SB 1029: Vehicle lien sales: proceeds.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund and requires moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be expended by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the California Highway Patrol for the purposes of enforcing laws related to vehicles or the use of highways. Existing law requires a lienholder to comply with specified procedures to conduct a vehicle lien sale. With regards to those procedures, existing law requires that the proceeds of a vehicle lien sale be paid to the lienholder in the amount necessary to discharge the lien and to cover the cost of processing the vehicle, among other requirements. Existing law requires that the balance be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles and requires the balance to be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund, as provided. Existing law authorizes any person claiming an interest in the vehicle to file a claim with the Department of Motor Vehicles for any portion of the funds from the lien sale that was forwarded to the department, as provided. Existing law prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from honoring any claim unless the claim has been filed within 3 years of the date the funds were deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account.

This bill would delete the above-described prohibition against the Department of Motor Vehicles from honoring any claim. The bill would, instead, 3 years after the date the funds were deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account, require the Department of Motor Vehicles to transfer any funds deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account to the Controller and would require the funds to be treated as escheated property. The bill would make the bill’s provisions operative on January 1, 2030. Because this bill would require the balance to be treated as escheated property to the state, and thereby deposited in the Unclaimed Property Fund, which is a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2. September 30, 2026In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. September 30, 2026Vetoed by the Governor.
4. September 30, 2026Vetoed by the Governor.
5. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
6. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
7. August 24, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5687.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 24, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 20, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
10. August 20, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
11. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6304.) Ordered to the Senate.
12. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6304.) Ordered to the Senate.