Vehicle registration
Repossess or seize a vehicle
When dealing with abandoned vehicles, debts and liens, you may be able to repossess or seize a vehicle.
When can I repossess or seize a vehicle?
You may be allowed to repossess or seize a vehicle for a variety of reasons when you're dealing with:
abandoned vehicles on highways,
the failure of a borrower to meet the terms of a loan,
unpaid storage fees,
vehicles abandoned by former tenants, and
unpaid vehicle repairs.
Statutory requirements
Repossessions and seizures are transfers by operation of law and are allowed under various statutes, government programs, or by court order. For each act, the repossessor must follow the statutory requirements as necessary.
Transportation Act: Allows a municipality, regional district or local police to remove abandoned vehicles from highways, public property and Crown Land.
Personal Property Security Act: Allows a lender to repossess a vehicle if the borrower does not meet the terms of the loan.
Rent Distress Act: Allows a landlord to seize and sell a tenant's vehicle to satisfy unpaid rent on a commercial property.
Repairer's Lien Act: Allows a garage or repairer to seize and sell a customer's vehicle for unpaid repairs.
Residential Tenancy Act: Allows a landlord to seize and sell vehicles abandoned by former tenants.
Warehouse Lien Act: Allows storage facility operators to seize and sell a customer's vehicle to cover unpaid storage fees.
Speak to your Autoplan Broker
For more information about these Acts, the related checklists and forms on how to seize a vehicle, please contact your Autoplan broker.
Quick links
BC Scrap-it program: Helps you take your old clunker off the road and get cash or other incentives.
