Missouri License Plate Lookup /Claim an Abandoned Vehicle

Last Update: July 27, 2026

How To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in Missouri

Claiming an abandoned vehicle in Missouri is a legal process governed by state statute and administered by the Missouri Department of Revenue. The procedure requires compliance with specific notice, holding, and title application requirements established under Missouri Revised Statutes § 304.157 and § 304.158. Adherence to these procedures protects the interests of the possessor of the abandoned vehicle, the prior owner, and any lienholders, while ensuring that ownership transfer occurs through a transparent legal framework.

What Qualifies as an Abandoned Vehicle in Missouri

Missouri law defines abandoned property as any unattended motor vehicle, trailer, all-terrain vehicle, outboard motor, or vessel, whether operational or inoperable, that is removed or subject to removal from public or private property. A vehicle meets the classification of abandoned property under one of the following circumstances:

Left unattended on public property. A vehicle may be removed from the right-of-way of an interstate, state highway, or freeway in an urbanized area if left unattended for 10 hours, or in an urbanized area after 4 hours if law enforcement determines the vehicle presents a serious hazard to other motorists. Outside urbanized areas, a vehicle may be removed if left unattended for 24 hours, or after 4 hours if determined to be a serious hazard. Vehicles obstructing the normal movement of traffic on any highway or bridge may be removed immediately.
Left unattended on private property without consent. A vehicle left unattended on private property owned by another person for more than 48 hours qualifies as abandoned property, unless the property owner has authorized its presence. A law enforcement officer may authorize removal when the vehicle constitutes a safety hazard or unreasonably interferes with the use of the real property.
Left on private property with authorization from the property owner. A property owner, lessee, or full-time property or security manager may authorize removal of an abandoned vehicle without law enforcement involvement in the following circumstances: when a sign not less than 17 by 22 inches, with lettering not less than 1 inch in height, is displayed at all entrances to the property prohibiting public parking and indicating that unauthorized vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense; when the abandoned property is left unattended on owner-occupied residential property with 4 or fewer residential units and the appropriate law enforcement agency has been notified and 10 hours have elapsed since that notification; or when the abandoned property is left unattended on private property, the appropriate law enforcement agency has been notified, and 96 hours have elapsed since that notification.
Related to public safety. A vehicle may be removed immediately if the operator is arrested, taken into custody, reported stolen, or unable to arrange timely removal, or if the vehicle is involved in a traffic violation or safety hazard.

Process To Claim an Abandoned Vehicle in Missouri

Understanding the Abandoned Vehicle Process

Missouri's abandoned vehicle process allows towing companies, private landowners, municipalities, and certain other entities to obtain lawful title to vehicles abandoned on their property or removed by law enforcement. The process does not transfer ownership through possession alone; instead, ownership is obtained by completing title application procedures with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Depending on the category of party seeking to claim the vehicle—towing company, private landowner, or municipality—different procedural requirements and forms apply. The vehicle may be titled as original, salvage, or junking certificate, depending on its condition and prior title status.

Report the Unclaimed Vehicle

The first step in the abandoned vehicle claim process is to determine ownership. Entities with online access to the Missouri Department of Revenue records system must perform a record search to identify the registered owner and any lienholder of record. Access to the record search system requires prior application and approval; interested parties must submit Request for Security Access Code (Form 4678) and Application for Online Account (Form 5017) to establish access credentials. Once approved, the search is conducted through the Department's Notice of Lien System. If the entity does not have online access, a Request for Motor Vehicle/Driver License Records/Personal Information (Form 5091) may be submitted to obtain owner and lienholder information.

If an owner or lienholder cannot be located using either method, the entity must document this by maintaining a copy of the "No Record" screen from the online search or a Department-issued notification letter confirming that no record was found.

Prepare Required Documentation for Notification

After determining the owner and lienholder of record, the claimant must prepare all documentation necessary to notify the prior owner and any lienholder. For a towing company, the required documents include a Crime Inquiry and Inspection Report/Authorization to Tow (Form 4569) if the vehicle was removed by law enforcement, or an Abandoned Property Report (Form 4669) if removal was authorized by the property owner without law enforcement involvement. For a private landowner, a signed statement or General Affidavit (Form 768) must be completed describing the circumstances by which the vehicle came into possession. For municipalities or counties that have adopted an abandoned property ordinance, documentation of the removal authorization and the reason for the removal is required.

Send Notice of Possession by Certified Mail

Within five working days of removing an abandoned vehicle, the possessor must send written notice to the registered owner and any lienholder of record. This notice must include a statement that the property was removed, the grounds for removal, and the location where the property is being stored. The notice must be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested.

For private landowners and towing companies claiming abandoned vehicles on private property, the Notice to Owner(s) and/or Lienholder(s) Regarding Abandoned Vehicle, Boat, Motor, Trailer, and/or All-Terrain Vehicle(s) (Form 5227) must be used. This form must include notice that the owner or lienholder has the right to reclaim the vehicle or to protest the abandoned vehicle title application in the circuit court of the county where the abandoned property is located.

The possessor must retain all certified mail delivery receipts and returned envelopes as proof of notification. If certified mail is returned as undeliverable, the possessor must certify that a good-faith effort was made to locate the owner or lienholder.

Allow the 30-Day Statutory Holding Period

After mailing the notice of possession by certified mail, the possessor must allow at least 30 calendar days to pass before proceeding with a title application. This holding period begins on the date the certified notice is mailed. During this 30-day period, if the owner or lienholder claims the vehicle, the title application process must be halted.

Complete the Notarized Abandoned Property Affidavit

A Notarized Abandoned Property Affidavit (Form 4576) must be completed, signed, and notarized by the party in possession of the vehicle. This affidavit serves as a legal declaration and subjects the affiant to criminal penalties for false statements under Missouri law.

Prepare the Title Application

The possessor must complete the appropriate title application form in their own name. For motor vehicles, trailers, and all-terrain vehicles, the Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108) is used, with the applicable title type marked as original, salvage, or junking certificate. For boats, vessels, and outboard motors, the Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93) is used. For vehicles model year 2011 or newer that are less than 20 years old, current or estimated mileage must be disclosed on the application.

Obtain Required Vehicle Inspection

An inspection of the abandoned vehicle is required only when applying for an original title. For motor vehicles, a Vehicle Examination Certificate (Form 551) must be signed by the possessor and completed by an authorized Missouri State Highway Patrol inspector or St. Louis City or County Auto Theft Unit. For boats and outboard motors, a Boat, Vessel, or Outboard Motor Affidavit of Ownership and Inspection (Form 798) must be completed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. For trailers, an Application for Vehicle/Trailer Identification Number Plate or Verification (Form 5062) may be used in lieu of the vehicle examination certificate, unless a new or replacement vehicle identification number is required, in which case an authorized agent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol or St. Louis City or County Auto Theft Unit must complete the inspection.

If the vehicle is being titled with a salvage or junked designation, the inspection may be completed by any law enforcement officer, unless a new or replacement vehicle identification number is required.

Submit the Title Application and Supporting Documents

For Towing Companies:

Submit completed title application to the Motor Vehicle Bureau, Missouri Department of Revenue
Include a copy of the online record search or the Department-issued notification letter with the owner and lienholder information
Attach notarized abandoned property affidavit
Provide a copy of the vehicle owner and lienholder notification letter (Form 4577) mailed by certified mail
Include proof of 30-day certified mail notification (legible copies of signed certified cards, returned envelopes, or postal receipts with USPS Tracking confirmation)
Attach legible copy of signed tow report
Include applicable form authorizing the tow (Form 4569 or Form 4669)
Provide vehicle examination certificate or other required inspection form

For Private Landowners:

Submit title application marked original, salvage, or junking
Include landowner statement or general affidavit
Provide a copy of Form 5227 sent by certified mail
Include proof of 30-day certified mail notification to all owners and lienholders
Submit applicable title fees, processing fees, and taxes based on the fair market value declared in the affidavit

For Municipalities or Counties:

Submit title application in the purchaser's name
Include Abandoned Property Bill of Sale (Form 4579) stamped with municipal or county seal
Provide the required inspection form
Submit applicable fees and taxes

Submission Methods:

Mail to: Motor Vehicle Bureau, PO Box 2046, Jefferson City, Missouri 65105-0100
In person at: Harry S Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Room 370, Jefferson City, Missouri 65105

Missouri Storage Fees And Financial Considerations

Storage Fee Limitations

Towing and storage charges for abandoned vehicles are governed by Missouri statute and subject to local ordinances in many jurisdictions. Persons operating or in charge of storage facilities where abandoned vehicles are held must accept cash payment for towing and storage charges. The property owner or the owner's agent claiming the abandoned property has the right to recover any damage to the property resulting from the removal or storage of the vehicle.

If a private property owner has failed to comply with the notice or holding period requirements of Missouri law, the owner of the abandoned property may recover double the storage or towing charges. If a towing company removes abandoned property from private property without first obtaining written authorization from the property owner or lessee, the towing company is liable to the owner of the property for four times the amount of the towing and storage charges, in addition to any applicable criminal penalty.

Towing and Recovery Authorization

Law enforcement agencies that authorize the removal of abandoned vehicles must, within five days of the removal, send written notification to the registered owner and any lienholder of record that includes the fact of removal, the grounds for removal, and the location where the property has been removed. The notification must also include the amount of mileage shown on the abandoned property at the time of removal, if available.

A towing company with online access to the Department's records must check for owner and lienholder information when an abandoned vehicle has not been claimed within 10 days of the tow. If an owner or lienholder cannot be located through the online record lookup, the towing company must send the Department a copy of the completed "No Record" screen from the search and the applicable tow authorization form.

Handling of Sale Proceeds

Towing charges and storage fees incurred in connection with the abandoned vehicle may be deducted from any proceeds generated through the sale or scrap disposal of the vehicle. If proceeds remain after all charges are satisfied, those net proceeds do not reduce the title fee or sales tax owed by the claimant. The claimant remains responsible for all applicable title, processing, and tax fees based on the fair market value of the vehicle at the time of claim.

Vehicle Disposition and Disposal

After the 30-day holding period expires and the abandoned vehicle remains unredeemed, Missouri law provides a disposal pathway for towing companies and private landowners.

Towing Company Disposal: A towing company that has complied with all notification requirements under Missouri Revised Statutes § 304.156 may dispose of an abandoned vehicle by selling it on a bill of sale to a scrap metal operator or licensed salvage dealer for destruction purposes only. This disposal may occur only if at least 30 days have passed since the date of notification to the owner and lienholder, the abandoned property remains unredeemed with no satisfactory arrangements made for continued storage, and the owner or lienholder has not requested a hearing. The towing company must forward a copy of the bill of sale provided by the scrap metal operator or licensed salvage dealer to the Missouri Department of Revenue within two weeks of the sale date. The towing company must maintain a record of each vehicle sold for destruction for three years, which shall be available for inspection by law enforcement and authorized Department of Revenue officials. This record must contain the year, make, vehicle identification number, date of sale, name of the purchasing scrap metal operator or licensed salvage dealer, and copies of all notifications issued as required by statute.

Scrap Metal Operator and Salvage Dealer Responsibilities: Scrap metal operators and licensed salvage dealers must keep a record of the purchase of such abandoned property as provided in Missouri Revised Statutes § 301.227. Scrap metal operators and licensed salvage dealers may obtain a junking certificate on vehicles purchased on a bill of sale pursuant to this disposal provision.

Private Landowner Options: Private landowners who have obtained title to an abandoned vehicle may retain ownership, sell it to a third party, or transfer it to a scrap metal operator or a salvage dealer. Private landowners are not restricted to destruction-only sales and may sell the vehicle in any manner permitted by Missouri law, provided they have complied with all statutory notice and holding requirements.

Municipality and County Authority: Missouri Revised Statutes § 304.156 authorizes any municipality or county to adopt an ordinance regulating the removal and sale of abandoned property, provided that such ordinance is consistent with the state statutory framework. Municipalities and counties may conduct auctions, private sales, or other disposal methods under the authority of their local ordinances.

Record Retention and Document Preservation

All entities claiming abandoned vehicles must maintain a file on each abandoned vehicle for at least three years from the date of tow, sale, or title issuance. Records must include copies of all tow authorization documents, certified mail notification receipts, Department records searches or notification letters, all tow reports, the vehicle examination certificate or other inspection form, and any correspondence with the Department of Revenue. These records are subject to verification by the Missouri Department of Revenue and may be requested by law enforcement agencies or other authorized entities.

Contact Information

Missouri Department of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Bureau
PO Box 2046
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100
Phone: (573) 526-3669
Official Website: Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle