California Vehicle Codes

Storage to the legal owner does not continue past the 15th day unless certified notice is sent to the legal owner by the 13th day.  After the mailing, storage to the legal owner resumes three days after the notice is sent.

If a vehicle is impounded due to fleeing an officer or speed contest and the legal owner repossesses the vehicle, the legal owner does not have to pay any lien fees within 15 days.

The buyer is responsible for the smog certificate as long as the buyer signs an agreement of responsibility and the towing company sends a Notice of Transfer to the DMV.

The person requesting the tow and the towing company must notify law enforcement.

To get a Reg 462 or junk slip the vehicle must be towed under this code and be valued at $500 or less or have no vin number.

The impounding agency should value the vehicle on the 180 form, if they do not or will not, after three days the garage keeper may value the vehicle.

Towing companies are required to post a notice stating that for law enforcement impounds that are out of registration, proof of current registration must be presented to law enforcement before release.  The notice must list the names and phone numbers of all law enforcement agencies.

The maximum storage on vehicle stored per civil code 3068.1 when the vehicle is $4000 or less is 60 days.  If it is over $4000 the maximum is 120 days if the lien application is filed within 30 days.

No lien shall attach to any personal property in the vehicle.  The personal property in or on the vehicle shall be given to the current registered owner upon demand.  The lien holder shall not be responsible for personal property after any vehicle has been disposed of.

You have 15 days from the date the work or estimate is completed to present the owner with a written statement of charges.  After the owner is given a statement of charges or the work is completed, you have 30 days to start lien proceedings. The legal owner is not responsible for repairs over $750, or storage over $400 (under $4000) to $500 (over $4000) unless you receive written permission from them prior to starting the work.

For vehicles valued at $4000 or less the DMV printout must be requested by the 15th day for storage to continue.  120 days maximum if an opposition is filed, if the vehicle is out of state, if the vin number is altered or an interested party becomes known after the lien has been mailed.  After 24 hours, storage is calculated on a calendar basis.

The towing company has a claim against the registered owner for total towing, storage and lien fees, less the amount received from the sale of the vehicle.  The transferred owner is responsible if they received a Notice of Transfer and are responsible for abandoning the vehicle.

Following the sale of a vehicle, the person who conducts the sale shall do both of the following:  (1)  Remove and destroy the vehicle’s license plates and (2) Submit a completed Notice of Release of Liability for to the DMV.

There shall be no lien charge before 72 hours of storage. $4000 or less:  $35 maximum when the printout is requested.  $70 maximum when the lien agent has mailed the lien documents. Over $4000:  $50 maximum when the printout is requested.  $100 maximum when the lien agent has mailed the notice of pending lien documents after the DMV has authorized the lien sale.