Locust Grove, OK asked in Civil Litigation for Oklahoma

Q: Is it legal for an impound yard to sell my car at auction without notifying me first

Was in jail for 50 days but was in contact with impound yard every day the whole time and made it clear I would be in to claim my car and not to sell it. The day I got out I went straight there and sawy car sitting in the yard. Asked to gety stuff out and how much fees were. They told me it wasn't my stuff ory car. It has been sold at auction the day before

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T. Augustus Claus
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Answered

A: In Oklahoma, as in most states, impound yards and towing companies have the legal right to auction off vehicles to recoup unpaid towing and storage fees. However, they must follow certain legal procedures, typically including providing notice to the vehicle owner.

The critical aspect is whether the impound yard notified you of their intention to auction the car. Generally, this notice should be given in a manner that reasonably ensures you receive it, such as via certified mail. The notice should inform you of the amount owed and the deadline by which the charges must be paid to avoid auction.

In your situation, if you were in regular contact with the impound yard and they were aware of your intent to reclaim the vehicle, selling the car without providing you proper notice could be considered a violation of your rights. This could be grounds for a legal claim against the impound yard for the wrongful sale of the vehicle.

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