A car that has sat for days is not automatically yours to tow, sell, or keep. In Maryland, the right next step depends on where the vehicle is, whether it fits the legal definition of “abandoned,” and whether you are a property owner, a driver, or the vehicle’s owner.

Start with the legal definition

Maryland’s statewide abandoned-vehicle rules are statutes enacted by the General Assembly, principally Title 25, Subtitle 2 of the Transportation Article. The definition turns on the vehicle’s condition, location, and how long it has been there—not simply on whether it looks neglected. Transportation Article § 25-201 lists several situations that count as abandonment.

  • On public property: A vehicle that is inoperable, or illegally parked, generally meets the definition after it has remained there for more than 48 hours. A vehicle on public property for more than 48 hours can also qualify if it lacks current registration plates or displays plates assigned to another vehicle.
  • On private property: A vehicle qualifies if it has remained there for more than 48 hours without the consent of the property owner or the person in control of the property.
  • On a controlled-access highway: An unattended vehicle may qualify after more than 24 hours. A vehicle left on a primary or secondary highway or controlled-access highway in violation of certain roadway rules may qualify under a separate part of the definition.
  • At a commercial garage: Separate rules cover vehicles left beyond the agreed service or storage period, or left for more than 10 days in specified circumstances. One circumstance requires the garage to send the owner certified-mail notice to remove the vehicle.

The time periods are not interchangeable. A car legally parked on public property does not become abandoned just because it has sat there for 48 hours; the particular statutory condition must also apply. And on private property, a vehicle left with permission does not fit the 48-hour definition simply because the owner would now prefer it gone. If permission has been withdrawn or the arrangement is disputed, record when and how that happened and ask local law enforcement what procedure applies.

Maryland law also says a person may not abandon a vehicle on public property or on someone else’s property without permission. The last registered owner is treated as the prima facie owner at the time of abandonment. That designation helps identify who may be responsible; it does not give a neighbor or landowner ownership of the car. Transportation Article § 25-202.

If the vehicle is on your property

Do not assume you can claim the vehicle, remove its parts, or have it crushed because it is on your land. Maryland provides a process for a person whose property contains an abandoned vehicle, but the application goes to a law-enforcement agency for the jurisdiction where the vehicle is located. The agency—not the property owner acting alone—handles the required review and notice steps.

  1. Document the vehicle and its location. Take clear photographs showing the vehicle, its plates if present, and where it is parked. Write down when you first noticed it and the dates you checked the location. Record the make, model, color, and vehicle identification number (VIN), if you can see it without entering or disturbing the vehicle.
  2. Contact the local police department’s non-emergency line. Explain that the vehicle may meet Maryland’s abandoned-vehicle definition and ask how that department handles reports or applications under Transportation Article § 25-209. If it is creating an immediate traffic or safety hazard, use 911. For a vehicle on a state highway, the department can direct the report to the appropriate police agency.
  3. Ask about the § 25-209 application. The statute allows a person whose property contains an abandoned vehicle to apply for authority to transfer it to a licensed automotive dismantler and recycler or scrap processor. The application is made under penalty of perjury and must identify the applicant, describe the vehicle and facts of abandonment, and include an affidavit that the statements are true and no material fact has been withheld.
  4. Wait for the agency’s process and written authority. If the applicant is not the rightful owner, the agency follows the applicable notice procedures for the owner and secured parties. If the vehicle is not reclaimed within the required period—or the required notice has already been provided—the agency issues a certificate of authority for the transfer described in the statute.

The certificate is not a deed giving you the car to drive or sell as an ordinary vehicle. It authorizes transfer to a dismantler/recycler or scrap processor for the purposes the statute lists. A knowingly false statement in the application is a serious matter; the statute classifies it as a felony. Read the current § 25-209 application and transfer procedure before signing anything.

Law enforcement may take an abandoned vehicle into custody, but the statewide statute says a police department may do so; that wording does not promise an immediate tow in every case. The officer or agency may need to assess whether the facts meet the definition and determine which local procedures apply. Ask for a report or reference number and keep it with your photos and notes. Transportation Article § 25-203.

If the vehicle is in a parking lot

A different set of state statutes addresses towing or removing vehicles from certain private parking lots. The rules in Transportation Article Title 21, Subtitle 10A apply to a privately owned facility with at least three parking spaces that is accessible to the general public and intended primarily for customers, residents, lessees, or guests. A private driveway or every private parcel is not automatically such a “parking lot.” Local ordinances may also impose stricter requirements. Transportation Article § 21-10A-01.

For a covered parking lot, state law generally requires conspicuous signs that identify the towing company and destination, provide a reclaim-contact number, state the maximum charge, and explain when the vehicle can be reclaimed. The statute specifies sign dimensions and placement. A tower must also have the parking-lot owner’s authorization, including a photograph of the violation or event that prompted the tow. Section 21-10A-02 and § 21-10A-04.

The tower must notify the police department in the jurisdiction within one hour after the tow, and the statute generally requires notice to the vehicle owner and certain other interested parties within seven days, subject to its stated exceptions. The vehicle must go to the storage facility identified on the signs and cannot be moved to another facility for at least 72 hours. The storage facility must provide an opportunity to reclaim it at least from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Before the vehicle is removed from the lot, a tower who still possesses it must release it if the owner asks and pays a drop fee no greater than half the full tow charge. See § 21-10A-05.

State law sets a fee limit for covered parking-lot tows, but local law can set a different rule. If the local jurisdiction has not set fee limits for public-safety towing, recovery, or storage, the statute provides a default maximum of $250 for towing and recovery and $30 per day for storage. Those figures are not a universal Maryland price quote: check the local rule and the statute’s conditions. A separate limit bars charging for the actual cost of providing notice if the vehicle is reclaimed within 48 hours after it arrives at the storage facility. Section 21-10A-04.

If police take the vehicle into custody

Once a police department takes an abandoned vehicle into custody, the statutory notice-and-disposal process begins. The department must generally send notice to the last registered owner and any secured party within seven days. The notice identifies the vehicle and storage location and explains how long the owner or secured party has to reclaim it by paying the towing, preservation, and storage charges.

In most of Maryland, the notice gives the owner and secured party three weeks from the date of the notice to reclaim the vehicle. In Baltimore City and Montgomery County, the statute instead provides an 11-working-day period after receipt of the notice. If the owner does not reclaim the vehicle in time, the statute treats the owner’s interest as waived and allows the vehicle to proceed to public auction or, where permitted, retention for public purposes. Transportation Article § 25-204 and § 25-206.

There is an added point for vehicle owners in Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County. If the police department or its agent uses the specific cost-recovery provisions and the notice says so, failing to reclaim the vehicle can lead to continuing liability for certain impoundment, storage, and sale costs and can affect renewal of vehicle registrations. Read the notice carefully; the statute makes those consequences depend on the procedure used and the notice provided. Section 25-204(c).

If you are the registered owner

Do not ignore a certified letter, a notice from the storage facility, or a police department’s message because you believe the car was parked legally. First confirm where the vehicle is held, the deadline to reclaim it, and the amount claimed for towing and storage. Ask for an itemized explanation and keep copies of the notice, payment records, and any correspondence. If the vehicle was taken from a covered parking lot, compare what happened with the sign, authorization, notice, and access requirements in Title 21, Subtitle 10A.

If you believe the car was not abandoned or was towed in error, raise that promptly with the agency or tower and preserve evidence: photos of the parking location and signs, messages showing permission to park, repair or storage agreements, registration records, and dates. Do not assume a dispute pauses the deadline in the notice. Where a lender or other secured party has an interest, contact that party too; the statutory notice and reclaim rights extend to secured parties.

Three avoidable mistakes

  • Towing first and asking later. A vehicle’s age or poor condition alone does not transfer ownership. Use the police and statutory process before arranging disposal.
  • Entering or dismantling the vehicle. Do not take property from inside, remove plates or parts, or try to move the car without lawful authority. Those actions can create separate disputes and make it harder to document the vehicle’s original condition.
  • Waiting for a notice that may not come to you. If you own the property, start a report and keep the reference number. If you own the vehicle, keep your registration address current and respond as soon as a tow or impound notice arrives.

The practical rule is simple: document the facts, identify the correct local police agency, and let the statutory process establish whether the vehicle can be moved or disposed of. A proper application and notice trail protects the property owner from taking a step the law does not authorize—and gives the registered owner a fair chance to reclaim a vehicle before the process moves on.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and may change over time. The outcome of any legal issue depends on the specific facts, documents, and circumstances involved. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.