HB 4881 — 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 ENGROSSEDENROLLED House Bill 4881 ByBY DelegatesDELEGATES Ferrell,FERRELL, Sheedy,HEEDY Pritt,, Mallow,RITT, Phillips,ALLOW and, HallPHILLIP,AND [IntroducedHALL January[Passed 28,March 10, 2026;

referredin toeffect the90 Committeedays onfrom thepassage Judiciary](June Eng8, 2026)] Enr HB 4881 AAN BILLACT 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;

Enr HB 4881 (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 Eng HB 4881 towing, preservation and storage charges resulting from taking and placing the motor vehicle into custody and possession;

Provided, That the requirements of this subsection shall may not apply to Enr HB 4881 motor vehicles for which the registered owner cannot be ascertained by due diligence or investigation.

Eng HB 4881 (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.

(e) For an abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle having a loan value of $7,500 or less, as ascertained by values placed upon motor vehicles using a standard industry reference book, a person or entity hired by an enforcement agency to tow the abandoned motor vehicle or junked motor vehicle may, if the motor vehicle is not claimed by the owner or a lienholder after notice within the time set forth in subsection (d) of this section or if the identity of the last registered owner of the abandoned motor vehicle or junked motor vehicle cannot be determined or if the certificate of registration or certificate of title contains no address of the owner or if it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and address of all lienholders after publication as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, file an application with the Division of Motor Vehicles Enr HB 4881 for a certificate of title and registration which, upon payment of the appropriate fees, shall be issued.

Eng HB 4881 (f) A licensed motor vehicle dealer, as defined in §17A-1-1 of this code, a licensed automobile auction as defined in §17A-6C-1 of this code, or a motor vehicle repair facility or a 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.

(1) The motor vehicle hasis aabandoned loanon valuethe ofproperty $9,500 or less,place asof ascertainedbusiness byof valuesthe placeddealer, uponlicensed motorautomobile vehiclesauction, usingmotor avehicle standardrepair industryfacility referenceor book;towing company;

and (2) (1)One The motor vehicle is abandoned on the property or place of business of the dealer,following licensedsituations automobileapplies: auction, motor vehicle repair facility or towing company;

and (3) This amount will be increased every five years on September 1 of the fifth year based on the U.S.

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics most current Consumer Price Index;

and (4) (2) One of the following situations applies:

Enr HB 4881 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.

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Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................

Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.

In effect 90 days from passage.

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Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................

President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................

this the...........................................

Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.

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Governor 5