Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 19 of 38

Chapter 18: Lien Sales – Abandoned – Abated Vehicles

18.120 Re-registration of Vehicles Removed by a Local Abatement Procedure (VC §§22661(f). 22711)

A vehicle removed under the abatement procedure may not be reconstructed or made operable unless it qualifies for Horseless Carriage or Historical Vehicle License Plates (VC §5004).

Exception: Local authorities may give abandoned vehicles to a correctional institution if:

  • A local ordinance has an abatement program under VC §22710 (Service Authority for Abatement of Abandoned Vehicles).
  • All reporting requirements have been met.

The institution must have a program under the consent of the Director of Corrections for their inmates to restore and rebuild donated salvageable and abandoned vehicles.