Repossess or seize a vehicle

When can I repossess or seize a vehicle?

​You may be allowed to repossess or seize a vehicle for a variety of reasons when you're dealing with:

• Abandoned vehicles on highways

• A borrower who has failed to meet the terms of a loan

• Unpaid storage fees

• Vehicles abandoned by former tenants

• Unpaid vehicle repairs

Statutory requirements

Repossessions and seizures are transfers by operation of law and are allowed under various statutes, government programs or by court order. For each act, ​the repossessor must follow the statutory requirements as necessary.

• Warehouse Lien Act: Allows a warehouser to seize a vehicle when storage costs are unpaid or a property owner to seize a vehicle abandoned on private property without the vehicle owner’s consent.

• Residential Tenancy Act: Allows a landlord to seize a vehicle abandoned on residential property.

• Rent Distress Act: Allows a landlord to seize and sell a vehicle to satisfy unpaid rental payments owed on commercial property.

• Repairer's Lien Act: Allows a repairer to seize a vehicle for unpaid authorized repairs.

• Personal Property Security Act: Allows an individual, a firm, or a recognized financial institution to transfer a vehicle that was repossessed because the owner defaulted on the payments.

• Transportation Act: Allows municipalities and regional districts to remove abandoned vehicles from highways and public right of ways.

If you feel you are entitled to the ownership of the vehicle based on transfers by operation of law, make sure you properly transfer the vehicle into your name prior to selling it.

ICBC and Autoplan brokers can only provide general information on these operations of law. For additional assistance, it’s important that you seek legal advice. 

Quick links

• BC Scrap-it program: Helps you take your old clunker off the road and get cash or other incentives.

• Selling a used vehicle