Yes. Family members can retrieve impounded vehicles with notarized authorization letters or Nevada DMV Form VP-136 power of attorney signed by the registered owner. Mobile notary service coordinates on-site notarization at tow yard facilities throughout Clark County, allowing the vehicle owner and authorized family member to execute documents directly at the impound lot in Boulder City and Las Vegas Valley.

Nevada tow yards require notarized authorization for legal liability protection when releasing vehicles to non-registered owners. The authorization letter must include the registered owner's full legal name, family member's full legal name, vehicle VIN, and specific authorization to retrieve the vehicle. Both the owner and family member need valid government photo ID.

📋 Required Information for Authorization:

• Registered owner's full legal name (as appears on title/registration)
• Family member's full legal name and address
• Vehicle year, make, model, and 17-character VIN
• Tow yard facility name and case/reference number
• Specific authorization statement ("I authorize [name] to retrieve my vehicle")

✅ On-Site Mobile Notary Process:

• Owner signs authorization letter in notary's presence at tow yard
• Notary verifies owner's identity with government photo ID
• Nevada notarial certificate completed with official seal
• Family member presents authorization and their ID to tow yard office
• Tow yard releases vehicle after verifying notarization and payment

Related Questions

• What are VP-136 power of attorney requirements?
• How do I release my vehicle from a tow yard?
• How much does tow yard mobile notary cost?

Yes. Nevada law (NRS 108.270) requires you to send certified mail, return receipt requested, to both the registered owner AND all lienholders shown on the DMV title record. Missing either notification invalidates your entire VP-147 lien sale process, even if you properly notified the owner. This is the number one reason auction houses reject VP-147 submissions from tow operators.

The confusion is understandable. A former tow operator explains on automotive forums: "Tow company has to send 3 certified letters to both the titled owner and the lien holder over about 6 week period before they can lien sale the vehicle." But what happens when the lienholder is a bank that merged, went out of business, or has an outdated address on the DMV record?

📋 Nevada's Dual Notification Requirement Explained:

• Registered owner notification: Required because they own the vehicle subject to the lien. Must use address from DMV registration records, even if you know it's outdated
• Lienholder notification: Required because they have a secured interest in the vehicle. The lender loaned money against the vehicle and has first rights to any sale proceeds
• Multiple lienholders: If DMV records show two lienholders (first lien and second lien), you must notify both separately
• Timing: Send both certified letters on the same day; the 30-day waiting period runs from the date of mailing

⚠️ What If You Can't Find Current Lienholder Information? If the lienholder on DMV records is a bank that no longer exists (merged, acquired, or failed), you have several options:

• Research the successor bank: Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia, Chase acquired WaMu, etc. Send certified mail to the current entity at their registered agent address
• Contact Nevada DMV Title Research: They can sometimes provide updated lienholder contact information for lien sale purposes ($15 title search fee)
• Document your good-faith effort: Keep records of your research attempts (internet searches, phone calls to bank customer service, successor bank inquiries). If certified mail returns undeliverable, this documentation supports your VP-147
• Consider legal consultation: For high-value vehicles or complex lien situations, consult an attorney before proceeding with lien sale. Wrongful sale to a vehicle with valid lien = potential lawsuit

💡 The Most Common Mistake: Tow operators send certified mail only to the registered owner, assuming the bank "knows" the vehicle was towed because the owner stopped making payments. Wrong. The lienholder must receive independent notification of the impending lien sale. Without proof of certified mail to the lienholder (green return receipt or returned undeliverable envelope), your notarized VP-147 affidavit will be rejected by Pahrump auctions, Copart, IAA, and DMV during title transfer processing.

🏢 We provide on-site VP-147 notarization at tow yards throughout Aliante, North Las Vegas, and Clark County. During your notarization appointment, we can review your certified mail documentation to ensure both owner and lienholder notifications are properly documented before you sign the affidavit under oath.

Related Questions

• What if certified mail comes back undeliverable or refused? Can I still do lien sale?
• After lien sale, do I owe the owner or bank any excess money from the auction?
• Who at my tow company can sign VP-147? Manager or owner only?