Abandoned RV reimbursement

Vehicle eligibility information

• Only recreational vehicles (motorhomes, travel trailers, campers) are eligible for reimbursement. We will not accept requests for utility trailers, farm use equipment, trucks, etc.
• Costs related to towing, storage, and dismantling, or disposal of the abandoned recreational vehicles accrued after May 1, 2019 are eligible for reimbursement.
• The Recreational Vehicle (RV) must meet the criteria below:
  • Be impounded from public property and abandoned. A call from law enforcement initiated the impound. You processed it under the standard towing and impoundment laws that you are accustomed to; and
  • Receive no bids at auction. It cannot receive any successful bids during the auction. It cannot be a purchased RV. You must include the completed Abandoned Vehicle Report (AVR) as one of the supporting documents in your request; and
  • Be abandoned by the owner or the last known registered owner is unknown after a reasonable effort. You must perform due diligence and attempt to locate the registered owner of the abandoned recreational vehicle. Follow the legal process for moving any vehicle to the auction stage. The process of getting an RV ready to auction is the same as any other vehicle; or
  • Be declared an abandoned junk vehicle by a law enforcement officer. A law enforcement officer or authorized junk inspector will give you a completed Junk Vehicle Affidavit.
• If no VIN is available or there is no Washington record, you must submit proof of vehicle measurements. Examples include pictures of the RV that include the front box/bumper and back bumper.
  • See examples of measuring an RV.
• You must have an active business license at the time you provide services to be eligible for reimbursement. We will verify your business license status before approving your request.
• You must include the RV type, length, tow truck class, and tow truck hours of service so we can determine the costs that we will reimburse. For more information see WAC 308-61-215 Abandoned recreational vehicle - Rates and caps.
• Each business type must complete its process before applying for reimbursement. The process is complete after you deliver the RV to a licensed vehicle wrecker or scrap/salvage processor for disposal.

How to request reimbursement for abandoned RV disposal

Registered tow truck operators (RTTO)

Submit your request for reimbursement in your License eXpress (LX) for Business account.

Upload all the following documentation to support your request:

• A copy of the completed AVR with the Affidavit of Sale section completed as proof of delivery. Or, Junk Vehicle Affidavit with the Affidavit of Destruction section completed as proof of delivery.
• A completed Certificate of Fact. It must state:
  • Tow truck vehicle class,
  • Tow truck hours of service,
  • Tow truck license plate number, and
  • The number of days stored if not already included on your invoice.
  • Proof of dates of storage for the abandoned RV, if applicable.
• If you have pre-paid for destruction/disposal costs submit:
  • An extra Certificate of Fact, completed by a licensed wrecker or motor vehicle salvage processor. They must state they will not seek reimbursement for the RV since they have been pre-paid for its destruction/disposal. They must also indicate the actual date of destruction/disposal.
  • A copy of the Wrecker/Salvage Processor Monthly Report completed by the licensed wrecker or motor vehicle salvage processor you pre-paid for services. Or, they can report the RV as destroyed in their Destroyed Vehicle account via License eXpress for Business.
• Written record of delivery to a licensed dismantler or authorized disposal site. The AVR or Junk Vehicle Affidavit will serve as written record if the Affidavit of Sale is properly completed.
• The impound authorization form. The law enforcement officer requesting the tow must complete it.
• The Certificate of Mailing for the impound notice.
• If no VIN is available or there is no Washington record, you must submit proof of vehicle measurements.
• All receipts verifying all costs requested for reimbursement.

We will deny your request if it doesn’t include all the documentation listed above. We will also deny it if the documentation provided doesn’t support costs accrued after May 1, 2019.

Vehicle wreckers and salvage processor businesses

Submit your request for reimbursement in your License eXpress (LX) for Business account.

Upload all the following documentation to support your request:

• A copy of the completed AVR with the Affidavit of Sale section completed as proof of delivery. Or, Junk Vehicle Affidavit with the Affidavit of Destruction section completed as proof of delivery.
• A copy of the Wrecker/Salvage Processor monthly report. We will not complete requests until we have processed this report and updated the vehicle record to reflect it was destroyed. Or, you can report the RV as destroyed in your Destroyed Vehicle account via License eXpress for Business.
• A completed Certificate of Fact stating vehicle has been properly and completely destroyed in such manner so it isn't usable as a vehicle again and the date of destruction.
  • If you have pre-paid for towing costs submit an extra Certificate of Fact completed by an RTTO. It must state they will not seek reimbursement for the RV since they were already paid. The RTTO must state:
    • The tow truck vehicle class,
    • Tow truck hours of service, and
    • Tow truck license plate number used to transport the RV to your business.
• If no VIN is available or there is no Washington record, you must submit proof of vehicle measurements.
• All receipts verifying all costs requested for reimbursement.

We will deny your request if:

• It is made 60 or more days after the activity a reimbursement is being requested for occurs.
• It is missing 2 or more required documents.
• You have not provided the requested missing documentation within 4 business days of it being requested.
• It doesn't support costs accrued after May 1, 2019.

Forms

• Abandoned RV Reimbursement Request form
• Abandoned RV Denied Reimbursement Appeal form
• Abandoned RV Payback form

Related laws and rules

• WAC 308-61-195(1) and (2)
• WAC 308-61-197(1)(b) and (c)
• WAC 308-61-215(2)(d)
• RCW 46.55
• RCW 46.55.080(2)
• RCW 46.55.100
• RCW 46.55.110(3)