The NC Department of Public Instruction, through Tarheel Specialties, is allowed to sell the vehicle without a court order if

* 90 days have passed since the date of seizure and the vehicle has a fair market value of $1,500 or less,
* the accumulated towing and storage costs exceed 85% of the fair market value, or
* the owner of the vehicle has consented to the sale.

Tarheel Specialties will pay the net proceeds of the sale into the Clerk’s Office. These proceeds will later be used to pay off any outstanding liens, with any remainder being released to the owner or forfeited to the school board just as the vehicle would have been.