Yes. Nevada law (NRS 108.297) requires you to account for and pay any surplus from the lien sale. After recovering your documented towing, storage, and auction fees, you must pay excess proceeds first to lienholders, then to the vehicle owner. You cannot simply keep all auction proceeds because you obtained clean title through VP-147. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Nevada lien sales.

A shocked Reddit discussion illustrates the confusion: "I always thought the right thing would be for the tow vendor to pay any excess from the sale over their storage costs to the lienholder but they take possession of the whole vehicle?" The answer: Taking possession for lien sale is legal, but keeping surplus proceeds beyond documented costs is illegal conversion of property.

📋 Nevada Surplus Distribution Hierarchy (NRS 108.297):

1. First priority - Your documented costs: Towing charges, storage fees at your posted daily rate, administrative costs for title search and certified mail, auction fees
2. Second priority - Lienholders on DMV record: If auction sale exceeds your costs, remaining funds go to the first lienholder (bank) up to the amount of their lien. If surplus still remains, it goes to second lienholder if applicable
3. Third priority - Original owner: Any remaining surplus after lienholder(s) are paid must be sent to the registered owner at their DMV-registered address via certified mail
4. Unclaimed surplus: If owner doesn't respond to surplus notification within required time (typically 30-60 days), consult legal counsel about escheat to the state

⚠️ Real-World Example of Surplus Calculation:

• Vehicle sells at Copart for $8,500
• Your documented costs: Towing $250, storage 45 days at $30/day = $1,350, auction fees $400 = $2,000 total
• Remaining: $6,500 surplus
• Lienholder on DMV record: Bank with $12,000 lien = Bank gets entire $6,500
• Nothing left for owner (their debt to bank reduced by $6,500)

Different scenario - No lien on record:

• Same $8,500 sale price, same $2,000 costs
• No lienholder on DMV title
• You must send $6,500 to the registered owner with accounting of costs and surplus calculation

💡 Why This Matters for VP-147 Compliance: When you sign your notarized VP-147 affidavit, you're swearing under oath that you followed Nevada's lien sale procedures. Part of those procedures is accounting for surplus. If the owner later discovers you kept $5,000 in surplus that legally belonged to them or their lender, you face: (1) civil lawsuit for conversion, (2) potential perjury charges for false VP-147 affidavit, (3) loss of your tow operator license, (4) criminal charges for theft by conversion.

🏢 Best Practice for Tow Operators: Create a standard surplus calculation worksheet for every lien sale. Document: (1) Auction gross proceeds, (2) Itemized costs (towing, storage with daily rate and number of days, title search, certified mail, auction fees), (3) Net surplus calculation, (4) Lienholder payment if applicable with proof of payment, (5) Owner surplus payment with certified mail proof of delivery. Keep these records for 3-5 years. When we notarize VP-147 forms at Sun City Aliante or other Clark County tow yards, we can review your surplus calculation to ensure it's properly documented before you sign under oath.

Related Questions

• Do I need to notify both the owner AND lienholder for VP-147?
• What if certified mail comes back undeliverable? Can I still do lien sale?
• What are the legal limits on storage fees for Nevada tow operators?

Many procedural stipulations between counsel are filed with signatures only. Notarization becomes necessary or strategically useful when the stipulation disposes of rights or a case outcome. Examples include a stipulated divorce decree, a final disposition, or a dismissal with prejudice. Using a Nevada acknowledgment confirms identity and voluntary execution, which reduces questions about signature validity and helps clerks accept the filing on first review.

We meet attorneys and clients near Symphony Park, Town Square Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Arts District, and Centennial Hills Town Center. Need witnesses for settlement paperwork? See Notary with Witnesses Provided, plus Affidavits and Power of Attorney.

Nevada apostille processing for business documents requires a $20 Secretary of State fee, plus professional coordination services ranging from $170–275 depending on complexity and turnaround speed. Lake Mead Mobile Notary provides document preparation, notarization (if needed), and courier submission to Nevada SOS, ensuring first-time acceptance.

Note: The apostille certificate is issued exclusively by the Nevada Secretary of State. We handle all logistics—pre-submission audit, form completion, courier delivery, and return tracking.

💼 Cost Breakdown for Business Documents:

1. State fee: $20 per document (mandatory)
2. Standard coordination: $170–199 (business resolutions, powers of attorney, commercial contracts)
3. Complex coordination: $225–275 (multi-page contracts, certificate of good standing, technical certifications)
4. Notarization (if required): $10–15 per signature
5. Return shipping: $25–60 with tracking

⏱️ Processing Timelines:

• Standard: 3–4 weeks
• Expedited 24–48 hours: +$75
• 4-hour rush: +$200
• 1–2 hour emergency: +$500 to +$1,000

⚠️ Real-World Example – Corporate Resolution:

• Client needs apostille for board resolution by Friday
• Monday: Notarization and courier to NV SOS with 4-hour expedited fee
• Tuesday afternoon: Apostille issued and couriered back
• Total cost: $20 state + $250 coordination + $35 shipping = $305

💡 Why Use Coordination Services: Avoid errors in document classification (e.g., SOS vs certified copy requirements), expedite submission, and prevent delays due to missing attachments or incorrect forms. We guarantee 95%+ first-submission acceptance and provide full status tracking.

🏢 Service Areas: Corporate districts in Henderson, Summerlin Centre, and McCarran Center. Mobile notarization and same-day coordination available Monday–Saturday.

Related Questions

• How Much Does an Apostille Cost in Nevada
• How Long Does Nevada Secretary of State Apostille Processing Take?
• What Documents Require Nevada Apostille Authentication for International Use?

For HOA, gated, and concierge locations we request an authorization note and any community or building rules with your order. We confirm guard hours or concierge contact, schedule a window, and arrive with vendor credentials. If your file requires a posting, we follow posted rules, place a compliant door tag, and capture a clear photo of the posting and entry. Exterior indicators such as vehicles, blinds, and trash service are documented through Occupancy Verification with wide and detail frames from Exterior Only Property Inspection. When allowed, interiors are handled via Interior and Exterior Property Inspection. Coverage includes Anthem Heights, Whitney Ranch, MacDonald Ranch, The Lakes, Peccole Ranch, Lone Mountain, Craig Ranch Park Area, and Tule Springs. Results arrive by secure link with time stamped photos and a simple status line.