For Law Enforcement, Towing Companies, & Authorized Users

Entities that are authorized under Tennessee law to take possession of an abandoned or immobile vehicle may register for an account. These authorized entities include towing companies, law enforcement agencies, garagekeepers, and title service and salvage yard companies.

Beginning 90 days after portal is operational, authorized entities are required to enter abandoned or immobile vehicle information in the portal.

A transaction fee will not be charged to authorized entities during the first 89 days after the portal is operational. Beginning 90 days after the portal is operational, a per-transaction fee will be charged to authorized entities entering vehicle information in the portal. Law enforcement agencies are exempt from the transaction fee.

An abandoned vehicle is a vehicle that is physically located in this state that:

• Is left unattended on public property for more than 10 days;
• Is in an obvious state of disrepair and is left unattended on public property for more than three days;
• Has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than 48 hours;
• Is left unattended and interferes with or impedes the orderly flow of traffic or is left unattended during or prior to inclement weather conditions;
• Is unattended by reason of the arrest of the driver of the motor vehicle;
• Is creating a hazard, blocking access to public or private property, or parked illegally;
• Has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 48 hours;
• Has remained on private residential property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property; or
• Has been stored, parked, or left in a garage, trailer park, or any type of storage or parking lot for more than 30 consecutive days

An immobile vehicle is a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is immobilized and incapable of moving under its own power due to an accident, mechanical breakdown, weather condition, or other emergency situation.

A law enforcement agency or a towing company that takes possession of an abandoned or immobile vehicle is required to enter that vehicle’s information in the portal. In addition, if a vehicle being stored by a garagekeeper is available for release to the owner, the garagekeeper must enter the vehicle information in the portal if the garagekeeper intends to charge a storage fee for a period exceeding 21 days.

These reporting requirements take effect 90 days after the portal is operational.

After an abandoned or immobile vehicle’s information is entered in the portal, the portal will generate a mailed notice to the last known registered owner and any lienholders on file informing them of the location of the vehicle, the entity in possession of the vehicle, and their right to reclaim the vehicle within 20 days of receipt of the notice upon payment of any fees. The portal will provide the authorized entity that uploaded the vehicle the delivery status of the notice. In addition, beginning 90 days after portal is operational, vehicle owners will be able to search for their vehicle using the portal. The portal will allow vehicle owners to view the vehicle’s location, the contact information of the entity in possession of the vehicle, and applicable towing fees.

The portal will generate this information and mail the last known registered owner and any lienholders on file a notice that informs them of the location of the vehicle, the entity in possession of the vehicle, and their right to reclaim the vehicle within 20 days of receipt of the notice upon payment of any fees.

If a vehicle owner does not reclaim the vehicle within 20 days of receipt of the notice or appeal the determination that the vehicle is abandoned or immobile, then the authorized entity may take the vehicle into custody. After the vehicle is taken into custody, the authorized entity must advertise the public sale of the vehicle through the portal. The public sale notice must include the year of the vehicle, the make, model, license plate number, VIN if applicable, and the time and date of the sale of the vehicle.

If an authorized entity utilizes the portal to advertise the public sale of an abandoned vehicle, a newspaper advertisement is not required. Beginning 90 days after the portal is operational, all authorized entities are required to advertise the public sale of the vehicle via the portal and may no longer use newspaper advertisements.

The purchaser can apply for the title at their respective county clerk office. The purchaser needs to provide a completed Certification of Sales Under Special Conditions form and any required supporting documentation.