VT H0329

Extends the time threshold for a vehicle to be considered "abandoned" from 48 hours to 96 hours on public or private property

Caps towing fees at $130 or $4.50 per mile (whichever is greater) and storage fees at $35 per day, with no storage fees allowed before the abandoned vehicle certification form is sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles

Requires towing services to photograph vehicles before towing, record caller information, retain records for three years, and allow vehicle owners to retrieve essential personal items (medicine, child car seats, IDs, cash) without first paying fees

Creates a judicial process allowing vehicle owners to contest whether their vehicle was actually abandoned, challenge fee reasonableness, and seek compensation for damages in Superior Court

Establishes a six-member Abandoned Motor Vehicle Working Group to study and recommend improvements to the disposal and sale process for unclaimed vehicles, with a report due January 15, 2026