SB-1029 • 2026

Vehicle lien sales: Department of Motor Vehicles: notice.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Seyarto
Last action: 2026-06-01
Official status: Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify all individuals affected by the bill, only mentioning registered and legal owners.

Vehicle Lien Sales: DMV Notice Requirements

This law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to notify certain individuals within two weeks about leftover funds from a vehicle lien sale and how to claim them.

What This Bill Does

Requires the DMV to send notice within 14 days after receiving any balance from a vehicle lien sale.
Specifies that the notice must inform individuals of the process to file a claim for any portion of the funds forwarded to the DMV.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Registered and legal owners of vehicles involved in lien sales

Terms To Know

lien sale: A sale of a vehicle to pay off money owed, like a loan or debt.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): The government agency that handles vehicle registration and driver's licenses.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the DMV fails to send the required notice.
Does not provide details on how notices are delivered or what information they contain.

Bill History

2026-06-01 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-20 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-04-27 California Legislative Information
April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 27.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3873.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 13.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1029, as introduced, Seyarto.
Vehicle lien sales: Department of Motor Vehicles: notice.
Existing law requires that the proceeds of a vehicle lien sale be paid to the lienholder in the amount necessary to discharge the lien and to cover the cost of processing the vehicle. Existing law requires that the balance be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as provided. Existing law authorizes any person claiming an interest in the vehicle to file a claim with the Department of Motor Vehicles for any portion of the funds from the lien sale that was forwarded to the department, as provided.
This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles, within 14 days of receiving the balance, to provide prescribed notice about the funds from the lien sale that were forwarded to the department and the process to file a claim, as described above, to specified individuals, including the registered and legal owners of the
vehicle.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF