Arkansas Statewide Rule
Arkansas Abandoned Vehicle Removal and Title Law
Key Facts
- Notice Period
- 45 days minimum
- Statute
- Ark. Code 27-50-1201+
- Title Issued By
- Arkansas DFA
- Disposition
- Auction or scrap
Summary
Arkansas law governs how abandoned, unclaimed, or junked vehicles are handled statewide. State statutes authorize towing, impoundment, lien procedures, and eventual sale or destruction once owners fail to reclaim vehicles within mandated notice periods.
(a) If a junk motor vehicle is not reclaimed as provided for in § 8-6-414, the enforcement agency in possession of the junk motor vehicle shall sell it either at a public auction or to a salvage yard or demolisher. The purchaser of the junk motor vehicle shall take title to the junk motor vehicle free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership and shall receive a sales receipt from the enforcement agency which disposed of the junk motor vehicle. The sales receipt at the sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of transferring the junk motor vehicle to a salvage yard or to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling. No further titling of the junk motor vehicle shall be necessary by either the purchaser at the auction, the salvage yard, or the demolisher, who shall be exempt from the payment of any fees and taxes.
Full Breakdown
Under Arkansas Code Title 27, Chapter 50, Subchapter 12, an abandoned vehicle is one left on public or private property without permission for a defined period. Law enforcement or property owners may have it towed. Operators must notify the registered owner and lienholders by certified mail. After statutory notice and a 45-day waiting period, unclaimed vehicles may be sold at public auction or, if valued under threshold amounts, scrapped. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration issues abandoned vehicle titles. Cities can enforce nuisance rules but cannot bypass the state titling and lien process.
Violations & Penalties
Failure to follow notice procedures voids tow operator liens. Owners face storage fees, towing charges, and loss of vehicle title after auction sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a city tow an abandoned vehicle off private property in Arkansas?
How long before an abandoned vehicle can be sold in Arkansas?
Sources
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