Landlord’s Eligibility to Dispose of Abandoned Vehicles
If a tenant vacates or is evicted from the premises and leaves behind a
titled motor vehicle, you may store the vehicle until it is claimed or
dispose of the vehicle in any way you determine appropriate, including
by sale, junking, or titling the vehicle in your own name or business
name.
You must have provided written notice to the tenant, of your intent to
not store any abandoned property left behind, when the tenant entered
into or renewed their rental agreement.
If you have not provided the notice to the tenant in their rental
agreement, you must comply with the additional actions required in
s.704.05(5) 2009 Wis. Stats.:
• Provide written notice to the tenant of the storage charges within 10
days after the charges began.
• Provide written notice of your intent to sell the vehicle if it is not
repossessed by the tenant within 30 days of the notice date.
How to proceed
Step 1 - Verify Ownership
You must verify the vehicle’s ownership and lien holder’s information,
as required by law. If the vehicle is titled in Wisconsin, use form
MV2896 Vehicle/Driver Record Information Request to obtain this
information.
• If the vehicle is no longer on record with the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation, you will need to contact the DMV Contact Center
at (608) 264-7447 or Wisconsin DMV email service for information
on alternative procedures.
• If the vehicle is titled in another state, you will need to contact that
state to obtain ownership/lien holder’s information on record. You
may also use our web site http://wisconsindmv.gov for information on
how to verify ownership and obtain vehicle record information of
vehicles titled in other states.
Step 2 - Notify owners and lien holders of intent to dispose of the
vehicle
Once you have received ownership and lien holder verification, you
must send written notice of your intent to not store the abandoned
vehicle to the following:
• The tenant, personally or by regular or certified mail addressed to the
tenant's last-known address.
• Any secured party of which you have actual notice, personally or by
regular or certified mail addressed to the secured party's last-known
address.
We suggest you send written notice by certified mail, “Return Receipt
Requested” to the owners, and any lien holder of record notifying them:
• the vehicle will be sold if it is not claimed
• vehicle description, vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make,
model
• the date, time, and location of a public sale OR
the date a private sale will be held.
Step 3 - Noncompliance
If the vehicle is not claimed prior to the date stated in your notice, you
may sell or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with the notice.
Step 4 – Selling the vehicle
You may sell the vehicle either publicly or privately. An example of a
public sale is an auction that has been advertised in a publication or
website in which vehicles are normally bought and sold. A private sale
would be the sale of the vehicle to a new owner without offering it to
the public.
If you dispose of the vehicle by private or public sale, you may send
the proceeds of the sale, minus any costs of sale and any storage
charges, to the Department of Administration for deposit in the
appropriation under s.20.505 (7) (h). Wis. Stats.
Be sure to retain a photocopy of all notices to owners, lien holders,
advertisements of the sale and receipts for your records.
Step 5 - To obtain a Wisconsin Title after the sale
The landlord must furnish to the buyer a completed form MV2882
Abandonment of Property to a Landlord. The buyer must submit this
form and an MV1 Wisconsin Title and License Plate Application along
with the appropriate fees.
If the vehicle is model year 2011 or newer, the landlord is also required
to complete and furnish form MV2488 Vehicle Transfer and Odometer
Mileage Statement to the Buyer. This form is not available online,
however; it may be obtained from a Division of Motor Vehicles
customer service center or by contacting the DMV Contact Center at
(608) 264-7447 or Wisconsin DMV email service. Photocopies of form
MV2488 are not acceptable.
• You may obtain forms MV1, MV2882, and MV2896 online using the
following web site:
http://www.wisconsindmv.gov/drivers/vehicles/veh-forms/htm
• You may also obtain these forms from a Division of Motor Vehicles
customer service center or by contacting the Customer Contact
Center at (608) 264-7447 or Wisconsin DMV email service.
Mail Completed Forms To:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Special Plates Unit
P.O. Box 7911
Madison, WI 53707-7911
Service Members Civil Relief Acts
A person holding a lien on the property or effects of a service member
may not, during any period of military service of the service member
and for 90 days thereafter, foreclose upon or enforce any lien on such
property or effects without a court order granted before foreclosure or
enforcement. 50 App. U.S.C.A. s.537.
Any person who violates this paragraph shall be fined not more than
$10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
s.321.62(14)(e), Wis. Stats.
Questions:
Call (608) 266-3041 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
Email: special-plates.dmv@dot.wi.gov