QuestionNorth Carolina (Chapel Hill)
I had my car towed from a shopping center parking lot. I called the shopping center a couple of times over a couple of weeks and finally got a response. The problem is, my car is old and it is possibly not worth spending $300 to get it out (they went down from $850 to $300). So, if I decide to just 'abandon' the car (it was broken down, which is why it was in the parking lot) - am I responsible for anything? Does the car just become the property of the towing company...or are they going to be able to demand money from me and even turn it in to a creditor?
AnswerI always wonder why people think they can they leave a vehicle somewhere when they do not want it and it just goes away... It works for trash, but not vehicles...
Each vehicle is unique as it has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and is licensed - registered with the state...
Now every state is different in laws concerning vehicle owner responsibilities, and as such it does cause a few "differences" but in 99% of all cases, the vehicle owner is responsible for all fees owed against the vehicle including towing and storage...
Now the fact that the tow company was willing to lower the price is not surprising as they do not want to keep the junk... The process to legally obtain the rights to dispose of vehicle is long, complicated and expensive... All of this is done to gain a "lien title" to the vehicle and then sell or scrap the vehicle...
Did you offer to give the tow company the title to the vehicle, so that they could dispose of the vehicle ??? That might help resolve the issue here...
Or you want to keep holding onto the paper title so you can prove you own it???
In some states, your drivers license or vehicle license plates can be suspended for not paying towing fees !!!
And yes, tow companies do utilize collection agencies to collect money owned to them for towing of vehicles... Tow companies are private businesses and as such they have to make money not lose money to stay in business...
