1. When May I Begin My Lien Sale?

If your lien is for automobile dealer, repair shop, wrecker service, or for some other reason you may start your lien 60 days after the vehicle has been in your possession or repair work has been completed.

2. How much storage should I charge?

Storage rates are not regulated by the state of Alabama. If you are a business who makes it a practice to regularly store vehicles, your daily storage rate should be clearly posted within your customer's view. A lien sale will typically provide you with no more than 60 days of storage at your posted rate.

3. Can someone stop my lien sale?

YES. Any person known to have an interest in the vehicle may stop your lien by filing a Application of Hearing Abandoned Motor Vehicle with the circuit court of the county of which the vehicle is to be sold within the timeframe allowed by law (Typically within 10 days of mailing the Notice of Pending Lien Sale.) An Application of Hearing Abandoned Motor Vehicle is (and must) be included with the Notice of Pending Lien Sale we mail to all Registered Owners, Legal Owners and Interested Parties.

4. What if someone stops (or opposes) my lien sale?

If application for hearing is made by the owner, secured parties, or lienholders, then all such persons shall be joined as parties and the judge of the district court or circuit court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the vehicle is an abandoned vehicle as defined by the Code of Alabama 32-13, and should be sold in the manner prescribed therein. The vehicle shall not be sold pending the decision by the district or circuit court judge.

5. What if my customer pays part of thier bill?

Accepting any amount of money from your customer will invalidate your lien! Once you accept any money towards from your customer, the lien sale is cancelled.

6. What happens after the lien sale?

Once the vehicle has been sold, all lien documents must be signed. Once signed, deliver them to the buyer. The buyer is granted 10 days to submit a completed, signed and filed set of lien sale documents to any Alabama Tag Issuing Office. Where they can purchase a tag and transfer ownership.

7. What if I sell the vehicle for more than I'm owed?

The Alabama Tag Issuing Office shall retain the remaining balance of the proceeds of such sale for a period of 12 months, and if no claim has been filed against such proceeds by the owner of the abandoned motor vehicle or any interested party, then he shall pay such remaining balance as follows:(1) If the abandoned motor vehicle came into the possession of the person making such sale other than at the request of a peace officer, the proceeds of the sale shall be divided equally and paid to the general fund of the county in which the sale was made, to the general fund of the municipality, if any, in which the sale was made and to the General Fund of the County.

8. I'm not an auctioneer! What do I do on the day of sale?

A lien sale is a public sale and anyone with an interest, including the general public or those claiming an interest in the vehicle, are welcome to attend and bid on the vehicle. Bidding generally starts at what is owed and sealed bids are not allowed. You have the right to reject any and all bids if the amount bid be unreasonably low, and shall have the right to continue the sale from time to time if no bidders are present. In most cases, you will already have the vehicle sold.

9. How can you prepare documents in my county when your located in Mobile?

The procedure for filing a lien sale is the same in every County of Alabama. We are in business to do this work for you. We know you have another things to do, and preparing vehicle lien sale documents is time consuming and can be complicated.

10. How do I receive the lien sale documents once they are completed if Im not located in Mobile?

Once we have finished preparing your lien sale documents, you will receive them at least 3 days before the lien sale date via Federal Express or DHL. However, if an on-site rep is in your area, we will hand deliver them to you. Payment is due upon delivery.

11. What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, money orders, business checks, and all major credit cards.