Junk Vehicle and Boat/RV Disposal Program

Junk Vehicle Disposal

Snohomish County’s Solid Waste Division’s Environmental Cleanup Team offers vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections in an effort to assist private property owners in the removal of unwanted vehicles from their properties. Removing junk vehicles helps make Snohomish County a cleaner, more beautiful place to visit and live, while enhancing the quality of life for present and future generations. To receive paperwork to assist in the removal of a junk vehicle on your property in rural Snohomish County, you must answer "Yes" to the following questions, and complete a Junk Vehicle Affidavit Inspection Request Form. If you have more than ten vehicles please call (425) 388-3425

1) Are you the legal landowner?

  • If Yes, then you may submit a request for a Junk Vehicle Affidavit Inspection.
  • If No, have the legal landowner initiate the procedure.

2) Is the vehicle you want to remove considered a "junk vehicle"?

To qualify as a junk vehicle, a vehicle must meet three of the following conditions:

  • Must be at least three years old.
  • Must be extensively damaged.
  • Must be apparently inoperable.
  • Must have a fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

If the vehicle does not meet the junk requirements outlined above, it falls into the category of an abandoned vehicle (See ’Reporting an Abandoned Vehicle’ listed below).

3) Do you have the title to the vehicle?

Choose an option that best fits your situation:

  1. I own the junk vehicle, but cannot find the title.
    If you’ve lost the title to the vehicle, take the license plate number, the vehicle identification number (VIN), and your personal ID to your local vehicle licensing agent. Tell the licensing agent you want an Affidavit in Lieu of Title to be used for the purpose of disposal (recycling) of the vehicle. Once you acquire this documentation, call your local licensed auto recycler or licensed hulk hauler for removal. You may want to look in the Yellow Pages for a list of charitable organizations who may accept donated vehicles. Also, a listing of recyclers in your area may be found by calling 1-800-RECYCLE or at the Washington State Department of Ecology’s website.
  2. The junk vehicle is on my property, but I do not have the title.
    If you’ve never had the title to a vehicle you bought or received, you will need to get a release of interest from the previous registered owner, if you know them. The Release of Interest Form is available at your local licensing agent.

    If the junk vehicle is on your property, you do not have a title, and you do not know the last registered owner, fill out the Junk Vehicle Affidavit Inspection Request Form, and click on the submit button. One of our VIN Inspector Technicians will contact you in the order your submission was received to make an appointment to inspect the vehicle.

    Once the inspection confirms that the vehicle is junk, you as the landowner notify the registered owner and legal owner by mailing a copy of the affidavit to the address provided by our inspector. If the owner doesn’t respond within 15 days, have the affidavit notarized and you then can dispose of the vehicle, by self haul, a licensed auto recycler or a licensed hulk hauler.
  3. I do have the vehicle’s title.
    If you have the vehicle title, call your local licensed auto recycler or licensed hulk hauler for removal. You may want to look in the Yellow Pages for a list of charitable organizations who may accept donated vehicles. Also, a listing of recyclers in your area may be found by calling 1-800-RECYCLE, or at the Washington State Department of Ecology’s website.

When the process is completed, the vehicle may be legally removed and disposed of by the property owner, a licensed auto recycler, or a licensed hulk hauler. For additional information, contact the Junk Vehicle Affidavit Program, or call (425) 388-3425 or email the Junk Vehicle Affidavit Program.

Reporting Abandoned Vehicles

If you notice an abandoned vehicle located on public property or in the right-of-way, call 911 and the operator will ask what you are reporting. Tell the operator it is a non-emergency. They will ask you a series of questions, be prepared to answer the following questions:

  • What am I reporting? (You are reporting an abandoned vehicle.)
  • What is the location?
  • What color is the vehicle?
  • Do I know the license plate number?
  • What is my name, and phone number?
  • Do I want a Deputy to contact me?

Junk Boat / RV Disposal

Snohomish County’s Solid Waste Environmental Cleanup Team (ECUP) offers a service for the recycling and disposal of unwanted boats, boat trailers, campers, and travel trailers.

Program Restrictions

For any RV / boat to be accepted for recycling and disposal:

  • Please note: Snohomish County Solid Waste does not tow RV’s for disposal. It is the responsibility of the land owner or designated representative to haul the RV to the facility only after an appointment day and time is set. 
  • You must transport the recreational vehicle along with ownership papers (vehicle title, Affidavit in Lieu of Title, Junk Vehicle Affidavit) to our facility at the scheduled time.
  • All holding tanks (black, grey, and water) and any refrigerators or freezers must be empty.
  • The recreational vehicle cannot contain any additional garbage (household, demolition debris, additional tires, gasoline or motor oil).
  • The recreational vehicle must be residing on private property within Snohomish County. 

If you are not the legal landowner, then please have the legal landowner initiate the procedure to remove the vehicle.

Fee

The disposal fee will be determined by the recreational vehicle weight and charged at $105 per ton. A single $36 “hard to handle” fee will also be charged for the refrigerator-freezer and/or air conditioning unit. Payments can be made by check, credit, or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. American Express is not accepted). Cash payments will not be accepted.

Important Note

Is the boat / RV registered in your name?

  • Yes - I am the property owner and I have the title to the boat/ RV:
  • Yes - I am the property owner, but I have lost the title to the boat / RV:
    • Note the license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN), take that information to your local vehicle licensing agent’s office, and request an Affidavit in Lieu of Title. Bring this document to your ECUP appointment (to be scheduled in the next step).
    • Fill out the RV / Boat Disposal Appointment Request Form.
    • ECUP staff will process the form and contact you to schedule a time to visit your property to perform a vehicle inspection your boat / RV.
  • No - I am the property owner but the boat / RV is not registered in my name:
    • Fill out the Junk Vehicle Affidavit Inspection Request Form.
    • ECUP staff will process the form and contact you to schedule a time to visit your property to perform a vehicle inspection.
    • Depending on the results of the inspection, ECUP staff will instruct you on how to proceed with the recycling or disposal of the boat / RV.