Ohio Code 4513.603 – Obtaining certificate of title to unclaimed motor vehicle
(A) A towing service or storage facility that is in possession of a motor vehicle obtained under section 4513.602 of the Revised Code may obtain a certificate of title to the motor vehicle, regardless of the motor vehicle’s value, as provided in division (B) of this section if all of the following apply:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4513.603
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
(1) A search was made by the towing service or storage facility of the records of an applicable entity listed in division (F)(1) of section 4513.601 of the Revised Code to ascertain the identity of the owner and any lienholder of the motor vehicle.
(2) Upon obtaining the identity in division (A)(1) of this section, the towing service or storage facility sent notice to the owner’s and any lienholder’s last known address, by certified or express mail with return receipt requested, by certified mail with electronic tracking, or by a commercial carrier service utilizing any form of delivery requiring a signed receipt, that informs the owner and any lienholder that the towing service or storage facility will obtain title to the motor vehicle if not claimed within sixty days after the date the notice was received.
(3) The motor vehicle has been left unclaimed for sixty days after one of the following:
(a) The date the notice sent under division (A)(2) of this section was received, as evidenced by a receipt signed by any person;
(b) The date the towing service or storage facility receives notification that the delivery of the notice sent under division (A)(2) of this section was not possible.
(4) An agent of the towing service or storage facility executes an affidavit, in a form established by the registrar of motor vehicles not later than ninety days after September 30, 2021, affirming that conditions in divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section are met.
(B) The clerk of court shall issue a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, to a towing service or storage facility that presents an affidavit that affirms that the conditions in divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section are met.
(C) After obtaining title to a motor vehicle under this section, the towing service or storage facility may retain any money arising from the disposal of the vehicle.
Last updated January 19, 2022 at 1:09 PM