General Information
In Mississippi a motor vehicle is considered abandoned if the vehicle has been:
- Left at a dealer, repair shop, or wrecker and not picked up by the agreed date or within 40 days.
- Unattended on public street, road or highway or public property for at least 5 days.
- Lawfully towed to property of another by law enforcement and unclaimed for 40 days.
Abandoned Vehicle Sales
If a vehicle is lawfully towed onto a property by a law enforcement officer—such as those belonging to auto dealers, towing companies, or repair shops—and is later abandoned, then they are permitted to sell it at a public auction. This auction removes any claims against the vehicle. If the vehicle is found to have no market value, the vehicle can be disposed of after obtaining at least two written statements from licensed automobile dealers confirming its worthlessness. Before selling or disposing of the vehicle, the auto dealer, towing company or repair shop must follow all required notification steps and wait at least 30 days after the vehicle was removed from a public street, road, or highway.
Owner and/or Lienholder Notification
The party authorized to sell or dispose of an abandoned vehicle must notify the owner and/or lienholder within 7 days of receiving the vehicle. The notice must inform the owner and/or lienholder that, unless a claim is made within 30 days, the vehicle will be sold or destroyed.
Beginning July 1, 2026, towing companies and repair shops are required to use an approved third-party vendor to notify owners and/or lienholders, via certified mail, of the amount due and date, time and place of sale.