HSMV 82498 Notification of Dispute on a Wrecker Lien

HSMV 82497 Form PDF Details

When vehicle, mobile home, or vessel owners in Florida find themselves navigating the aftermath of towing and storage, they may encounter the HSMV 82497 form, a crucial document issued by the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). This form serves a dual purpose, facilitating both the placement and discharge of a wrecker operator's lien against a motor vehicle, mobile home, or vessel. It meticulously outlines the process for wrecker services to legally claim compensation for the towing, recovery, or storage of vehicles, as per the guidelines established under section 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. In scenarios where a vehicle, for instance, is towed following instructions from a law enforcement agency, the form requires detailed information about the vehicle and the towing service, including the company’s name, the vehicle's description, and the lien amount, which is strictly limited to covering a maximum of seven days of services. Additionally, a certificate of destruction must be issued in the towing company's name before adding a wrecker operator’s lien. On the other side, this form also outlines the steps for releasing such a lien, specifying that the lien can be discharged once the amount has been satisfactorily settled, thereby removing any restrictions on the owner's ability to receive a license plate or revalidation sticker. This comprehensive document underscores the legal framework designed to ensure that all parties' rights and responsibilities are clearly defined, balanced between the service providers' right to compensation and the vehicle owners' protections under the law.