If the Department has no record of the abandoned property, the towing company must certify that a physical search of the abandoned property disclosed no other evidence of ownership. The towing company must also certify that a good faith effort was made to establish the prior state of registration and title by checking the items below:
1)The abandoned property for any type of license plates, license plate record, temporary permit, inspection sticker, decal, or other evidence that may indicate a state of possible registration and title;
2)The tow ticket or report of the tow operator to see if a license plate was on the abandoned property at the beginning of the tow, if a private tow; and
3)The tow ticket or report of the tow operator to see if any information is indicated for the Driver, Owner, or Lienholder of the vehicle.
Note: The Department will provide the tower with a notification letter to certify the above checks have been made. This certification must accompany the application for title.
Send all title applications on abandoned property to the address below.
Submit the following when applying for a title for an abandoned vehicle:
1)Application for title with appropriate fees, properly completed in the towing company’s name. The title type must be marked “Original”, “Salvage”, or “Junking Certificate” (Tow company not required to pay title fee, or sales tax.);
2)Abandoned Property Affidavit (Form 4576) properly completed, signed by the tower, and notarized by a notary public;
3)A copy of the Vehicle Owner and Lienholder Notification (Form 4577) issued to any owner and lienholder of record. This must be sent by certified mail;
4)A copy of the certified mail return receipt(s) at least 30 days old, indicating all owners and lienholders of record, if applicable, have been sent Form 4577 (see 3 above);
5)A copy of the notification the Department of Revenue issued to the towing company or a copy of the “Record Lookup Results” screen from the online record search;
6)A completed and signed Vehicle Examination Certificate (Form 551), if applying for an “Original” title (contact the nearest Highway Patrol Headquarters for vehicle inspection); and
7)Abandoned Property Report (Form 4669) completed by owner, lessee, property or security manager, tow company, and local law enforcement agency.
Important: Mileage must be shown on the application for title for vehicles model year 2011 and newer until the vehicle reaches the age of twenty years old. If the mileage is unobtainable, write in an estimated mileage and a statement at the bottom of the application that mileage is only estimated. Complete and attach an odometer disclosure statement (Form 3019) and include the reason for mileage estimate: fire, digital dash inoperable, or other. This must accompany the application for title.
Form 4669 (Revised 08-2022)