HB 2948 — Relating to obtaining title to abandoned or junked motor vehicles abandoned on the property or place of business of an automobile dealer

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedENGROSSED House Bill 2948 By Delegates Ferrell, DeVault, Sheedy, Pritt, Phillips, Linville, and Hall [Introduced February 25, 2025;

referredReferred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works] IntrEng HB 2025R33392948 A BILL to amend and reenact §17-24A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to obtaining titles to abandoned or junked motor vehicles abandoned on the property or place of business of an automobile dealer, licensed automobile auction, motor vehicle repair facility or towing company;

(3) Inform the owner and any lienholders of record of their right to reclaim the motor vehicle within 10 days after the date notice was received by the owner or lienholders, upon payment of all IntrEng HB 2025R33392948 towing, preservation and storage charges resulting from taking and placing the motor vehicle into custody and possession;

IntrEng HB 2025R33392948 (d) The person or entity hired by an enforcement agency to take into custody or possession an abandoned motor vehicle or junked motor vehicle shall, within 30 days after the possession, notify the registered owner of the vehicle and all lienholders of record, if any, as identified by the enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, by registered mail, return receipt requested, that the motor vehicle has been taken into custody and possession.

(f) A licensed motor vehicle dealer, as defined in §17A-1-1 of this code, a licensed Intr HB 2025R3339 automobile auction as defined in §17A-6C-1 of this code, or a motor vehicle repair facility or a Eng HB 2948 towing company registered with the Public Service Commission pursuant to §24A-2-2a of this code may file an application with the Division of Motor Vehicles for a certificate of title and registration for an abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle.

Intr HB 2025R3339 NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to remove the requirement that the loan value of the motor vehicle be less than $9,500 to allow an automobile dealer, licensed automobile auction, motor vehicle repair facility or towing company upon whose property or place of business an abandoned or junked motor vehicle has been abandoned to obtain a certificate of title and registration for the abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.