Indiana Towing & Wrecker Association
Indiana Mechanic Lien Code


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IC Code 9-21 for Abandoned Vehicles may be found HERE

IC 9-22-5-15
Lien for labor on, materials for, storage of, towing of, or repair of vehicle; sale of vehicle to satisfy lien
     Sec. 15. (a) An individual, a firm, a limited liability company, or a corporation that performs labor, furnishes materials or storage, or does repair work on a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle at the request of the person who owns the vehicle has a lien on the vehicle to the reasonable value of the charges for the labor, materials, storage, or repairs.
    (b) An individual, a firm, a partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation that provides towing services for a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle:
        (1) at the request of the person who owns the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle;
        (2) at the request of an individual, a firm, a partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation on whose property an abandoned motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle is located; or
        (3) in accordance with IC 9-22-1;
has a lien on the vehicle for the reasonable value of the charges for the towing services and other related costs. An individual, a firm, a partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation that obtains a lien for an abandoned vehicle under subdivision (2) must comply with IC 9-22-1-4, IC 9-22-1-16, IC 9-22-1-17, and IC 9-22-1-19.
    (c) If:
        (1) the charges made under subsection (a) or (b) are not paid; and
        (2) the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle is not claimed;
within thirty (30) days from the date on which the vehicle was left in or came into the possession of the individual, firm, limited liability company, or corporation for repairs, storage, towing, or the furnishing of materials, the individual, firm, limited liability company, or corporation may advertise the vehicle for sale. The vehicle may not be sold before fifteen (15) days after the date the advertisement required by subsection (d) has been placed or after notice required by subsection (e) has been sent, whichever is later.
    (d) Before a vehicle may be sold under subsection (c), an advertisement must be placed in a newspaper of general circulation printed in the English language in the city or town in which the lienholder's place of business is located. The advertisement must contain at least the following information:
        (1) A description of the vehicle, including make, type, and manufacturer's identification number.
        (2) The amount of the unpaid charges.
        (3) The time, place, and date of the sale.
    (e) In addition to the advertisement required under subsection (d), the person who holds the mechanic's lien must:
        (1) notify the person who owns the vehicle and any other person who holds a lien of record at the person's last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested; or
        (2) if the vehicle is an abandoned motor vehicle, provide notice as required under subdivision (1) if the location of the owner of the motor vehicle or a lienholder of record is determined by the bureau in a search under IC 9-22-1-19;
that the vehicle will be sold at public auction on a specified date to satisfy the lien imposed by this section.
    (f) A person who holds a lien of record on a vehicle subject to sale under this section may pay the storage, repair, towing, or service charges due. If the person who holds the lien of record elects to pay the charges due, the person is entitled to possession of the vehicle and becomes the holder of the mechanic's lien imposed by this section.
    (g) If the person who owns a vehicle subject to sale under this section does not claim the vehicle and satisfy the lien on the vehicle, the vehicle may be sold at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash. A person who holds a mechanic's lien under this section may purchase a vehicle subject to sale under this section.
    (h) A person who holds a mechanic's lien under this section may deduct and retain the amount of the lien and the cost of the advertisement required under subsection (d) from the purchase price received for a vehicle sold under this section. After deducting from the purchase price the amount of the lien and the cost of the advertisement, the person shall pay the surplus of the purchase price to the person who owns the vehicle if the person's address or whereabouts is known. If the address or whereabouts of the person who owns the vehicle is not known, the surplus of the purchase price shall be paid over to the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the person who holds the mechanic's lien has a place of business for the use and benefit of the person who owns the vehicle.
    (i) A person who holds a mechanic's lien under this section shall execute and deliver to the purchaser of a vehicle under this section a sales certificate in the form designated by the bureau, setting forth the following information:
        (1) The facts of the sale.
        (2) The vehicle identification number.
        (3) The certificate of title if available.
        (4) A certificate from the newspaper showing that the advertisement was made as required under subsection (d).
Whenever the bureau receives from the purchaser an application for certificate of title accompanied by these items, the bureau shall issue a certificate of title for the vehicle under IC 9-17.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.8-1993, SEC.175; P.L.104-2005, SEC.9; P.L.191-2007, SEC.19.

IC Code 9-21 for Abandoned Vehicles may be found HERE