You are responsible for contacting the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area where the vehicle is located for authorization before moving the vehicle. This is because some abandoned vehicles were actually stolen or used in a crime.

You are responsible for reporting the disposition of the vehicle to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the site from which the vehicle was towed as well as entering the disposition on the Michigan Auto Lost & Found Web site if you are enrolled as an EFT custodian. If you are not an EFT custodian you will not be able to enter a disposition. Please see Obtain a form to set up an Electronic Funds Transfer Account to set up an account.

You are also responsible for collecting the $40 abandoned vehicle fee if you sell the vehicle or the owner redeems it, and for forwarding $25 of that fee to the Michigan Department of State.

If the purchase price of an abandoned vehicle sold at public auction does not cover towing and storage, police agency or custodian expenses and the $40 abandoned vehicle fee, please do not remit the $25.

When an EFT custodian is reporting the disposition of such a vehicle online, please select "transferred to custodian" and not "sold." The "sold" option should only be used when the purchase price of the vehicle covers all costs - allowing you to remit the $25.

You may have additional responsibilities based on your relationship with, and the expectations of, the law enforcement agency in the area. Some municipalities may also require you to collect additional fees.

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