NASHVILLE - Tennessee auto salvagers and scrap metal dealers will have to be a little more careful in the future before they crush abandoned cars sold to them under a bill approved today by the House.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, passed on a 96-0 vote.

Dean told colleagues vehicles are quickly getting "picked up off the interstates and crushed before [owners] realize what's happened."

Sometimes the cars have broken down. In other cases, they may be stolen.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, changes current laws and extends the age of vehicles that processors and salvagers must have titles for from 10 years to 12 years. Changes also require the vehicle be held on a lot for three days before a vehicle can be scrapped.