Reporting an Abandoned, Unregistered, or Inoperable Vehicle or Bicycle

On A Public Road

To report an abandoned, unregistered, or inoperable vehicle or bicycle that is on a public road:

Note: Email is the preferred method

When reporting an abandoned vehicle by phone or email, please provide:

  1. Location of vehicle – complete street address or cross streets
  2. Description of vehicle - make, model, color, tag (license plate) number
  3. Why the vehicle is believed to be abandoned - examples include no tags, expired tags, flat tires, extensive damage
  4. Your name and contact information - optional

Please note that due to the volume of complaints, the response time to address a complaint may take up to two weeks. If a complaint has not been addressed after two weeks, please contact the Vehicle Recovery Section supervisor at 240-773-6418.

Please note, the Vehicle Recovery Section (VRS) will be closing at 1:30 p.m. on the following days:

01/02/2024
02/06/2024
03/05/2024
04/02/2024
05/07/2024
06/04/2024
07/02/2024
08/06/2024
09/03/2024
10/01/2024
11/05/2024
12/03/2024

On Private Property

The Vehicle Recovery Section can provide guidance to community neighborhoods and commercial and residential property owners on the proper removal of abandoned vehicles.

  • If you are a resident:
    • Please note that if you are a resident concerned about an abandoned vehicle located on a private community road or parking lot, the complaint must first be reported to the applicable homeowners association (HOA) or property management company, who will then contact and work directly with the Vehicle Recovery Section.
  • If you are a manager/owner of the property
    • If you are the manager/owner of private property, you may contact the Vehicle Recovery Section at: 240-773-6411 or by email at [email protected] for guidance and assistance.

Please note that for all private property tows approved by the Vehicle Recovery Section, the property owner or representative is responsible for all towing fees. Those fees are paid directly to the towing service. The Vehicle Recovery Section will not accept any towed vehicles from private property without a properly completed and approved consent form.

Private Property Consent Form

Please also note that the Vehicle Recovery Section does not accept recreational vehicles (RVs), boats, and other specialty vehicles.  If you have questions about this, please call or email the Vehicle Recovery Section (contact information listed above).