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Abandoned and junked vehicles in Austin
A car left on an Austin street can be tagged, impounded and sold. Here are the steps APD describes.
General information, not legal advice. The papers you got from the police, the tow company, the storage lot or a state agency control your dates. Agencies change phone numbers and steps, so check the agency's own page too.
On the street
An officer can tag a vehicle that is visibly inoperable or illegally parked with an orange sticker. After 48 hours it is rechecked and may be impounded. APD says the owner then has 20 days to redeem it before it is sold at public auction, which matches the state notice period for police custody.
Sources: APD Vehicle Abatement page; Texas Transportation Code ch. 683 (abandoned motor vehicles)
Junked vehicles on private property
A junked vehicle that is visibly inoperable with expired registration or inspection can get a green sticker allowing 10 days to fix or move it. City Code lets the owner ask the Municipal Court clerk for a hearing within 10 days. APD says a vehicle impounded as junked cannot be redeemed.
Sources: APD Vehicle Abatement page
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