Stolen/Abandoned Miata - Can I own it?
 

Passed by my old apartment, and there is an old early 90s Miata that has been there for at least two years now. The car is sitting with flat tires, covered in dust and pollen. The car also has plates from, Georgia I believe. The question is, how can I own this car? It has the desirable early hardtop without defroster, which when cleaned up can command close to a grand right off the bat. The car is in suburban Queens, near Long Island.

I found this: http://www.ehow.com/how_4875051_titl...d-vehicle.html

Has anyone done this before? Is it worth the hassle to possibly have a cheap project car or to part out and make some money?

the hardtops are an aftermarket piece and are really expensive. if you get the car just selling the bubble can get you 700 or more.

That's the plan if I can get it. Sell the hardtop, fix the car, sell it, profit...

talk to your landlord. google 'abandoned property in jersey'. i did a little research and apparently all the landlord has to do is send a certified letter to the owner of the miata saying if they dont claim it that it will belong to the landlord.

then i'd assume you can ask the landlord if you can have it. just a simple google search im not a professional or anything.

ill pm you later to day with some info and links, once I'm at a real computer, not on my cell, and after I get some sleep this morning. 24hr shifts are killing me.

This is the link to how to obtain an abandon vehicle from NJ MVC, but the file is not loading for me... Try and see....

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/About/OS-SS-322.pdf

you guys are overlooking that it is/registered in another state and is currently in NY not NJ

plus that abandoned vehicle application is if your a public agency, not an individual.

ill PM you later still with what id recommend to do.

I don't think it really matters what state it is registered in, it's abandoned in NY / NJ, so their rules for obtaining ownership apply, not Georgia's.

And he did say old apartment, without specification as to which state, so an assumption of NJ isn't all that wrong EB.

- Justin

Car is in Queens, and is street parked where there is no street cleaning, so it really just goes unnoticed.

Found the NY law. Since the car has plates, the owner must be contacted, and then the car escheats to the local municipality if he doesn't come get it. Dang.

you contact the owner yourself and see if he wants to sign over the title or sell it to you as is/where is.

first you need to make sure it isn't stolen.