rendering it inoperable, including missing major components, extensive damage, or no current registration.

According to Idaho Code § 49-102, abandonment is defined as leaving a vehicle in a manner that indicates the owner has relinquished possession with no intention of reclaiming it. An authorized officer, such as a city police officer, sheriff, or county authority, determines whether a vehicle meets the abandoned classification when a report is made or upon observation.

Process To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in Idaho

Understanding the Abandoned Vehicle Process

When an authorized officer identifies an abandoned vehicle on public property, notice is attached to the vehicle. If the owner does not remove the vehicle within 48 hours of receiving notice, the vehicle may be towed and impounded by a licensed tow company. The vehicle is then reported to the Idaho Transportation Department through the online Abandoned Vehicle Portal. A 30-day holding period begins from the date the vehicle is first reported to the Department through the portal. During this period, the registered owner or lienholder may reclaim the vehicle by paying all towing and storage charges. After 30 days have expired with no claim, the tow company may apply for either a title or a junk certificate, depending on the vehicle's condition and value. Possession of an abandoned vehicle does not automatically convey ownership; title transfer occurs only upon completion of the statutory application process and issuance of a certificate of title by the Idaho Transportation Department.

Report the Unclaimed Vehicle

An authorized officer attaches a notice to the abandoned vehicle stating that it will be towed if not removed within 48 hours, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1805. The notice includes the name of the officer, the agency name, the date and time of the notice attachment, the removal deadline, and contact information for the agency. Once the 48-hour period expires and the vehicle is not moved, the authorized officer authorizes removal. After removal, the licensed tow company must report the abandoned vehicle to the Idaho Transportation Department using the Abandoned Vehicle Portal. This report must be made within one business day of the tow, excluding weekends and holidays. This report triggers the 30-day notification period and notifies the state of the vehicle's custody. The portal system automatically begins tracking the vehicle and generates notices to registered owners and lienholders.

Verify Title Records and Owner Information

The tow company reports the vehicle information, including the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate number, into the portal. The Idaho Transportation Department accesses state motor vehicle records to identify the registered owner, legal owner, and any lienholders. This information is automatically populated in the portal system and does not require the tow company to obtain certified title records separately.

If the vehicle lacks a VIN or the VIN cannot be located, the tow company must email Abandoned.Vehicles@itd.idaho.gov with quality photographs of the vehicle and VIN locations. Idaho Transportation Department will conduct a virtual VIN inspection and, if necessary, assign a VIN to the vehicle. Once assigned, the tow company enters the vehicle into the portal. If the VIN inspection reveals the actual VIN, the portal record is updated accordingly.

Send Required Notices

The Idaho Transportation Department automatically sends notifications to registered owners and lienholders identified in the state motor vehicle records. Under Idaho Code § 49-1807, notifications are sent according to the owner's preference for electronic or first-class mail delivery. For owners who have signed up for electronic notifications, the Department sends an initial electronic notification within one business day of the tow being reported in the portal, a second notice by first-class mail if not claimed within five business days, and a third notice by first-class mail if not claimed within fifteen business days. For owners without an electronic notification preference, the Department sends initial notification by first-class mail within one business day and a second notice by first-class mail if not claimed within ten business days. The notice includes information about the vehicle, its location, towing and storage charges, and the owner's rights to claim the vehicle, request a tow procedure hearing, or file a declaration of opposition. The registered owner or lienholder may claim the vehicle by contacting the towing facility and paying all accumulated towing and storage charges. The tow company must release the vehicle upon receipt of payment.

Allow the Statutory Waiting Period

A 30-day holding period runs from the date the Idaho Transportation Department sends the first notification to registered owners and lienholders, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1807(1)(c). During this period, the registered owner, legal owner, or lienholder may reclaim the vehicle by paying all towing, storage, and related charges. After 30 days have expired with no claim, the vehicle is deemed available for title application or junk certificate issuance. Storage charges accrue for a maximum of 60 days from the date of tow, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1814(3). If the tow was reported in the portal within one business day, storage fees begin from the date of tow. If the tow is not reported in the portal within one business day, storage fees do not begin accumulating until the towing company reports it in the portal.

File Notice of Sale, Auction, Or Transfer

In Idaho, the filing process does not involve a public auction or sale notice as in other states. Instead, after the 30-day holding period expires with no claim, the tow company files an application through the Abandoned Vehicle Portal for either a title or a junk certificate. The portal application is made to the Idaho Transportation Department in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1807(1)(b)(ii). This application constitutes the formal request for ownership transfer. No separate publication or public auction occurs under Idaho law for abandoned vehicles.

Publish Auction Notice

Idaho does not require publication of auction notices for abandoned vehicles, as abandoned vehicles are not sold at public auction. Instead, ownership transfers directly from the original owner to the tow company (the applicant) upon issuance of title by the Idaho Transportation Department. This process is managed entirely through the online Abandoned Vehicle Portal without public bidding or publication requirements.

Conduct the Public Auction Or Other Authorized Sale

Idaho law does not provide for public auction of abandoned vehicles. Title transfer occurs administratively through the Abandoned Vehicle Portal upon application and approval by the Idaho Transportation Department. The vehicle is titled directly to the tow company (the applicant) without competitive bidding. If a lien is recorded against the vehicle, the lienholder receives notice and has the right to claim the vehicle and satisfy the lien before title is issued. The title is issued clear of any liens after the 30-day notification period has elapsed, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1807(1)(c)(iii). No public sale mechanism applies in Idaho's abandoned vehicle process.

Complete The Bill Of Sale And Title Documents

When a title is issued to the tow company claiming an abandoned vehicle, the Idaho Transportation Department generates a certificate of title indicating the transfer of ownership. The tow company or applicant must complete an Indemnifying Affidavit (Form ITD-3410) when applying for title if no manufacturer's statement of origin or prior title documentation is available for the vehicle. This affidavit certifies the applicant's ownership and protects both the applicant and the state from future ownership claims. No junk certificate process exists under current Idaho law for abandoned vehicles; all vehicles receiving abandoned vehicle title are issued regular certificates of title by the Idaho Transportation Department.

Apply For Title

After 30 days have passed with no claim, the tow company or authorized possessor may apply for an abandoned vehicle title through the Abandoned Vehicle Portal. The application must include vehicle information (VIN and license plate number), proof of towing and storage charges, and any lienholder information from the portal records. The application is submitted electronically through the portal. The Idaho Transportation Department processes the application and, upon approval, issues a certificate of title. If a lien is recorded on the vehicle, the title is issued clear of any liens and delivered to the tow company as the new owner. The title constitutes legal proof of ownership and supersedes any prior claims on the vehicle, except for those expressly preserved under state law. No application filing fee is charged by the Idaho Transportation Department for abandoned vehicle title applications.

Bonded Title Or Surety Bond Requirements

Idaho does not require surety bonds, bonded titles, or indemnity bonds for abandoned vehicle title applications. The Indemnifying Affidavit (Form ITD-3410) is used when no manufacturer's statement of origin or prior title is available and serves as the protective instrument affirming the applicant's ownership and indemnifying the state against future claims.

Special Rules For Salvage, Rebuilt, Or Inoperable Vehicles

Under current Idaho law, all abandoned vehicles that meet the statutory definition and complete the 30-day holding period are eligible for standard title certificates issued by the Idaho Transportation Department. No separate category or procedure exists for salvage, rebuilt, or low-valued vehicles within the abandoned vehicle process under Idaho Code Chapter 18. Vehicles determined to be junk or beyond economic repair may be disposed of through authorized junk or recycling facilities, but the process for obtaining a title or a certificate of ownership follows the same abandoned-vehicle procedures. The determination of vehicle condition does not affect the statutory process for obtaining a title.

Maintain Records

Tow companies must maintain records of all vehicles reported through the Abandoned Vehicle Portal, including notification dates, storage charges, payment records, and title or certificate applications. These records are maintained in the Idaho Transportation Department's portal system and remain available to law enforcement for investigation purposes. Portal records are retained by the state for the duration of the abandoned vehicle claim process and thereafter maintained in the department's database for historical reference.

Idaho Storage Fees and Financial Considerations

Storage Fee Rules

Towing and storage charges are the responsibility of the registered vehicle owner. Towing charges and daily storage fees begin accruing immediately upon removal of the vehicle from its location. Under Idaho Code § 49-1814(3), the maximum storage period shall not exceed 60 days from the date of tow. If the tow was reported in the portal within one business day, excluding weekends and holidays, storage fees begin from the date of tow. If the tow is not reported in the portal within one business day, storage fees do not begin accumulating until the towing company reports it in the portal.

Towing And Recovery Charges

Towing companies are required to maintain and provide rate sheets to the Idaho Transportation Department for law enforcement-directed tows, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1814(2). The rate sheet must be made available to the public, posted at the towing company's place of business, and made available upon request to consumers. Tow fees shall not vary based on the value of the vehicle, and any charge more than what is reflected on the rate sheet for any service is deemed excessive. Individual tow company rates vary by company and location, consistent with local market conditions and posted rate sheets.

Disputes Over Charges

If an owner disputes towing or storage charges, the owner may file a written declaration of opposition with the Idaho Transportation Department within 20 calendar days after the date of the first notification, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1808. Upon filing a written declaration of opposition, the owner has 10 calendar days to file legal action against the tow company. If legal action is filed, the disposition of the vehicle is paused pending the outcome of court proceedings. The owner may also request a tow procedure hearing within 10 calendar days of the initial notice, in accordance with Idaho Code § 49-1809, to contest the validity of the storage. Any such hearing shall be conducted within 48 hours of the request, excluding weekends and holidays.

Sale Proceeds And Excess Funds

If an abandoned vehicle is later sold or disposed of by the tow company after title is issued, any proceeds from the sale are applied first to towing and storage charges. After reimbursement of all costs, any remaining balance may be held in accordance with the terms of the purchase or resale transaction. The tow company retains ownership of the vehicle and may dispose of it, sell it, or transfer it as the legal owner. An Abandoned Vehicle Trust Account has been established by Idaho Code § 49-1816 to distribute fees collected by district courts for traffic infractions related to abandoned vehicles. District court fees are distributed at $75.00 to the law enforcement agency directing the tow and $75.00 to the towing company that performed the tow, distributed monthly.

Contact Information

Idaho Transportation Department - Division of Motor Vehicles
11331 W. Chinden Boulevard, Boise, ID 83707-1129
Phone: (208) 334-8000
Official Website: Idaho Transportation Department