Rented a work space yesterday that was evidently the scene of some violent personal drama from the previous tenant.

Part of my lease terms is I get 500 bucks off rent for the first month to "deal" with the mess in the space that the guy left when his life went to ****.

Not a problem, as the mess includes a large number of useful objects, BUT, it may also include 3 abandoned cars.

The guy has until the third (two days) to do something about them, otherwise I get to deal with them.

Anyone know anything about the process of re-titling abandoned vehicles?
One of them is a customers car from the previous tenant who never paid, never called back, and has been sitting for 8 months, the other two are property of the previous tenant.

Im not sure I can get a mechanics lien on the first with no paperwork, and the landlord and I are trying to figure out just what we can do with them, as we can't junk them without a title. We'd both like to make a little cash on them.

The cars a a Jetta GLS 5-speed, what looks like a 96 buick station wagon (one of those huge ones, has a stretcher in the back), and an early 90s corolla.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Do you want them or just want them to go away?

Go away is easier, just have the police tow them to an impound lot.

If you want them, you should contact your local clerks office to get the protocal for legally obtaining them.

Don't forget to rack up storage fees as this will be big in determining that the original owners owe you more than the vehicles worth.

Good luck.

There was another thread on here very recently about these.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Drop's Chop Shop?

You would think the landlord could stake some claim on them for lack of storage payment, like with the abandoned or seized storage units. They sure don't make it too easy to find that info., though. Any chance he's friendly with any tow companies? They can often put a lein against the title for storage fees and get the title when those fees aren't paid so that it can be sold/auctioned.

What shape is the Roadmaster wagon in?

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I want them if its fairly straightforward to establish control. If I just call the city to take them away, I have to wait until the neighbor registers his cars, because there are -ahem- 2 other unregistered cars sitting in that lot. City would probably take all 5, since that shouldn't be happening anyway.

At the moment, they are not really in my way, they can sit for a while, but if they are sitting, id prefer some bureaucratic process be happening at the same time so I have the option to sell them later on possibly. Storage fee is a good idea, time to create some professional letterhead.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

ill look around for that, thanks. maybe they found some useful info

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Landlord went through so much crap with the previous tenant that hes sick of the whole situation. Im sure if I put some paperwork together and fax it down to him (in florida), he'll sign it if im dealing with it.

Story on the roadmaster is that it supposedly has a new engine installed by the previous tenant, then the customer dropped off the face of the earth, and its "missing some stuff" from what the landlord said. Whether "stuff" is some incidental items, or a cylinder head, im not sure, i have to take a look after the third if they are still there.

Body is nice, dark blue with tinted windows. little rust on the rear wheel well.

Jetta has two ghetto rims on it, and two VW factory rims, looks fairly solid, but clearly has not been moved in 1-2 years with the grass growing around it.

Corolla is full of truck tires, has a little rust, but looks complete.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

in this area, you have to notify the owner that you are placing a lien and give them an amount of time to pay and pick up. thats what the tow companies do also. you will need to charge storage fees, but with that you become responsible for a reasonable care during storage. they will likely need to be inside or in a fenced lot for that to hold water. the other way is mechanics lien, but youre not the guy that worked on them. likely best thing would be get them towed and let a tow company worry about it.

__________________

1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I tend to agree with the above poster. Rules vary from area to area. I for example could give the normal process in my area. It probably varies from the requirements in your area though. May be as simple as three abandon cars and may not be.

I would get some documented storage fees on them, and document the vins and vehicle condition with pictures and a watch or cell phone as proof of time/date

I would then go to the DMV, and get the last owners information, and contact them about the car. If I was unable to get ahold of the last registered owner, I would rent a tow dolly or car hauler, and scrap them. Cut the converters off, remove the batteries, cut out the radiators, and if you feel like it, cut off the engine wiring harness and bust loose the wheels before moving out to the scrap yard. Call one that's out of town, and ask what the process is on a scrap vehicle without title. In WI, you sign a DMV forum laying claim to them. The statue of limitations on them is 2 years, so If I stole and scrapped a car, the owner would be able to sue me within 2 years of it being scrapped. This is why documentation is important.

Batterys are worth $10
Radiators are worth $15
Converters are worth up to $100, especially on the toyota
Engine wiring harness's are worth $10ish
Aluminum wheels are worth$40ish
Tires are chaged a $5 fee, each. Walmart takes them for $1.49 each


Scrap them, and get it over with. If the owners sue u about it, your set with documentation on vehicle condition, situation, and what's owed for storage and yard damage fees. I did this to a former "friends" truck that he left at my house for 3 years after we agreed on 3 months. He dropped off the face of the earth, and I never spoke to him again, but, he cant do anything about it now even if he wanted to...
~Nate

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

In Maine you can get an abandoned vehicle title, dmv will provide forms for it. A deputy or other officer has to check the car numbers and sign the form.then the dmv issues you the title, for a fee I think.