On This Page
Immediately After the Tow
When a vehicle is towed as abandoned or unauthorized, several things happen within the first 24 hours:
- The tow operator transports the vehicle to a licensed vehicle storage facility (VSF) or impound lot
- The VIN and plate are logged into a state database — most states share this with a national database so out-of-state owners can be notified
- In most states, the tow operator must notify the state DMV within 24–72 hours that they have taken possession of the vehicle
- Police are notified that the vehicle was removed and from where — this creates a record you can query
- Daily storage fees begin accruing from the moment the vehicle enters the storage facility
How to find a towed vehicle: Call 311 or your local police non-emergency line. Give your plate number. In NYC, use nyc.gov/finance. In Los Angeles, use lacity.gov/gov/services/government. Most major cities have online impound locators. Storage facilities are required to register towed vehicles with the city or state within the first day.
Owner Notification Process
After the DMV receives the tow report, a notification process begins to contact the registered owner:
DMV lookup
The tow operator or law enforcement runs the VIN/plate through the state DMV database to identify the registered owner and any lienholders (banks with auto loans on the vehicle).
Certified mail to registered owner
Within 5–15 days of the tow (varies by state), a certified letter is sent to the registered owner's address on file with the DMV. This letter states the vehicle location, fees to date, and the deadline to reclaim. A copy is also sent to any lienholders.
Out-of-state or undeliverable mail
If the owner lives in another state, the home state's DMV is contacted. If the certified letter is returned undeliverable, most states require a newspaper publication of notice as a secondary method. This adds time to the process.
Reclaim window begins
After proper notification, the registered owner has a set window (typically 15–30 days depending on state) to reclaim the vehicle before the lien sale process begins.
How Storage Fees Accumulate
Storage fees are one of the biggest shocks to vehicle owners who don't act quickly. Here is how they typically work:
- Tow fee: $150–$400 for the initial tow (varies by state and vehicle type)
- Daily storage: $30–$75/day for passenger vehicles; more for large vehicles
- Administrative/processing fees: $25–$100 at many facilities
- California example: A vehicle towed on Monday could cost $450 by Friday (tow + 4 days storage) and $1,200+ by the end of the first month
- Some states cap fees: Texas regulates VSF maximum fees through TDLR. California regulates through the PUC. Many states do not cap private-lot towing fees — these can be much higher
Time matters enormously. Every day you wait costs money. If you discover your vehicle was towed, retrieve it within 24–48 hours if at all possible — even if you plan to contest the tow. You can contest after retrieval; you can't stop fees from accruing while you wait.
Reclaiming the Vehicle
To reclaim a towed vehicle, you typically need:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Vehicle title or registration in your name
- Payment for all towing and storage fees (cash or credit card — check with the facility)
- Proof of insurance in some states (California requires this)
If someone else is picking up the vehicle on your behalf, they will typically need a notarized letter of authorization from you plus their own ID. Call the facility first — requirements vary.
The Lien Sale Process
If the vehicle goes unclaimed past the notification deadline, the storage facility initiates a lien sale — the legal process for selling the vehicle to recover their towing and storage costs. The process:
Lien sale notice
The facility files a lien against the vehicle with the state DMV and notifies the owner and any lienholders of the impending sale — typically 10–20 days notice before the sale date.
Sale is advertised
Most states require the sale to be publicly advertised — in a local newspaper or on a state-run website. This creates a public record and notifies potential buyers.
Public auction or private sale
The vehicle is sold at public auction (bid by anyone who shows up) or, for low-value vehicles, sold directly by the facility. The facility recovers their costs from the proceeds; anything remaining goes to the original owner.
Title transfer to buyer
The auction buyer receives a certificate of sale or lien sale certificate. They use this to apply for a new title in their name through the state DMV.
After the Lien Sale
- If the vehicle sold for more than the fees: The facility is required to hold the surplus for the original owner. Contact the facility or state DMV to claim any surplus proceeds.
- If the vehicle sold for less: In most states, the original owner is not responsible for the deficiency — the facility absorbs the loss. Some states allow the facility to pursue a deficiency judgment for unpaid storage fees against the original owner, particularly for high-value vehicles with large fee balances.
- Your credit: An unpaid towing and storage lien can sometimes be reported to collections and affect your credit score. Resolve these quickly.
- DMV impact: In many states, an outstanding tow lien can prevent you from registering other vehicles until it's resolved.
If the lien sale was properly conducted and the reclaim window passed, recovering the vehicle after the auction is very difficult. You would need to negotiate with the buyer (who has no obligation to sell) or demonstrate that the process was legally deficient — improper notice, insufficient advertising, errors in the lien filing. If you believe the process was improper, consult a local attorney immediately. Most states have a window after the lien sale during which you can challenge it if notice procedures weren't followed correctly.
Not automatically — but it may be a ground to contest. Most states require notification to the address on file with the DMV. If your address was outdated in DMV records, the notification was technically valid even if you didn't receive it. However, if the facility failed to send notification at all, or sent it to the wrong address through their error, you may have grounds to challenge. Keep all records and consult an attorney promptly — these challenges have tight deadlines.
As the property owner who initiated the removal process, your role largely ends when the licensed tow operator takes possession. The operator and the state DMV handle notification to the vehicle owner. You should receive confirmation from the tow operator that the vehicle was removed and documented. Keep your police report number and all documentation for at least 2 years. If the original vehicle owner later contacts you claiming wrongful removal, refer them to the tow operator and the law enforcement report — your liability protection comes from having followed the proper legal process.