FAQ - Abandoned Vehicles

A. If your vehicle was towed at the county's request from public property, you have 15 days from the date of the tow to retrieve your personal belongings from the vehicle without paying towing or storage costs. This does not include anything that is attached to the vehicle.

A. You have the right to request a hearing if your vehicle was towed, or has been tagged to be towed as an abandoned vehicle. Your request must be in writing and be within 5 days of the date the vehicle was tagged. You must also state the grounds upon which you believe the tow is not justified. Send it to Washington County Sheriff's Office, Attention Abandoned Vehicles Hearings Officer, 215 SW Adams Avenue, MS #32, Hillsboro, OR 97123.

A. A vehicle is considered "abandoned" if it has been on a public right-of-way for more than 24 hours and one or more of the following criteria apply:
• It appears disabled/inoperative
• It does not belong to somebody in the immediate area  
  If a vehicle meets the above listed criteria, contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Records Department at (503) 846-2700 to report it. You will need to provide the call taker with:
• A description of the vehicle
• License plate or VIN
• Location
• How long it has been there
• Your name and a contact phone number or address
You must provide your name and a contact phone number or address, or we cannot process your complaint. This information will be kept confidential.

A. You have 24 hours from when the car was tagged to remove it from the public right-of-way. If it is still on the right-of-way beyond that, it will be subject to towing. If it is towed, a lien will attach to the vehicle for the tow company’s towing and storage charges. If you do not reclaim it within a specific time period, it will be disposed of or sold according to law.

A. The Sheriff’s Office is not authorized to tow abandoned vehicles from private property. Oregon Revised Statute 98.830 contains a simple procedure for the owner or person in lawful possession of private property to remove an abandoned vehicle from it. You can click on the following link to see that statute: http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/098.html

A. A vehicle is considered "abandoned" if it has been on a public right-of-way for more than 24 hours and one or more of the following criteria apply:

It appears disabled/inoperative
It does not belong to somebody in the immediate area
If the vehicle does not fit one of the above criteria, then the vehicle is not considered abandoned and no time restriction exists.

A. Call the Washington County Sheriff's Office Records Section at (503) 846-2700. They will be able to tell you which tow company has your vehicle. The tow company will require proof of ownership and payment of towing and storage charges before they will release the vehicle.