SB152 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Motor vehicles, unclaimed, towing, towing company may notify the Revenue Department on the Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal immediately after towing

Summary

SB152 would let towing operators report unclaimed vehicles to the Revenue Department immediately after towing and updates how unclaimed vehicles are handled, including title holds and owner notifications.

What This Bill Does

It allows a person in possession of a vehicle after towing to report it as unclaimed immediately, instead of waiting five days. It expands the definition of unclaimed vehicles to include certain 48-hour scenarios on public roads or private property. It creates a 60-day hold on the title after reporting and requires notices to owners and lienholders with a 30-day redemption window, after which the vehicle may be sold as abandoned if not redeemed. It uses NMVTIS to verify title state, requires records requests to locate owners, and sets related reporting, enforcement, and potential title assignments in theft cases, with a July 1, 2025 effective date.

Who It Affects

• Towing companies or other persons who hold an unclaimed vehicle after towing and can report unclaimed status immediately to the Department of Revenue.
• Vehicle owners and lienholders, who must be notified of unclaimed vehicles, may face a 60-day title hold, a 30-day redemption period, and potential abandonment sale if not redeemed; law enforcement and insurers are also notified or involved in theft-related processes.

Key Provisions

• Defines unclaimed motor vehicles and expands circumstances (public road >48 hours; private property >48 hours after repairs or without owner consent; 48 hours after repair completion or redemption date).
• Allows immediate reporting of an unclaimed vehicle after towing to the Department of Revenue via the Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal, in addition to the existing five-day reporting window for other cases.
• Imposes a 60-calendar-day hold on the title after notice of unclaimed status, with limited exceptions for pre-existing title transactions.
• Requires NMVTIS-based title state verification and records requests to locate the owner and lienholder, plus certified notice to the owner/lienholder with location, charges, and redemption details within five days of reporting.
• Includes a 30-calendar-day redemption period and language warning that the vehicle may be considered abandoned and sold if not redeemed, under the Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.
• Penalties for failing to report or notify include forfeiture of garaging/parking/storage claims (but not towing/repair claims).
• The Department of Revenue maintains public records of unclaimed vehicles and notifies law enforcement; if theft is reported, registration may be suspended and title may be issued to an insurer after settlement.
• Effective date is July 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic