How do abandoned vehicle laws work ?

[JPB]

Some details, We are from WEST VIRGINIA. My wife was making payments to a friend of hers that she worked with. She was paying her friend monthly payments....but after 8 months, they both mutually agreed to just end it, and move on. So, on July 5th, my wife gave her friend the title to the vehicle at work. They worked together. Her friend has since then quit. We had noticed the next day on Facebook Marketplace that her friend had posted about getting a tow truck. And that was the last we had heard from them. Absolutely zero contact. It has been sitting here since July 5th, which is the day the title was returned. And oh, yes there was a contract and reciepts for payments given.

So does anyone know what the laws are for this sort of thing ? I cannot find anything definite online. And I cannot find much on the laws here. I also called the local Sheriff, which provided me with nothing that I did not already know.

I am not looking for advice, just some info on what my wife's options would be.

1- Returned title on July 5th
2- Friend has since then quit her job "they live aprox 30 miles from us"
3- Zero contact since.

 

[pauldun170]

You saw her post on Facebook implying that you have facebook.
What happened when you reached out to the friend on Facebook?
You are using the word "Friend" so that implies you have things like "cell#/Social media contacts/address". What happened when you called the friend?

How to Get a Title for an Abandoned Vehicle in West Virginia

Once a vehicle has been left unattended for over five days on open public or private property in West Virginia without permission it is considered to be abandoned. A vehicle can also be classified as abandoned after three days if it is left on private property without the consent of the property...

itstillruns.com

 

[RLGL]

See a lawyer.

 

[deadlyapp]

As far as I can tell, you cannot legally take possession or title the vehicle, only a dealer, law enforcement, or repair facility can, and they have to provide written mailed notice before they can title the vehicle.

You could perhaps have a third party company tow the car to their lot, then provide written notice, and if she does not respond to it, then it would probably go to auction.

Note this only works for vehicles with value of less than $9500

 

[Torn Mind]

Abandoned as in left on the side of the street or you mean to return the vehicle to a dealer and not sell it?

 

[deadlyapp]

Abandoned as in left on the side of the street or you mean to return the vehicle to a dealer and not sell it?

Neither in this case. Basically personally financed by a friend who they have now defaulted to but they have not repossessed the car.

 

[DooKey]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why not just drive it to friend's house and drop it off?