(1) If the owner of a vehicle does not claim the vehicle before the day of sale or the owner or lienholder is unknown or cannot be located, the unclaimed vehicle shall be sold, pursuant to the notice of sale. Upon sale, the governmental entity conducting the sale shall apply for and the department shall issue a new certificate of title for the unclaimed vehicle. The new certificate of title shall be delivered to the new purchaser by the department. The application for the new certificate of title shall state that the unclaimed vehicle has been sold as abandoned and ownerless to the purchaser. The new certificate of title may thereafter be used by the purchaser to show ownership of the sold unclaimed vehicle.
(2)  All sales of vehicles, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be under the direction of an appropriate governmental agency which shall prior to sale be satisfied that all prerequisites in this chapter have been satisfied.