Read the full stored bill text
HB42 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB42
CXLBDWQ-2
By Representative Treadaway
RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 18-Sep-25
1
2
3
4
5
6
HB42 Enrolled
Page 1
PFD: 18-Sep-25
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to unclaimed motor vehicles; to amend Section
32-8-84, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for
notification to the Department of Revenue of an unclaimed
motor vehicle after the towing of the vehicle.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 32-8-84 of the Code of Alabama 1975,
is amended to read as follows:
"§32-8-84
(a) The following shall be considered an unclaimed
motor vehicle:
(1) A motor vehicle left unattended on a public road or
highway for more than 48 hours.
(2) A motor vehicle, not left on private property for
repairs, that has remained on private or other public property
for a period of more than 48 hours without the consent of the
owner or lessee of the property.
(3) A motor vehicle, left on private property for
repairs, that has not been reclaimed within 48 hours from the
latter of either the date the repairs were completed or the
agreed upon redemption date.
(b)(1) AExcept as otherwise provided in subdivision
(2), a person, as defined in Section 40-12-240, in possession
of an unclaimed motor vehicle shall report the motor vehicle
as unclaimed to the Department of Revenue within five calendar
days from the date the motor vehicle first was considered
unclaimed.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
HB42 Enrolled
Page 2
unclaimed.
(2) A person in possession of a towed motor vehicle may
report the vehicle to the Department of Revenue immediately
after towing the vehicle.
(3) The report shall be made in a manner as prescribed
by the department on the Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal
maintained by the Department of Revenue .
(c)(1) Upon receiving notice as required in subsection
(b), the department shall place a 60-calendar day hold on the
title record and no title shall be issued during that time
period unless the title transaction occurred prior to the date
the motor vehicle was deemed unclaimed or the motor vehicle
was returned to the recorded owner or lienholder of record, if
any.
(2) If the motor vehicle was returned to the recorded
owner or lienholder of record, if any, prior to the conclusion
of the hold period on the title record, the person who
reported the motor vehicle as unclaimed shall report the
return of the motor vehicle within five calendar days in a
manner as prescribed by the department.
(d)(1) A person in possession of an unclaimed motor
vehicle, upon reporting the motor vehicle as unclaimed to the
department, shall utilize the National Motor Vehicle Title
Information System (NMVTIS) to determine the current title
state of record or, if no current title exists for the motor
vehicle, the most recent state of registration for the motor
vehicle. Thereafter, the person shall submit a records request
to the state of record within five calendar days from the date
the motor vehicle was reported as unclaimed to the department.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
HB42 Enrolled
Page 3
the motor vehicle was reported as unclaimed to the department.
(2) The records request shall be sent to the current
title state of record in order to obtain the name and address
of the owner and lienholder of record, if any. If no current
title exists, the records request shall be sent to the most
recent state of registration in order to obtain the name and
address of the owner.
(3)a. In the event that no NMVTIS record exists and
there is evidence that could be reasonably ascertained by the
person indicating that the motor vehicle has been registered
in another state, the person, within five calendar days from
the date the motor vehicle was reported as unclaimed to the
department, shall submit a records request to the state of
registration in order to obtain the name and address of the
owner. Thereafter, the person shall send notice by certified
mail with either return receipt requested or electronic
delivery confirmation , within five calendar days from receipt
of the title record , to the owner and lienholder of record, if
any, or registration record, to the owner of record, advising
the owner and lienholder of record, if any, of all of the
following:
1. theThe location of the motor vehicle ,.
2. The normal business hours of the facility holding
the motor vehicle ,.
3. anyAny accrued charges or fees ,.
4. theThe daily storage rate ,.
5. and the The mailing address and contact telephone
number of the person in possession of the motor vehicle.
b. The notice required in paragraph a. shall include
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
HB42 Enrolled
Page 4
b. The notice required in paragraph a. shall include
the following language in no smaller than 10 point type: "If
this motor vehicle is not redeemed by the recorded owner or
lienholder of record within 30 calendar days from the date of
this notice, the motor vehicle shall be considered abandoned
as defined in Section 32-13-1 , Code of Alabama 1975 . The motor
vehicle may then be sold pursuant to the provisions of the
Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act as provided for in Title
32, Chapter 13 , Code of Alabama 1975 ."
(4) A person who fails to report a motor vehicle as
unclaimed or fails to notify the owner and lienholder of
record, if any, in accordance with this subsection shall
forfeit all claims and liens for the motor vehicle's garaging,
parking, and storage prior to the time the motor vehicle is
reported as unclaimed; provided, however, failure to report
shall not result in the forfeiture of claims and liens for the
towing and repair of a motor vehicle.
(e)(1) The department shall maintain and appropriately
index public records of unclaimed motor vehicles reported to
it pursuant to this section. The department may provide lists
of the vehicle identification numbers for such the motor
vehicles without fee in a manner as the department prescribes.
(2) The department shall provide notice of unclaimed
motor vehicles to law enforcement.
(3) Notice shall also be provided to the person
individual who reported the motor vehicle as unclaimed if it
the motor vehicle has been reported as stolen to law
enforcement.
(f)(1) The department may suspend the registration of a
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
HB42 Enrolled
Page 5
(f)(1) The department may suspend the registration of a
vehicle whose theft or conversion is reported to it the
department pursuant to this section. Until the department
learns of itsthe recovery of the motor vehicle or that the
report of itsthe motor vehicle's theft or conversion was
erroneous, itthe department shall not issue a certificate of
title for the motor vehicle.
(2) A title shall be issued by the department in the
name of an insurance company on a vehicle that is reported
stolen when a settlement between the insured and his or her the
insured's insurance company has occurred. The title shall be
issued electronically in the name of the insurance company
until the vehicle has been recovered, and, if recovered, the
title may be issued in paper form."
Section 2. This act shall become effective October 1,
2026.
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
HB42 Enrolled
Page 6
2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 22-Jan-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 05-Mar-26 Passed
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162