Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7301 (2026)

Authorization of salvors.

✓ current as of May 2026

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CHAPTER 73

ABANDONED VEHICLES AND CARGOS

Subchapter

A. Abandoned Vehicles and Salvors

B. Watercraft Trailer Forfeiture

Enactment. Unless otherwise noted, Chapter 73 was added June 17, 1976, P.L.162, No.81, effective July 1, 1977.

Cross References. Chapter 73 is referred to in sections 3352, 3712, 3712.2 of this title.

SUBCHAPTER A

ABANDONED VEHICLES AND SALVORS

Sec.

7301. Authorization of salvors.

7302. Certificate of authorization.

7303. Suspension of authorization.

7303.1. Duty of police and salvors.

7304. Reports to department of possession of abandoned vehicles.

7304.1. Reports and removal of abandoned vehicles within the boundaries of a city of the first class or second class.

7305. Notice to owner and lienholders of abandoned vehicles.

7306. Payment of costs upon reclaiming vehicle.

7307. Authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles.

7308. Public sale of unclaimed vehicles with value.

7309. Processing of nonrepairable or salvage vehicles.

7310. Removal of abandoned or presumed abandoned vehicles from roadway.

7311. Reports by garage keepers of abandoned vehicles.

7311.1. Reports by private property owners of abandoned vehicles.

7311.2. Salvors to remove abandoned vehicles in good faith.

7312. Penalty for violation of chapter.

Subchapter Heading. The heading of Subchapter A was added July 7, 2006, P.L.365, No.79, effective in 120 days.

§ 7301. Authorization of salvors.

(a) General rule.--The department shall authorize and shall issue a certificate of authorization to every salvor that complies with the requirements of this chapter and regulations adopted by the department and is a currently registered vehicle salvage dealer as defined in section 1337(c)(2) (relating to use of "Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Business" registration plates).

(a.1) Repair or towing business.--The department may authorize and issue a certificate of authorization to a currently registered repair or towing business under section 1337(c)(1) if there is no qualified vehicle salvage dealer in a county.

(b) Unauthorized operation prohibited.--No person shall operate as a salvor unless authorized.

(c) Duty of salvor.--(Deleted by amendment).

(d) Storage facility.--(Deleted by amendment).

(July 11, 1996, P.L.660, No.115, eff. imd.; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1278, No.152, eff. 60 days)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Elder v. Nationwide Ins., 599 A.2d 996 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Elder v. Nationwide Ins., 599 A.2d 996 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). · cites it 2× “Eventually, the car was “red stickered” by local authorities, indicating that the vehicle was considered abandoned pursuant to the Abandoned Vehicle and Cargo Act, 75 Pa.C.S. § 7301 et seq. In March, Elder went to check on the Buick, but it had been removed.”

Bank v. City of Philadelphia, 991 F. Supp. 2d 523 (E.D. Pa. 2014). “75 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 7301 et seq. (West).”

Harkovich v. Pfirrmann, 627 A.2d 776 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1993). “If this statement continues to refer to § 3352, then the only provision to which it could be referring is § 3352(c)(5), which provides authority for police officers to tow abandoned vehicles and also requires that police officers comply with the requirements of Chapter 73 of the…”

Pittsburgh Nat'l Bank v. Schmidt, 41 Pa. D. & C.3d 143 (1985). “The Motor Vehicle Code §102 defines a “salvor” as, “A person engaged in the business of acquiring abandoned vehicles for the purpose of taking apart, junking, selling, rebuilding, or exchanging the vehicles or parts thereof.”

VW Credit Leasing, Ltd v. Borough of State Coll., Pennsylvania (M.D. Penn. 2026). “’s Opp’n) at 10 (“The ordinance does not mention 75 Pa. C.S. § 7301 et. al., nor instruct State College police or its tow company to communicate with PennDOT at all.”

— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7301(c) — 1 case

Elder v. Nationwide Ins., 599 A.2d 996 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). “Eventually, the car was “red stickered” by local authorities, indicating that the vehicle was considered abandoned pursuant to the Abandoned Vehicle and Cargo Act, 75 Pa.C.S. § 7301 et seq. In March, Elder went to check on the Buick, but it had been removed.”

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