THE AUTOMOTIVE RETAILERS Association (ARA), in partnership with Tow Canada, has released the Out-of-Province Registered Owner Search Guide for the Canadian towing and recovery industry. This informative step-by-step guide is the result of extensive industry research conducted by MNP. It investigates the processes that tow professionals in one province would need
to follow to contact a registered owner of a vehicle in a different province, notifying them that their vehicle has been towed
or impounded.
Many towing companies respond to calls from law enforcement to clear accident scenes, impound vehicles for legal reasons, or remove abandoned vehicles. However, a significant challenge arises when these vehicles, often without provincial registration, are left unclaimed in tow yards, leading to substantial losses for the towing company. Various provincial laws, including the Warehouse Lien Act, Motor Vehicle Act, and Traffic Safety Act, allow towing companies to impound and, if necessary, dispose of these vehicles to recover towing and storage costs. As part of this process, towing companies are typically required to contact the registered owner of the vehicle and notify them of the intention to dispose of the vehicle if outstanding fees remain unpaid.
However, contacting the registered owner can become complicated, especially if an owner is registered in another province or the US.
In response to the absence of a unified method for identifying and contacting the registered owner in different provinces, the ARA and Tow Canada engaged MNP to develop a comprehensive Out-of-Province Registered Owner Search Guide. This online guide details the processes for identifying and contacting the registered owner in 10 Canadian provinces—Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan—and selected US jurisdictions.
For instance, under B.C. law, specifically the Warehouse Lien Act, notification to a registered owner must be given in writing and sent by registered mail. Therefore, towers ideally need the owner’s address (or at least the one registered with the title or insurance provider). While calling or emailing is possible, only written notification sent by registered mail is legally binding, otherwise the lien is void.
With the introduction of the Out-of-Province Registered Owner Search Guide, the ARA and Tow Canada hope to alleviate this burden on towing companies, ensuring they can more effectively contact vehicle owners and ultimately reduce the number of unclaimed vehicles in their possession.
This initiative is a testament to the Automotive Retailers Association’s ongoing efforts to support the towing and recovery industry, enhancing their operations, and helping them navigate the legalities of vehicle disposal with ease. The guide aims to serve as a free, reliable, one-stop resource that saves towing companies the time they often spend researching required procedures in different provinces. You can access and download the guide by logging in or registering at towcanada.ca/digital-editions/ 🍁