Seventy-one abandoned vehicles left at Boston’s Logan International Airport parking lots were auctioned off this November through JJ Kane Auctions. Massport, the agency operating the airport, coordinated the sale to free up valuable parking spaces occupied by cars left behind for extended periods.
This marks another chapter in the airport’s ongoing battle with mysteriously abandoned vehicles.
A Recurring Problem
This isn’t Logan’s first abandoned car rodeo. Massport previously held similar auctions in 2017 and 2022.
The 2022 auction featured 92 vehicles, while 2017 saw 65 cars sold. The consistent pattern reveals an ongoing mystery: why do travelers keep abandoning their cars at one of America’s busiest airports?
The Mystery Deepens
“We do not know why people are leaving vehicles behind,” a Massport spokesperson told WBZ-TV. Despite repeated auctions and growing attention, airport officials remain baffled by the phenomenon.
The abandoned vehicles range from well-maintained recent models to decades-old cars showing significant neglect, each with its own untold story behind why owners never returned.
From Airport to Auction Block
All 71 vehicles were transported from Logan Airport to JJ Kane’s facility in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, approximately 40 miles west of Boston.
The online auction concluded on Thursday, November 14, 2025, with bidders from across the region competing for the abandoned cars. Every single vehicle found a buyer, clearing out all parking spaces occupied by the forgotten automobiles.
Premium Rides Among the Abandoned
The auction inventory included surprising luxury brands alongside everyday vehicles. A 2015 Mercedes-Benz SUV attracted bids reaching $7,000, while a 2015 BMW SUV commanded a bid of $8,500.
Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Chevy, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Cadillac, and Kia models filled the auction lot. One vintage 1993 Jaguar represented the oldest vehicle available.
Top Seller: Nearly-New Kia
The highest bid went to a 2020 Kia Telluride SUV, fetching an impressive $15,500. This relatively new vehicle raises questions about why someone would abandon such a valuable asset at an airport parking lot.
The Telluride’s excellent condition and recent model year made it the auction’s star attraction, demonstrating that not all abandoned vehicles are worthless junkers.
Sold “As Is” With Major Catches
Buyers received vehicles with significant limitations. All cars sold “as is” without titles, warranties, or guarantees about condition. Massport and JJ Kane made clear they assume no responsibility for vehicle defects or mechanical issues.
Some photographed vehicles showed obvious damage, flat tires, or signs of prolonged neglect from sitting abandoned in parking lots.
The Title Challenge
Winners received only a Bill of Sale, requiring them to apply for new titles through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Massachusetts law mandates that this process be completed within 10 days of purchase.
All vehicles must first receive Massachusetts titles before registration in other states, adding bureaucratic complexity for out-of-state buyers seeking bargain automobiles.
Towing Required
Every abandoned vehicle required towing from the auction yard, adding to buyers’ total costs. The cars sat immobile for extended periods—sometimes years—making them potentially mechanically compromised.
Auction terms prohibited buyers from simply removing parts and leaving vehicle carcasses behind. Purchasers faced strict deadlines to remove their acquisitions or forfeit both vehicle and payment.
Heartbreaking Personal Belongings
Some vehicles contained haunting reminders of their former lives. A 2014 Toyota Corolla still held a child’s birthday photograph and a gift bag in the back seat. These personal items raise disturbing questions about what circumstances prevented owners from returning.
Each abandoned car potentially represents a family emergency, tragedy, or a dramatic life disruption that has left the vehicle permanently stranded.
The Stolen Car Mystery
Among the abandoned vehicles, a 2000 Buick LeSabre contained a handwritten note claiming theft from a homeless shelter parking lot in Bangor, Maine, in March 2023.
This discovery suggests that some “abandoned” vehicles may actually be stolen cars that have been dumped at the airport by criminals. The note’s authenticity and the vehicle’s actual history remain unclear mysteries.
Extended Parking Time Bombs
Logan Airport charges $46 per day for parking. A vehicle left for just one month accumulates $1,380 in fees; after one year, the total reaches $16,790. Many abandoned cars reportedly sat for over a year, resulting in parking bills that exceeded the vehicle’s value.
Sometimes, cars become literally worth less than accumulated parking fees, incentivizing abandonment over payment.
Why Do People Abandon Cars?
Theories include medical emergencies or deaths while traveling, arrests or deportations abroad, permanent relocations overseas, lost documentation, financial collapse, one-way moves to new states, fleeing situations, bankruptcy, estate complications after owner deaths, and vehicles intentionally used for criminal activities then dumped.
Each scenario explains why owners might never return for their vehicles.
Massachusetts Abandonment Laws
Massachusetts law imposes $250 fines for first-time vehicle abandonment and $500 for subsequent violations. Convicted offenders face driver’s license revocation for three months or prohibition from registering vehicles for one year.
Despite these penalties, abandonment continues unabated. Enforcement challenges remain when owners never return to face consequences.
The 72-Hour Rule
Massachusetts considers vehicles standing for more than 72 hours without movement potentially abandoned. However, airports often allow cars to sit for months or years before removal due to legal due process requirements.
Authorities must contact registered owners, follow title procedures, and coordinate with local jurisdictions before disposal.
Logan Airport’s Abandoned Vehicle Procedures
Logan Airport’s procedures for identifying and handling abandoned vehicles demonstrate the complexity of airport management. Boston Logan Airport starts trying to contact owners after cars have been parked for one month or more.
Unlike street parking where vehicles can be removed after 72 hours, airport parking facilities present unique challenges because owners routinely park vehicles for extended periods, making it difficult to distinguish abandoned cars from thousands of legitimately parked vehicles.
JJ Kane’s Auction Expertise
JJ Kane Auctions specializes in online public vehicle sales across the United States. The company handles fleet vehicles from utilities, construction, government, forestry, rental, and transportation industries.
Their Shrewsbury facility serves the greater Boston metropolitan area. The auction house has developed expertise in processing abandoned vehicles from airports and other sources.
No Bodies, But Questions Remain
Social media commenters joked about finding bodies in trunks. While macabre, the speculation reflects genuine mystery surrounding these vehicles. JJ Kane representatives admit they’re “routinely baffled” that owners never return, never call, never attempt retrieval.
The variety of vehicles and conditions suggests diverse circumstances—not a single explanation—drives the abandonment phenomenon.
Investment or Gamble?
For bargain hunters, abandoned car auctions offer potential deals on vehicles selling below market value. However, risks include unknown mechanical conditions, missing titles requiring bureaucratic navigation, potential hidden damage, and towing costs.
Savvy buyers may find gems; others may purchase expensive problems. The “as is” nature makes every purchase a calculated gamble on vehicle history.
An Ongoing Airport Challenge
Despite regular auctions, Logan Airport’s abandoned car problem persists. The consistent pattern from 2017 through 2025 suggests this issue won’t disappear.
As long as travelers face emergencies, financial crises, and unexpected life disruptions, airports will continue hosting these mysterious automotive graveyards. Massport will likely schedule another auction when the parking spots are filled again with abandoned vehicles.