The Island of Abandoned Cars and the Potato State With Givaway Vehicles

One day you might go vacation in Hawaii or Idaho and walk on some paths, thinking about the meaning of life or how much an electric bicycle on three wheels with an off-road pedigree costs. Then, with all those in mind, you stumble across an abandoned vehicle, partially hidden in the forest, the car you dreamt of your entire teenage life. So the next question should be, "Can I take it home?" Read on to see if you can get it in any of these two scenic, beautiful states.

Aloha and... goodbye

Hawaii is known for its abandoned cars, given its remote location and the cost of getting cars on and off site. Thus, its beautiful scenery is often littered with abandoned vehicles, which the authorities can barely handle. For example, in November 2020, they had to move almost 400 cars and 700 tires from Makuu, in Puna District. Yet, despite all these problems, the Hawaii government won't issue a title on your name for an abandoned car, boat, motorcycle, or plane, even if it's on your property.

The local authorities will come and remove the vehicle only after posting a sign on it and waiting for more than 24 hours for someone to claim it. This is the reason why you don't see that many abandoned vehicles on the Hawaiian roads.

While Hawaii might seem like the Paradise on Earth, that does not apply to abandoned vehicles' laws. A vehicle (or a boat) is considered abandoned if it sits unattended in a public place for more than 48 hours, or 24 hours on private property without the owner's consent. These can be reported to the authorities at 935-3311, and they will come, inspect, and tow that vehicle. Since the penalty for abandoning a vehicle is between $150 and $500, which is less than half of shipping costs to California, it is understandable why they just leave them there to rust.

The authorities are selling those relics to auctions, but it looks like they have very little success with that. Usually, they only find old, beaten-up vehicles that barely run, if even. So, if you find a nice '67 Camaro rotting around in Hawaii, bear in mind that even if it is free, you'll still have to pay a lot to get it to the mainland.

Idaho doesn't give just potatoes

While half of the potatoes fried in McDonald's are coming from Idaho, that's not the only pleasant thing that is coming from the state. It also has permissive rules regarding the abandoned cars, either found on the side of the road, on public or private properties. If the vehicle was abandoned on your property, you might wish to contact an attorney to file an action in court. It is possible to get a quiet title, where the judge can award the vehicle directly to you.

If that doesn't work, there is the lien sale possibility. You have to send an application to conduct the lien sale to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), and they'll send notifications to any registered/titled owner or lienholder of record. Owners than have ten days to oppose to that. Also, you have to post an announcement in the local newspaper where the vehicle is located at least once, ten days in advance, and allow visits for at least an hour for public inspection in an easily accessible location. After all of these, you can proceed to a lien sale, and the highest bidder will take the vehicle. Worth mentioning that sealed bids are not acceptable.

Sometimes it's better to just arrange with an authorized towing company to remove the vehicle, and they will do all the paperwork since it's easier for them. But beware, don't buy a vehicle without a title from them or a mechanic shop, since you might end up struggling to get the right papers. Meanwhile, the moist air will chew the vehicle's remains. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for a year or so, so the rust might be just a scar on the body's surface.

You shouldn't proceed to a lien sale if the vehicle has a lien on it and belongs to a person ten-year-old or younger. If you do, your vehicle will be marked "ISSUED UPPON STATEMENT OF THE APPLICANT," and within three years, the lien holder can take it from you. Only after that you'll have that marking removed.