A.R.S. § 28-4838: Abandoned Vehicle Title
Report; abandoned and seized vehicles; violation; classification
How do you get title to an abandoned vehicle in Arizona?
In Arizona, someone with custody of a lost, stolen, abandoned, unclaimed, or seized vehicle that goes unclaimed for ten days must, within five days after that period ends, file an electronic abandoned vehicle report, an application for transfer of ownership, and a vehicle identification form to begin transferring it into their name. They must also submit the private property owner's signed authorization form if one applies, and pay all required fees. A person who misses this deadline, unless a required vehicle inspection was delayed through no fault of their own, loses all claims for towing and storing the vehicle and is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Full statute text
Official text last checked against azleg.gov:
28-4838. Report; abandoned and seized vehicles; violation; classification
A. A person who has knowledge and custody of a vehicle that is either lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed, that has been seized pursuant to law or removed from the right-of-way of any highway, road, street or other public thoroughfare or other public property by order of an officer of the department of public safety, sheriff's officer or city or town police officer and that has been held for a period of ten days and a claim has not been made for the return or possession of the vehicle by a person legally entitled to the vehicle shall do all of the following within five days after the expiration of the ten day retention period:
1. Submit an electronic abandoned vehicle report to the director that is on a form prescribed by the director and that contains all of the following:
(a) A complete description of the vehicle.
(b) The vehicle license or registration number, if any.
(c) The circumstances of the person's or officer's removal or custody.
(d) Other information the director requires.
2. Provide a completed electronic application for transfer of ownership on a form prescribed by the director.
3. Submit a vehicle identification form as prescribed by the director.
4. If applicable, submit the authorization form signed by the private property owner as prescribed in section 28-4834.
5. Pay all fees prescribed by this title.
B. Except if the vehicle inspection as prescribed in section 28-4834 is not completed within the time prescribed in subsection A of this section due to no fault of the person, a person who fails to submit the documents for the purpose of transferring ownership by the time specified in subsection A of this section:
1. Forfeits all claims for towing and storing the vehicle.
2. Is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Drafted by AI from the official text and checked sentence by sentence against azleg.gov. ClearStatute is run by David Bartlett, who is not an attorney. Legal information, not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney for your situation.