The rule
Publication is for owners who cannot be found by mail. TDLR lists the conditions: the vehicle is registered in another state; the VSF sent a written or electronic request for the owner record to that state (by certified or registered mail with return receipt if mailed); the owner cannot be identified; and the registration has no owner address or lienholders cannot reasonably be identified.
Since September 1, 2025 (HB 3928), Occupations Code §2303.152 allows publication on a TDLR-approved website instead of a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the vehicle is stored. TDLR's third-party website page currently lists CarLocate.com/Texas as the approved vendor.
Publication is not required if each mailed notice came back unclaimed, refused, or "moved, left no forwarding address."
Published notices follow the same time frames as letters. TDLR sets no minimum number of days for a newspaper run.
Unknown state of registration: run NMVTIS (§2303.1521); if the state record cannot be obtained by day 14, or the report does not identify owners and addresses, publish.
A published first notice must include at least
- 01Full name of the VSF
- 02Street address
- 03Telephone number
- 04VSF license number
- 05TDLR internet address (tdlr.texas.gov)
- 06Description of the vehicle
- 07Total charges assessed against the vehicle
Worked dates
Arkansas plate, request to Arkansas mailed certified on lot day 3, no record by lot day 14. Publish by the same first-notice deadline, in the county newspaper or on the approved website, and keep the record request and proof of publication together.
The common mistake
Publishing because mail came back. Returned-unclaimed, refused and moved-no-forwarding letters do not trigger publication; the returned envelope is your record.
What an inspector asks for
- Out-of-state record request and its mailing proof
- NMVTIS report, if used
- Tear sheet or website listing proof with dates
- Returned envelopes kept unopened