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

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
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.

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.