Abandoned Vehicles

There are many reasons why people abandon vehicles on or next to highways, from severe weather to breakdowns or other emergencies. While it may seem easy to simply leave your car, abandoning your vehicle can be dangerous and costly.

• Be prepared. Check the weather and use TripCheck.com or call 511 for the latest road conditions so you can make sure that you and your vehicle are ready for what lies ahead.
• Maintain your ride. Make sure to keep up on regular maintenance with your vehicle; many abandoned cars are left after a breakdown.
• Don’t be a hazard. If you must leave your vehicle, try to pull as far off the road as possible. Cars that are blocking traffic will be towed immediately.
• Signal for help. If you are leaving your car, make sure to give law enforcement a heads up. Let them know where your car is, why you left it, and when you plan to return. If you don’t have a way to call, leave a note on your dash with contact information and your plan. This may not stop your vehicle from being towed but will make it easier to communicate about what happens next. If you have no way to leave a note, leaving your hood up, cones out behind your car or hazard lights on is a good way to signal that something went wrong and that you need help. If your vehicle is towed on a state highway. If you are outside Multnomah County, you can call ODOT or OSP (677). Dispatchers can look up where the vehicle was towed. In addition to taking calls, we also mail a certified letter to the vehicle’s owner notifying them of the tow. We use license plate information to determine who the owner is. This letter is mailed within 24 hours after the vehicle was towed and includes information on when and why the vehicle was towed. If your car was abandoned in Multnomah County visit AutoReturn to learn where your car was towed and how to retrieve it