HB1288 • 2026

Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value.

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-644.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Wiley
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Governor's Veto
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary does not provide details on the exact process or implications of selling vehicles between $12,500 and $17,000 in value.

Increasing Value for Vehicle Auctions Without Court Order

This act raises the maximum value of property from $12,500 to $17,000 that can be sold at public auction without a court order when there is a lien on a motor vehicle.

What This Bill Does

Increases the limit for selling vehicles with liens in auctions from $12,500 to $17,000.

Who It Names or Affects

Companies holding vehicles with liens, such as tow truck operators, garage keepers, mechanics, and self-storage facilities.
Vehicle owners whose cars are held by these companies.

Terms To Know

lien: A legal claim on a property or asset to secure the payment of a debt.
public auction: A sale where items are sold to the highest bidder in an open and competitive process.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the value of the vehicle is between $12,500 and $17,000.
It's unclear how many more vehicles will be affected by this change.

Bill History

2026-04-22 House
House sustained Governor's veto
2026-04-13 Governor
Vetoed by Governor
2026-03-10 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-02-26 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-02-26 Senate
Signed by President
2026-02-26 House
Enrolled
2026-02-26 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1288ER)
2026-02-26 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1288)
2026-02-24 Senate
Read third time
2026-02-24 Senate
Passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)
2026-02-23 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-23 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-23 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-23 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-23 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-19 Transportation
Reported from Transportation (10-Y 4-N)
2026-02-12 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-12 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation
2026-02-11 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-11 House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
2026-02-11 House
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-10 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-09 House
Read first time
2026-02-05 Transportation
Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-03 Department of Motor Vehicles
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
2026-01-29 Department of Motor Vehicles
Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles
2026-01-19 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1288)
2026-01-14 House
Presented and ordered printed 26103053D
2026-01-14 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.
Increases from $12,500 to $17,000 the maximum value of property that may be sold at public auction to satisfy a lien on a motor vehicle without petitioning for a court order for the sale of such property. This bill is identical to SB 17.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

(HB1288)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1288, which would allow tow truck companies, garage keepers, mechanics, and self-storage facilities to auction off more vehicles in their possession without judicial approval.
Companies often take temporary custody of a person's vehicle, including when a car needs routine maintenance, when the person parks at the airport, when a vehicle breaks down, or in less honest cases, when a person is the victim of predatory towing. Regardless of the reason why, Virginians should not have to worry that the company with temporary possession of their vehicle can sell it without their permission or a court order.
House Bill 1288 would put more vehicle owners at risk by increasing the vehicle valuation limit from $12,500 to $17,000, allowing companies with temporary possession of a person's car to use an administrative process to conduct a public auction of the car. House Bill 1288 would result in a significant increase in the number of vehicles that could be sold without going through the process of getting a court order.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.