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 But what happens when the lienholder is a bank that merged, went out of business, or has an outdated address on the DMV record?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 Must use address from DMV registration records, even if you know it's outdated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?

An authorized representative is a person designated by the employer to complete Section 2 of Form I-9 by physically examining the employee's identity and employment authorization documents, verifying their authenticity, and certifying that the documents appear genuine and relate to the employee presenting them. The authorized representative can be any individual over 18 years old, including mobile notaries, HR professionals, third-party service providers, or even other employees within the organization—the employer determines who is authorized to act on their behalf. However, the employer retains full legal liability for any errors, omissions, or violations on I-9 forms completed by their authorized representative, making proper training and reliable service providers critical to compliance.

Federal law does not require authorized representatives to have special training, licensing, or certification, but employers must ensure their representatives understand I-9 requirements, acceptable document lists (List A, B, and C), fraud detection basics, and anti-discrimination rules that prohibit requesting specific documents or rejecting valid documentation based on national origin or citizenship status. Many employers use mobile notary services as authorized representatives because notaries are already trained in identity verification, document examination, and record-keeping practices that align with I-9 compliance standards. The authorized representative must be physically present with the employee during Section 2 completion—remote verification via video is only a temporary accommodation through December 2025 and still requires subsequent physical inspection.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary serves as a trusted authorized representative for I-9 verification throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City, providing professional document examination services for employers with remote workers, multi-location operations, or limited HR staff. Our mobile notaries travel to employee locations—home offices, co-working spaces, or any convenient site—complete Section 2 verification with proper physical document inspection, and provide employers with compliant, audit-ready I-9 forms. This service eliminates the burden of coordinating internal authorized representatives, reduces employer liability through professional verification, and ensures every I-9 meets federal standards that withstand ICE audits.

In Painted Desert, onsite notarization reduces drive time, avoids return trips, and keeps timelines on track for title and HOA. We align deed execution with ROFR, estoppel, and deed language so your property transfer notarization and real estate closing notarization move forward without defects. If the transfer requires international recognition we can add apostille services after notarization.