STEPS FOR DISPOSAL OF AN ABANDONED VEHICLE BY A GARAGEKEEPER
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The garagekeeper shall notify, by certified mail, last known registered owner of the vehicle to reclaim vehicle within 10 days of notice.
- On or after the eleventh day, garagekeeper shall report vehicle as abandoned to the police authority.
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If the abandoned vehicle lacks an engine or two or more wheels or structural parts, which renders the vehicle totally inoperable, the police authority is not required to send notice and shall give the applicant the Certificate of Disposal of an Abandoned Vehicle (Form 411163) (backside of form properly completed). These forms are only made available to a police authority and may be obtained by calling the Central Programs Bureau at 515-237-3156 or e-mail county.vehicle@iowadot.us. The forms are available electronically in a fillable format at the election of the requesting police authority.
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Police authority may take vehicle into custody and sell as an abandoned vehicle at public auction.
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The proceeds of the sale shall first be applied to the garagekeeper’s charges for towing and storage, and any profit shall be reported to the Iowa DOT on Form 411090- Abandoned Vehicle Report within 90 days after the sale.
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If the garagekeeper does not request the police authority to take vehicle into custody as an abandoned vehicle, the garagekeeper may, under the laws of this state, file an affidavit of artisan lien or storage lien to satisfy the garage keeper’s charges for service, repair, maintenance or towing of the motor vehicle.
A private property owner may employ a "private entity" without a police authority's involvement. This does not affect the private entity's garagekeeper's lien.
Get record information on requestion vehicle owner and lienholder.