State guide
Arkansas
Arkansas splits its abandoned-vehicle rules between public-property removals and private-property disposals. The state DMV function sits in the Department of Finance and Administration, while towing and storage practices also connect to Arkansas towing law and local police or code-enforcement processes.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- On public property, a vehicle becomes unattended after 24 hours within three feet of a public way or 72 hours if three feet or more away, and it is abandoned if left unattended for 30 days with no evidence the owner will retake it.
- Removing one from private property
- A private property owner must notify the last registered owner and lienholders by certified mail within 10 days, allow 30 days to reclaim after notice, and may then sell, dismantle, or destroy the vehicle; if ownership cannot be determined, notice by newspaper publication is allowed.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- Arkansas allows title to pass after the private-property holder or towing/storage firm completes the statutory notice-and-affidavit process and sells the vehicle, and the buyer then applies for title at a revenue office; DFA also publishes bonded-title instructions.
- State agency
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicle
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Arkansas
Arkansas DFA Office of Motor Vehicle
State motor-vehicle office that administers Arkansas title, registration, and lien laws.
Arkansas Motor Vehicle Forms
Official DFA forms page for title-related paperwork and instructions.
Issuance of Bonded Title
Official DFA instructions for obtaining an Arkansas bonded title.
Act 680 of 1989
Official Arkansas act describing notice, sale, and title steps for vehicles abandoned on private property.
Act 899 of 1989
Official Arkansas act defining unattended and abandoned vehicles on public property.
Key facts for Arkansas
- On public property, a vehicle is unattended after 24 hours within three feet of a public way, or 72 hours if three feet or more away.
- A public-property vehicle becomes abandoned if it remains unattended for 30 days with no evidence the owner intends to retake possession.
- For a vehicle abandoned on private property, the property owner must notify the last known owner and lienholders by certified mail within 10 days of discovery.
- The private-property notice must give the owner and lienholders 30 days to reclaim the vehicle after the notice date.
- If ownership information cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, Arkansas allows notice by one newspaper publication.
- Arkansas publishes official bonded-title instructions requiring supporting ownership documents and a VIN verification form prescribed by Arkansas State Police.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Arkansas
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code Enforcement Division Pulaski | Little Rock | Not published* | Little Rock takes complaints about non-running automobiles on private property through 311 or Neighborhood Resource Centers. |
| Vehicle Storage Facility Pulaski | Little Rock | (501) 918-4260 | Handles stored impounded vehicles and disposal of unclaimed and abandoned vehicles through public auction. |
| Neighborhood Services Sebastian | Fort Smith | Not published* | Fort Smith inspects properties for abandoned vehicles and other neighborhood code issues. |
| Code Compliance Washington | Fayetteville | 479-575-8237 | Fayetteville accepts code complaints, including inoperable vehicle issues, by phone, email, or online service request. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the vehicle is on a street or other public way, start with local police or the city reporting channel rather than the state DMV.
- If the vehicle is on your private property, keep dated photos, the VIN, and copies of certified-mail notices before arranging any sale or disposal.
- If you are buying through an abandoned-vehicle sale, confirm what affidavit and supporting papers you must bring to a state revenue office before paying.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Arkansas's population center, for comparison only):
- Municipal Code Enforcement, Mississippi · about 157 miles
- RequestTracker, Mississippi · about 157 miles
- Memphis 311 / Department of Housing Code Enforcement, Tennessee · about 157 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Arkansas DFA Office of Motor Vehicle
Website →Phone: (501) 682-4692 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Arkansas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.