Guides / Car towed and sold? Where the leftover money goes in ten states
Car towed and sold? Where the leftover money goes in ten states
When a tow yard sells a towed car to cover unpaid charges, some states hold the leftover money for the former owner. Ten states are checked so far, each against its own law or agency page.
A tow yard that sells a towed car to cover unpaid charges holds a lien sale. Car towed in California? Go straight to the California guide. State not listed? That means not checked yet. Ask the tow yard in writing where the money went: a letter you can build here.
A state is listed only when this site opened the law or the agency page and read the sentence about leftover money. A rule here may cover only one kind of sale, such as the kind named in the row or in the section below it.
| State | Where the leftover money goes | Claim window | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California (guide) | To the DMV, after the lien and a processing cost capped at $70 or $100, unless federal law requires otherwise. A person claiming an interest in the vehicle may claim. | Three years from the date the funds were deposited. | Civil Code §3073 |
| Florida | To the clerk of the circuit court, if the owner or lienholder is absent. The clerk holds it for the person entitled and may keep 5 percent. Suggested next step: ask the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the car was sold. | This site found no time limit in the text it read. | Fla. Stat. §713.78 |
| Georgia | To the Department of Revenue, for sales under a court order. Suggested next step: ask the Department's unclaimed property office about a claim. | The Department's page gives six months from the sale for the first claim period, and says no claim is authorized after one year from the date the funds were remitted. | Dept. of Revenue page |
| Michigan | To the Treasury's unclaimed property division, after towing and storage, police or custodian expenses and a $40 fee. The secured party is paid first, then the owner. If the remainder cannot be delivered, it becomes the property of the local government unit. Suggested next step: ask the police agency that ordered the tow, and check the state's unclaimed property. | This site found no time limit in the section. | MCL 257.252g |
| Nevada | Delivered on demand to the person the lien claimant would have had to deliver the property to. The lien claimant is the business that holds the lien, such as the tow yard or shop. The rule covers vehicles and other property under the lien chapter. Suggested next step: write to that business and ask for an accounting. | This site found no time limit for vehicle liens in the text it read. | NRS chapter 108 |
| Pennsylvania | After the salvor's costs, to "the department" (the statute does not name it here) and then the State Treasurer's Motor License Fund, for a salvor's sale of an abandoned vehicle. "Salvor" is the statute's word. Suggested next step: ask the salvor in writing where the money went. | This section describes no claim process. | 75 Pa.C.S. §7308 |
| Colorado | For an abandoned motor vehicle sold under part 18 of the statute's article: after the operator's fee, towing and storage, agency costs and some state fees, the balance goes to the state department. It pays the lienholder of record, then the owner of record, then any person who submits proof of an interest. If not requested and paid within 120 days of the sale, it goes to the state treasurer for the highway users tax fund. | 120 days from the sale, after which the statute sends the money to the treasurer. | C.R.S. §42-4-1809 |
| New York | For a sale under Article 9 of the Lien Law (enforcement of liens on personal property): held by the lienor for the owner, the owner's assignee or legal representative, or anyone entitled to notice of the sale. If unclaimed in thirty days, deposited with the treasurer, chamberlain, commissioner of finance or town supervisor where the sale was held. | The officer pays a person entitled on demand. After five years with the officer, unclaimed money goes to the municipality's general funds. | Lien Law §204 |
| Texas | For an abandoned vehicle sold by a law enforcement agency: after the agency's costs, held for 90 days for the owner or lienholder. Unclaimed money then goes into an account that may pay towing and storage costs on other vehicles, and amounts over $1,000 may be moved to the city or county's general revenue. | Held for 90 days. The statute does not say when the 90 days start. | Transp. Code §683.015 |
| Washington | To the Department of Licensing, for tow truck operator auctions, within thirty days. | The statute says the money goes to the registered owner of record who makes a valid claim within one year of the auction. | RCW 46.55.130 |
California
See the full guide: Car towed and sold at a lien sale? Money may be held for you.
Florida
This Florida statute is about liens for towing and storing vehicles. The sentence below says what happens to the money after the charges and costs are paid. It names the case where the owner or lienholder is absent. This site read the 2024 edition of the statute.
“The proceeds of the sale, after payment of reasonable towing and storage charges, and costs of the sale, in that order of priority, must be deposited with the clerk of the circuit court for the county if the owner or lienholder is absent, and the clerk must hold such proceeds subject to the claim of the owner or lienholder legally entitled thereto. The clerk is entitled to receive 5 percent of such proceeds for the care and disbursement thereof.”
Florida Statutes §713.78, flsenate.gov, read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: the money is held by the court clerk for the owner or lienholder who is entitled to it. This site found no deadline in the text it read. What happens when the owner is present is not in the sentence quoted. Ask the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the car was sold.
Georgia
This is the Department of Revenue's own page about its program, not the statute text. It says it applies to towing and storage firms, repair facilities and salvage dealers that sold an abandoned or unclaimed vehicle at public sale under a court order.
“Then, the business must remit the remaining proceeds of the sale to the Department of Revenue (the “Department”) no later than 15 business days after the date of the sale.”
Georgia Department of Revenue, Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act: Remitting Excess Funds to the Department, read 14 November 2026.
“Any person claiming a property interest in the vehicle and the excess funds (i.e. vehicle owner, lienholder) may make a claim to the Department within six months of the sale.”
Georgia Department of Revenue, Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act: Remitting Excess Funds to the Department, read 14 November 2026.
“No claim will be authorized after one year from the date the funds were remitted to the Department.”
Georgia Department of Revenue, Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act: Remitting Excess Funds to the Department, read 14 November 2026.
Michigan
This section covers public sales of vehicles that were determined to be abandoned or removed under the statute's towing rules. The police agency controls the sale and may name the custodian or a third party to run it. It is not a rule for every lien sale.
“Any extra money shall be sent to the department of treasury's unclaimed property division to be disbursed as follows:”
Michigan Compiled Laws §257.252g, legislature.mi.gov, read 14 November 2026.
The section pays accrued towing and storage charges first, then expenses of the police agency or custodian, then a $40 abandoned vehicle fee. It then pays the secured party, then the owner, and says a reasonable attempt shall be made to mail the remainder to the last titled owner. If delivery cannot be made, the remainder becomes the property of the unit of government where the vehicle was towed. This site found no claim deadline in the section.
Nevada
Nevada's lien chapter says what the lien claimant does with the balance of a sale.
“The balance, if any, of the proceeds must be delivered, on demand, to the person to whom the lien claimant would have been bound to deliver, or justified in delivering, the motor vehicle, aircraft, motorcycle, motor or aircraft equipment, aircraft parts, trailer, recreational vehicle, mobile home or manufactured home.”
Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 108, leg.state.nv.us, read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: the claimant holds the balance for the person entitled to it and hands it over when that person asks. The chapter covers many kinds of liens, not only tows. This site found no claim deadline for vehicle liens in the part it read, and read only this part of the chapter.
Pennsylvania
This section covers a salvor's public sale of an abandoned vehicle that has value.
“The remainder of the proceeds of a sale shall be paid to the department and transmitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Motor License Fund.”
75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7308, palegis.us, read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: in this kind of sale the salvor is paid its fee and costs first, and the remainder goes to the state. This site read only this section.
Colorado
This section covers an abandoned motor vehicle sold under part 18 of the article. The first payments go to the operator's fee, towing and storage, and the law enforcement agency's costs. The statute says some of its paragraphs do not apply to a law enforcement agency operating under a towing contract. This site read the statute in the 2024 printout.
“Any balance remaining after payment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (2) shall be paid by the department: First, to any lienholder of record as the lienholder's interest may appear upon the records of the department; second, to any owner of record as the owner's interest may so appear; and then to any person submitting proof of such person's interest in such motor vehicle upon the application of such lienholder, owner, or person. If such payments are not requested and made within one hundred twenty days after the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle, the balance shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund for allocation and expenditure as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(e), C.R.S.”
Colorado Revised Statutes §42-4-1809, content.leg.colorado.gov (2024 printout, page 653), read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: the money moves through a state department, with the lienholder of record paid first, the owner of record second, and then anyone who submits proof of an interest. The 120 days is short, and the leftover then goes to a highway fund. If your car may have been sold in Colorado, ask the state agency that handles vehicle titles how to claim, and do it soon.
New York
This is Article 9 of the Lien Law, which covers enforcement of liens on personal property. It sets what the person who holds the lien does with the money after a sale under that article.
“The balance of such proceeds, if any, shall be held by the lienor subject to the demand of the owner, or his assignee or legal representative, or any person entitled to notice of sale pursuant to section two hundred one of this article.”
New York Lien Law §204, nysenate.gov, read 14 November 2026.
“If such balance is not claimed by any of such persons within thirty days from the day of sale, such balance shall be deposited with the treasurer or chamberlain of the city or village, or the commissioner of finance in the city of New York, or the supervisor of the town, where such sale was held.”
New York Lien Law §204, nysenate.gov, read 14 November 2026.
“If such balance remains in the possession of such officer for a period of five years, unclaimed by a person legally entitled thereto, it shall be transferred to the general funds of the town, village or city, and be applied and used as other moneys belonging to such town, village or city.”
New York Lien Law §204, nysenate.gov, read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: in a sale under this article, the leftover money may end up with a city, village or town treasurer. A person legally entitled can claim it from that officer. This site read only this section.
Texas
This section covers an abandoned vehicle that a law enforcement agency sells at auction. It is not a rule for every tow yard sale in Texas.
“After deducting the reimbursement allowed under Subsection (a), the proceeds of the sale shall be held for 90 days for the owner or lienholder of the vehicle.”
Texas Transportation Code §683.015, statutes.capitol.texas.gov, read 14 November 2026.
“After the period provided by Subsection (b), proceeds unclaimed by the owner or lienholder shall be deposited in an account that may be used for the payment of auction, towing, preservation, storage, and notice and publication fees resulting from taking other vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, or outboard motors into custody if the proceeds from the sale of the other items are insufficient to meet those fees.”
Texas Transportation Code §683.015, statutes.capitol.texas.gov, read 14 November 2026.
This site's reading: after the agency's costs are taken out, the proceeds are held for 90 days for the owner or lienholder. The statute does not say when the 90 days start. After that, unclaimed money goes into an account, and a city or county may move amounts over $1,000 to its general revenue. This site read only this section and did not read the sections on notice to owners.
Washington
Washington's tow truck operator law sends surplus auction money to the state. The statute's word for the agency is "the department".
“All surplus moneys derived from the auction after satisfaction of the registered tow truck operator's lien shall be remitted within thirty days to the department for deposit in the state motor vehicle fund.”
Revised Code of Washington 46.55.130, app.leg.wa.gov, read 14 November 2026.
“If the director subsequently receives a valid claim from the registered vehicle owner of record as determined by the department within one year from the date of the auction, the surplus moneys shall be remitted to such owner;”
Revised Code of Washington 46.55.130, app.leg.wa.gov, read 14 November 2026.
The statute defines the word.
“The term "department" shall mean the department of licensing unless a different department is specified.”
Revised Code of Washington 46.04.162, app.leg.wa.gov, read 14 November 2026.
The statute names the registered owner of record. It does not say a lienholder may claim. This site's reading: the Washington window is one year from the auction, shorter than California's three years, and the two clocks start from different events. If your car was sold in Washington, act fast and ask the Department of Licensing how to claim. This site did not open the Department of Licensing's claim form or process.
Other states
Rules differ by state and by type of sale. If your car was sold in another state, search that state's motor vehicle agency for lien sale surplus, or ask the tow yard in writing where the leftover money went. We will add a state here after we read its statute.
Not sure where your money went? Ask the tow yard in writing.
What this site cannot do
- It cannot check whether money is held for your car. Only the holder of the money, such as a state agency or a court clerk, can.
- It does not send forms or claims to any agency. You file directly.
- It cannot promise a payout or say whether a tow or sale broke the law. A lawyer or legal aid office can.
Sources
- California Civil Code §3073, read 14 November 2026
- Revised Code of Washington 46.55.130, read 14 November 2026
- Revised Code of Washington 46.04.162, read 14 November 2026
- Florida Statutes §713.78, read 14 November 2026
- Georgia Department of Revenue page, read 14 November 2026
- Michigan Compiled Laws §257.252g, read 14 November 2026
- Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 108, read 14 November 2026
- 75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7308, read 14 November 2026
- Texas Transportation Code §683.015, read 14 November 2026
- New York Lien Law §204, read 14 November 2026
- Colorado Revised Statutes §42-4-1809, read 14 November 2026
Quotations are copied word for word. Text outside a quotation is this site's reading. This is not legal advice.