Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 32-13-1 (2026)

Abandoned Motor Vehicle Defined; Posted Notice.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026

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For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE. A motor vehicle as defined in Section 32-8-2, that has been unclaimed as provided in Section 32-8-84 for not less than 30 calendar days from the date the notice was sent to the owner and lienholder of record, or if no owner or lienholder of record could be determined, has been unclaimed for not less than 30 calendar days. The term “abandoned motor vehicle” also includes any attached aftermarket equipment installed on the motor vehicle that replaced factory installed equipment.

(2) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Revenue.

(Acts 1971, No. 1154, p. 1999, §1; Acts 1989, No. 89-758, p. 1534, §1; Act 98-609, p. 1339, §1; Act 2003-402, p. 1170, §1; Act 2012-227, p. 418, §1; Act 2015-470, §1.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases, 1984–2011 · leading case: Ex Parte Anderson, 867 So. 2d 1125 (Ala. 2003).

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Ex Parte Anderson, 867 So. 2d 1125 (Ala. 2003). · cites it 2× “" On November 15, 1999, the Andersons and Fonda sued the Smiths; they claimed that the Smiths converted the Thunderbird and that in violating the notification requirements of the Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicles Act, §§ 32-13-1 to -8, Ala. Code 1975 ("the AAMVA"), the Smiths…”

Weatherspoon v. Tillery Body Shop, Inc., 44 So. 3d 447 (Ala. 2010). · cites it 3× “Tillery reported to the Tuscaloosa Circuit Court that the Blazer had been sold in compliance with the requirements of Ala. Code 1975, § 32-13-1 et seq., which governs the sale of abandoned vehicles.”

Morgungenko v. Dwayne's Body Shop, 23 So. 3d 671 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “Dwayne’s had sought to sell the vehicle at issue pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act (“the Act”), § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, in order to recover storage fees and the cost of certain repairs it had performed on the vehicle.”

Global Fed. Credit Union v. Walker, 679 So. 2d 1075 (Ala. Civ. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “Global further alleged that in September and October 1993 Walker published a notice in the Huntsville News that the Plymouth was to be sold on November 6, 1993, pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicles Act, § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, and that, without complying with the…”

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hartman, 450 So. 2d 152 (Ala. Civ. App. 1984). “The Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, §§ 32-13-1 through -8, Ala.Code (1975) and the Uniform Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act, §§ 32-8-1 through -87, Ala.”

Anderson v. Smith's Towing Co., 867 So. 2d 1121 (Ala. Civ. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “Joseph and Angela Anderson argue that the circuit court erred in finding that they were not among the class of persons protected under § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975. Section 32-13-1(1), Ala.”

Ryan v. Patterson & Son Motors, 726 So. 2d 667 (Ala. Civ. App. 1998). “In June 1996, Duckett attempted to sell the Camaro pursuant to the Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975. He published notice of the sale on June 13 and June 20, but he never notified Gwendolyn Ryan personally or by certified mail, nor did he…”

Morgungenko v. Dewayne's Paint & Body, LLC, 67 So. 3d 928 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 10× “Dwayne’s had sought to sell the vehicle at issue pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act (‘the Act’), § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, in order to recover storage fees and the cost of certain repairs it had performed on the vehicle.”

Brown v. Southtrust Bank, 901 So. 2d 745 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004). · cites it 8× “Section 32-13-3(a)(2) provides: “Any person or firm on whose property an abandoned motor vehicle as defined *747 in subdivision (2) of Section 32-13-1 has been lawfully towed, or the owner or lessee of real property or his or her agent upon which and abandoned motor vehicle as…”

Dreding v. Alabama Diesel, 2980480 (ala.civ.app. 8-6-1999), 741 So. 2d 1096 (Ala. Civ. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “On August 1, 1997, Alabama Diesel filed in the Circuit Court of Mobile County a report of sale of an abandoned motor vehicle, pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, §§ 32-13-1 through -8. This report of sale stated that the bus was sold for $16,289.”

Gildersleeve v. Young, 66 So. 3d 263 (Ala. Civ. App. 2010). “On appeal, the owner, citing two sections of the Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala. Code 1975 (“the AMVA”), contends that the tower is liable under a conversion theory because, the owner says, the tower failed to provide proper notice under the AMVA to…”

Hoppe v. Slovik, 675 So. 2d 888 (Ala. Civ. App. 1996). “Slovik took action under the “abandoned motor vehicle” statute, § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, and notified Hoppe that he was going to sell the van.”

— Ala. Code § 32-13-1(1) — 4 cases

Global Fed. Credit Union v. Walker, 679 So. 2d 1075 (Ala. Civ. App. 1996). “Global further alleged that in September and October 1993 Walker published a notice in the Huntsville News that the Plymouth was to be sold on November 6, 1993, pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicles Act, § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, and that, without complying with the…”

Anderson v. Smith's Towing Co., 867 So. 2d 1121 (Ala. Civ. App. 2002). “Joseph and Angela Anderson argue that the circuit court erred in finding that they were not among the class of persons protected under § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975. Section 32-13-1(1), Ala.”

Morgungenko v. Dewayne's Paint & Body, LLC, 67 So. 3d 928 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Dwayne’s had sought to sell the vehicle at issue pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act (‘the Act’), § 32-13-1 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, in order to recover storage fees and the cost of certain repairs it had performed on the vehicle.”

Brown v. Southtrust Bank, 901 So. 2d 745 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004). “Section 32-13-3(a)(2) provides: “Any person or firm on whose property an abandoned motor vehicle as defined *747 in subdivision (2) of Section 32-13-1 has been lawfully towed, or the owner or lessee of real property or his or her agent upon which and abandoned motor vehicle as…”

— Ala. Code § 32-13-1(2) — 1 case

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