Mississippi law requires tow companies to record tow requests

Towing companies record the name and contact information of each person who requests a tow and that person’s role. This covers requests to tow motor vehicles, including requests by vehicle owners, law enforcement officers, and property owners or their representatives. If a company does not record the required information, it gives up towing and storage fees unless it proves the vehicle owner requested the tow. The act took effect July 1, 2026.

Towing companies and people handling abandoned vehicles use state-approved vendors to send required notices to owners and lienholders and post notice information on public websites. The notices cover vehicles towed or abandoned under the cited laws and go to vehicle owners and lienholders. The Department of Revenue approves vendors, which must meet bond, audit, and data-security requirements. Public websites must leave out personal identifying information and offer optional alerts when vehicles are added. Motor vehicle dealers are exempt from the vendor requirements for abandoned-vehicle notices. For towing notices, online postings must be available for at least two weeks before an auction. For abandoned-vehicle sale notices, postings must be available for at least three weeks before an auction.

A person handling an abandoned vehicle notifies lienholders; if nobody claims a vehicle meant for scrap or destruction, that person reports it to the Department of Revenue, which removes recorded liens from its vehicle registration system. This applies to a person authorized to sell or dispose of an abandoned vehicle who intends to scrap, destroy, or dismantle it. The Department removes liens only after receiving adequate proof that lienholders were notified and a written statement that nobody made a claim. Motor vehicle dealers are exempt from the third-party vendor and transmission requirements for these notices. The 30-day period for making a claim begins when lienholders receive notice.