INFORMATION SHEET
PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ABANDONED VEHICLE TITLE IN BIG HORN COUNTY EFFECTIVE 09/30/2025. Instructions and packet can be found by downloading this form: Abandoned Vehicle Instructions and Application Form
1. This process applies to abandoned vehicles – those left unattended on private property without the express consent of the property owner or lessee for at least 30 days.
→ “Vehicles” include cars, trailers, house trailers, and mobile homes not installed on permanent foundation.
→ Storage fees are computed at $20.00 per day with a max amount for storage equalling $1000.00.
→ If you are a wrecking yard, salvage yard ortowing company, please contact the Sheriffs Office at 307-568-2324 for further information.
PLEASE NOTE: Applicant will be responsible for outstanding taxes for the current year on mobile homes or house trailers.
2. The property owner (Applicant) MUST provide the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office with a WRITTEN, SIGNED, AND DATED STATEMENT describing the vehicle, its owners, and the circumstances as to how the vehicle came to be abandoned, including the last date on which their consent to “house” the vehicle ended. The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to review all applications and may require Applicants for abandoned title to file an action in the County Court to obtain title, pursuant to W.S. 31-
3. ALL OF THESE STEPS MUST BE DOCUMENTED.
4. The Applicant MUST obtain a VIN INSPECTION for the vehicle from a law enforcement officer. The officer provides their own form and will provide it to you once completed.
5. An ABANDONED VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION REQUEST MUST be sent to the Motor Vehicle Licensing and Titling Office in Cheyenne (cost is $15.00), together with the original VIN AFFIDAVIT.
6. After the identification request is returned, the Applicant MUST provide the above five documents for review by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, C/O Natalie Wardell, P.O. Box 69, Basin WY, 82410 or emailed to natalie.wardell@bighorncountywy.gov
7. The Applicant may then proceed with the process to sell the vehicle at public auction.
8. The sale MUST be coordinated through the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Department, which will conduct the actual sale. The Applicant MUST arrange the required publication of NOTICE OF SALE (form attached) for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general publication, Basin Republican Rustler, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale.
9. A copy of the NOTICE OF SALE must be sent by CERTIFIED MAIL to the last known owner(s) of the vehicle at the address listed on the title, the identification request form or another source, to any lien holder of record, and to any person with interest in the vehicle. Notice MUST be mailed out at least ten (10) days prior to the sale date. The Postal Service return receipt or returned letter MUST be submitted to the Sheriff’s Office.
10. ALL SALES MUST BE CONDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT. THE COST IS $10.00. ALL SALE DATES MUST BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TELEPHONE 568-4029.
11. At the completion of the sale, the Sheriff’s Department will provide a BILL OF SALE (the cost for the Bill of Sale is $7.50). A copy of the Bill of Sale will be submitted to the Title Department for issuance of an abandoned vehicle title.
NOTE:
→ PRIOR TO SALE: The owner of the vehicle may reclaim the vehicle upon payment of expenses arising from storage, repair, or improvements
→ AFTER THE SALE: The owner my be entitled to recover from the person selling the vehicle any proceeds of the sale in excess of the costs of sale and expenses arising from storage, towing, repairs, or improvements. This action MUST be brought within six (6) months of the sale.
→ THE APPLICANT FOR THIS ABANDONED VEHICLE IS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DURING THIS PROCESS.
ABANDONED VEHICLES STATUTE
31-13-109. Disposition of vehicles left unattended or unclaimed on private property and sold by the property owner or through a court action.
(a) A vehicle defined as abandoned under W.S. 31-13-101(a)(x)(C) may be sold by the owner or person in lawful control of the property on which the vehicle is left unattended or unclaimed at public auction to the highest bidder or may be sold following an action filed pursuant to W.S. 31-13-112(e). The thirty (30) day period begins on the first day the owner or person in lawful control of the property has knowledge the vehicle is left unattended or unclaimed without consent or after consent has expired.
(b) After the time period provided in subsection (a) of this section has expired, or within the time requirements provided in W.S. 31-13-104(g) for a towing and recovery service, the owner or person in lawful control of the property shall give a written report to the department on a form prescribed by the department containing the following information:
(i) A description of the make, year, model, license plate number and state indicator if available, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle;
(ii) The names and addresses of the vehicle owner or driver and any lienholders if known;
(iii) The name and address of the owner of the property where the vehicle was left unattended or unclaimed;
(iv) The date the vehicle was left unattended or unclaimed without the express consent or after the expiration of consent of the owner or person in lawful control of the property;
(v) If the vehicle is removed, the date, time and location of removal and the name and address of the person who removed the vehicle; and
(vi) The address of the current location of the vehicle.
(c) Upon receipt of the report provided in subsection (b) of this section, the department shall make reasonable efforts to identify the owner and any lienholders of record. The department shall forward the information obtained to the owner or person in lawful control of the property.
(d) The owner or person in lawful control of the property shall give a written notice of sale after the thirty (30) day time period provided in subsection (a) of this section expires but not less than ten (10) days preceding the date of sale to the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is sold and by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner and any lienholder of record, if they are identified through reasonable efforts. The owner or person in lawful control of the property shall publish notice of the sale once per week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the vehicle is abandoned. The notice shall contain the following:
(i) A complete description of the make, year, model, license plate number and state indicator if available, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle;
(ii) The amount of money claimed for expenses incident to the removal, preservation, custody, storage and sale and if the vehicle is left unattended or unclaimed at an establishment for service, repair, towing and recovery or maintenance, the cost of the services; and
(iii) The time and place of the sale.
(e) All proceeds from the sale pursuant to this section may be retained by the person selling the vehicle. The owner or lienholder is entitled to recover from the person selling the vehicle any proceeds of the sale in excess of the costs of the sale and monies owed for expenses related to removal, preservation, custody, storage and sale and if left unattended or unclaimed at an establishment for service, repair, towing and recovery or maintenance, the cost of the services provided an action is filed in the proper court for recovery within one hundred twenty (120) days of the sale.
(f) Upon receipt of satisfactory evidence from the seller that he has complied with this section and sold the vehicle, the sheriff shall execute a certificate of sale in duplicate for a fee of seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) to be deposited in the county general fund. W.S. 31-13-110 and 31-13-111(a) and (f) apply to any sale under this subsection. Satisfactory evidence of compliance requires the following:
(i) A copy of the record required to be filed with the department;
(ii) A copy of the information provided by the department pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; and
(iii) Copies of the notice of the sale and proof of mailing and publication required by subsection (d) of this section.
(g) At any time before a sale under this section, the owner or lienholder of record may reclaim the vehicle upon payment of expenses incident to removal, preservation, custody, storage and sale, and if a vehicle was left unattended or unclaimed at an establishment for service, repair, towing and recovery or maintenance, the cost of the services. Storage expenses shall be computed at the rate of twenty dollars ($20.00) per day and the total allowable expenses for removal, towing, storage and sale shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
(h) A sheriff who executes a certificate of sale under this section is not liable to any person for damages resulting from the sale of a vehicle under this section.
(j) No person shall sell a vehicle under this section if a written court order prohibiting the sale is served on the proposed seller. The court order shall be served on the person selling the vehicle prior to the sale and shall not be issued except for good cause.
(k) Upon the sale of a vehicle under this section, the former owner, any lienholder or any person entitled to possession of the vehicle has no further right, title, claim or interest in or to the vehicle or its contents and all liens, encumbrances and security interests are extinguished.