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?

REO occupancy checks begin with exterior observations such as vehicles, blinds, trash service, and door or window conditions. When your file calls for posting, we place a compliant door tag and capture a clear photo of the posting and entry. If needed, a brief neighbor attempt can help confirm recent activity. These steps are provided through Occupancy Verification and, when the structure appears empty, Vacant Property Condition Check. Exterior views are documented via Exterior Only Property Inspection and interiors are added through Interior and Exterior Property Inspection when authorized. Coverage includes Green Valley Ranch Neighborhood, Seven Hills, Inspirada, Silverado Ranch, Southern Highlands, Mountains Edge, Centennial Hills, and Desert Shores. Results include time stamped photos and a simple status line your team can file.

County recorders will reject documents with notarization errors—dates, signatures, venue, or acknowledgment language—rendering your document invalid for recording. Correction depends on severity: minor errors in the certificate might be fixed with corrections initialed by the notary; major errors usually require re-notarization with both parties present.

Common Notary Mistakes That Cause Rejection:

• Incorrect date (wrong day, month, or year on notarial certificate)
• Missing signer name or title on acknowledgment
• Notary failed to include their commission number or expiration date
• Venue listed incorrectly (county/state mismatch)
• Notary signature missing or illegible

🔧 How to Fix It:

If the error is typographical on the certificate, the original notary may correct it by striking through and adding the accurate information, then initialing and dating. However, most county recorders require re-notarization to ensure legal compliance. Contact your title company or the recording office immediately to determine the specific fix needed for your document.

🚀 Expedited Re-Notarization:

Mobile notaries offer same-day or next-day re-notarization appointments throughout Henderson and Downtown, preventing further delays. Professional notarization services ensure accuracy on first attempt, saving time and frustration.

Related Questions

• What Happens If a Deed Is Notarized Incorrectly—Can It Be Fixed?
• How Do You Close Real Estate When Buyer Is Out of State?
• Are You Allowed to Use Your Own Notary for Real Estate Closing Instead of Title Company's?

Professional skip tracing services provide significant cost advantages over internal collection contact processes, with typical savings of $1,800-$4,200 per account when considering staff time, FDCPA compliance training, legal liability, and recovery success rates. Volume pricing programs for collection agencies offer 20-25% discounts for portfolio services, making professional skip tracing cost-effective for high-volume debt recovery operations throughout Nevada.

Internal vs. Professional Contact Cost Analysis:

• Internal contact efforts: $385-$685 (staff time + training + compliance + legal liability + low success rates)
• Professional service: $50-$185 (comprehensive contact with guaranteed FDCPA compliance)
• Average savings per account: $1,800-$4,200 including improved recovery rates and compliance protection
• Volume portfolio savings: 35-45% additional efficiency through coordinated multi-account processing

Volume Pricing Program Benefits:

Collection agencies coordinating 50-100 account portfolios receive 20% volume discounts, while 100+ account portfolios qualify for 25% graduated pricing reductions. North Las Vegas commercial districts and Boulder City residential areas benefit from coordinated skip tracing that reduces per-account costs through efficient routing and dedicated account management systems.

Hidden Cost Elimination:

Professional services eliminate internal costs including FDCPA compliance training, staff liability insurance, legal consultation fees, and regulatory violation penalties. Henderson area debt collection requires specialized knowledge of master-planned community access and communication protocols, making professional contact essential for avoiding costly FDCPA violations and consumer complaints.

Quality Assurance and Legal Protection:

Professional contact services include $2M+ liability coverage, FDCPA compliance guarantee, and expert witness qualification that protect collection agencies from contact errors and regulatory challenges. Internal contact processes lack professional liability protection and compliance expertise, creating significant exposure during consumer disputes and regulatory audits.

Recovery Rate Improvement Metrics:

Collection agencies utilizing professional services report 67% improvement in voluntary payment rates, 45% reduction in collection timelines, and 89% decrease in FDCPA compliance violations. Portfolio coordination enables simultaneous multi-account contact that accelerates recovery decision-making while maintaining consistent documentation standards across all Nevada collection activities.

Technology Integration and Scalability:

Professional services utilize digital documentation platforms, GPS verification systems, and collection software integration that scales efficiently with portfolio growth. Large collection agencies benefit from API integration capabilities and automated reporting systems that streamline contact workflows while maintaining detailed audit trails for regulatory compliance and performance tracking throughout high-volume debt recovery operations.