WEST VIRGINIA CODE
WVC 17 - 24 A- 5
§17-24A-5. Disposal of abandoned motor vehicles, junked motor
vehicles, and inoperative or abandoned household
appliances.
(a) If an abandoned motor vehicle or junked motor vehicle is
not reclaimed as provided for in section four of this article, the
enforcement agency in possession of the abandoned motor vehicle or
junked motor vehicle shall sell it either at a public auction or to
a licensed salvage yard or demolisher. The purchaser of the motor
vehicle shall take title to the motor vehicle free and clear of all
liens and claims of ownership and shall receive a sales receipt
from the enforcement agency which disposed of the motor vehicle.
The sales receipt at the sale shall be sufficient title only for
purposes of transferring the motor vehicle to a licensed salvage
yard or to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking or dismantling and
no further titling of the motor vehicle shall be necessary by
either the purchaser at the auction, the licensed salvage yard or
the demolisher, who shall be exempt from the payment of any fees
and taxes required under article three, chapter seventeen-a of this
code:
Provided, That the purchaser at the auction must place the
motor vehicle in the possession of a licensed salvage yard or
demolisher within twenty days from the date he or she purchased the
motor vehicle and the licensed salvage yards or demolisher must
demolish, wreck or dismantle the motor vehicle within six months after taking possession of the motor vehicle and if the licensed
salvage yard or demolisher does not, the licensed salvage yard or
demolisher shall be required to pay all fees and taxes required
under article three, chapter seventeen-a of this code.
(b) When an enforcement agency has in its custody and
possession inoperative or abandoned household appliances collected
in accordance with section seven of this article it shall sell the
property from time to time at public auction or to a licensed
salvage yard or demolisher.
Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session