What Happens to an Unclaimed Towed Car in Little Rock?

In Little Rock, a towed car that sits at the city Vehicle Storage Facility for 45 days in a row becomes eligible for public auction. The city holds auctions on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Arkansas law says that once you miss the 45-day window after the tow notice, you give up your rights to the car and everything in it. You can still owe money if the sale comes up short.

How does the 45-day clock start?

Most people don't know the clock exists until a letter shows up. Here is how it works under Arkansas law.

After a tow, the business holding the car must mail a notice to the owner and any lender on file. It goes by certified mail, return receipt requested. State law says it goes out no sooner than 2 business days, and no later than 8 business days, after the car arrives.

That letter has to tell you a few things:

• The year, make, model and VIN of the car
• Where the car is and the phone number to call
• That towing, storage and admin costs keep adding up
• That unless you claim it within 45 days, it can be sold, scrapped or destroyed
• That you have 30 days to challenge the tow itself

The 45 days run from that notice. The city lot uses its own simple rule: 45 consecutive days on the lot makes a car eligible for auction. Either way, the safe plan is the same. Treat day one as the day of the tow.

What if I moved and never got the letter?

The notice goes to the address in state motor vehicle records. If you moved and never updated your registration, the letter goes to your old place. If no owner can be found at all, one notice in a county newspaper counts as fair warning under state law.

So don't wait for mail. If your car vanished from a curb near the Clinton Presidential Center, call the city lot at (501) 918-4260 the same day. If it isn't there, call the LRPD non-emergency line at (501) 371-4829. State law says the officer or agency that ordered a tow must give you the name, location and phone number of the tow firm when you ask.

What does missing the deadline cost me?

More than the car. Arkansas law spells out three hard results:

1. You lose ownership. Failing to reclaim within 45 days of the notice waives all your right, title and interest in the car and its contents.
2. The buyer gets a clean title. After a proper sale, the car belongs to the buyer free of every lien, including your car loan.
3. You may still owe. If the sale brings in less than the towing, storage and sale costs, the lot holder can come after you for the rest.

That last one surprises people. Walking away from an old car doesn't always end the bill.

And if the car sells for more than I owe?

For a tow requested by police, state law says the extra money is held for one year by whoever runs the impound lot. If nobody claims it in that year, the lot operator keeps it. If your car sold, call the facility and ask about any excess.

Can I get my stuff out before the auction?

Yes, and some of it is free. Arkansas law says the tow lien does not cover certain personal items. A towing and storage firm must hand them back to the owner or driver at no charge:

• Personal or legal papers
• Medicine
• Child car seats
• Wallets and purses, and what's inside them
• Prescription glasses
• Prosthetics
• Cell phones
• Photos
• Books

You must ask within 45 days and show you're the registered owner, or that the owner said you could collect them. Your kid's car seat is in the back and the car is stuck on the lot? Call the city lot first and ask how it handles item pickups.

Does a police hold stop the clock?

It pauses things. An officer can place a hold on a car that's part of an investigation. The city lot can't lift it, so you deal with LRPD.

Under state law, once a hold is released you get an extra 20 days to reclaim the car. A sale must happen no later than 90 days after the lien is set up, or 45 days after a hold is released, whichever comes later. Get the release date from LRPD in writing if you can, and mark your 20 days on a calendar.

How do I find out if my car is on an auction list?

Check three places. Do it early, since the law requires notice of a sale only a couple of weeks ahead.

• The city's auction list. The Vehicle Storage Facility page posts its latest auction list and photos before each sale. The list can change without notice.
• The newspaper. The city lists auction cars in the legal notices of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. State law requires a newspaper notice at least 10 days before any sale.
• LOST AUTO. This free state Towing and Recovery Board site lets you search towed cars by VIN or by make and model before they're sold. A board rule says cars set for sale go on the board's site at least 15 days ahead, with the sale date.

The registered owner and any lender should also get a certified letter at least 15 days before the sale. Don't count on it reaching you.

Can I stop the sale?

Yes, if you act before sale day. Claim the car the normal way: proof you own it, current insurance and a state ID, and pay what's owed. The city takes cash and major cards. No insurance? The car has to leave on an insured wrecker or a truck with a trailer.

Have a car loan? Your lender gets the notices too, and the city posts a Lienholder Recovery Procedure for lenders. Calling your lender early can help.

What if the tow was wrong in the first place?

State law gives you 30 days from the tow, or from notice of a police hold, to ask for a review. For a city tow, you file through the city's review process if it has one. If not, you file in circuit court in the county where the car is stored. You can post a bond equal to the charges to get the car out while the case runs.

Think a tow business overcharged you? File with the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board at (501) 682-3801. Since July 1, 2025, state law says tow invoices must print that complaint notice at the bottom.

Who can bid at a Little Rock city auction?

Anyone 18 or older with a valid driver's license, since the auctions are public. You buy a bidder card, and it's good for one year. The gate opens at 8:30 a.m. and bidding starts at 9 a.m. The city can cancel an auction without notice.

How can Sentinel help once the car is free?

Sentinel doesn't do impounds, releases or auctions. That part is between you and the city. But a car that sat outside for weeks often won't start. A car tow from the lot to your home or a shop is something we can arrange after you pay and sign the city's release form.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent, then check on you by text until your truck arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. For breakdowns on I-630 or the river bridges, see our Little Rock towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Little Rock Impound Auction Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Little Rock Vehicle Storage Facility, Vehicle Storage FAQ, LRPD contact page, Arkansas tow law (Title 27, Ch. 50, Subch. 12), Act 932 of 2025, 27 CAR 170-116, LOST AUTO.