Towed or Impounded Car in San Diego

If you come back and your car is simply gone, check whether it was towed before reporting it stolen. As of November 1, 2026, the Police Department's Vehicle Impounds and Towing page says the impound process can take a minimum of three hours, so full details may not be available right away.

• On a public street or City property: search for a City tow first, as described in the next section.
• In a private lot: look for a tow-away sign at the entrances. The Police Department says the City may have no record of a tow from private property. See towed from a private lot.
• Not towed: report the car stolen on the SDPD non-emergency line, 619-531-2000. Have the license plate number or VIN ready, and tell the dispatcher about any unique damage, stickers, wheels or external accessories.
• If police recover a stolen car, the Police Department says an officer will try to call the registered owner. If the owner cannot be reached or takes more than 20 minutes to arrive, the car is stored at a City-contracted towing company until the owner recovers it.

As of November 1, 2026, the Police Department says that if you believe the City of San Diego towed your vehicle, you can:

• Search AutoReturn online. AutoReturn searches for vehicles towed by the City of San Diego only.
• Email AutoReturn: service-sd-ca@autoreturn.com.
• Call AutoReturn: 619-527-4392.
• Still not found? Call the SDPD non-emergency line, 619-531-2000.

When you call, be ready to give your name, the license plate number or VIN, and the make and model. Once the vehicle is located, the Police Department says you will be given the name of the towing company, the vehicle location and the amount of fees due. For questions about an impounded vehicle, contact SDPD Tow Administration at 858-495-7830 or Tow-Admin@pd.sandiego.gov.

The Police Department lists these among the common reasons for an impound:

• Registration expired more than six months, or no valid registration displayed while illegally parked, on City property.
• Stored on City property more than 72 hours without moving 1/10th of a mile. Our abandoned vehicles guide explains how the 72-hour process works.
• Parked against posted temporary or permanent signs, including special event and construction signs, or in a carpool lane.
• Parked in a hazardous manner that impedes traffic, or blocking a driveway after a complaint is made. See our blocked driveways and illegal parking guide.

• Bring ID and your license. The Police Department says registered owner identification and a driver's license are required to recover the vehicle.
• Expect fees. You are told the amount due when the vehicle is located. Under California Vehicle Code section 22651.07, the facility must give you an itemized invoice of actual charges before you pay, and must accept cash, an insurer's check or a valid bank credit card.
• Act quickly. The same section gives you the right to retrieve your vehicle during the first 72 hours of storage without paying a lien fee.
• Your belongings. Before paying any fees, you have the right to get your personal property out of the vehicle at no charge during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except state holidays), and to inspect the vehicle without paying a fee.

We have not found a current fee schedule for City impounds on the City's website. Ask SDPD Tow Administration (858-495-7830) or the facility holding your car for the exact amount.

As of November 1, 2026, the Police Department says every person whose vehicle is towed by the City of San Diego can request a Post Storage Hearing under California Vehicle Code section 22852:

• The notice. The City mails a notice of the impound to the registered and legal owners. State law requires the notice within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, and it must say where the vehicle is stored and the authority and reason for the removal.
• Deadline: 10 days. Call SDPD Tow Administration at 858-495-7830 or mail the notice back to the address on it within 10 days of the mailed notice.
• The hearing. It is held over the phone and is evidence-based. Tow Administration says it will tell you whether the tow was valid within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. State law also says the hearing officer may not be the person who directed the storage.
• If the tow was invalid, the City pays all fees related to the impound. If you already picked up the car, contact the Public Liability Division at 619-236-6670 for a refund.
• If the tow was valid and you still disagree, the Police Department says you can file a Public Liability claim with the City or go to San Diego Small Claims Court (858-634-1919) for further review. The City's Risk Management page says most claims must be presented no later than six months after the incident.

Section 22852 does not apply to vehicles removed from private property under section 22658, to vehicles abated under the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program, or to vehicles impounded for investigation.

California Vehicle Code section 14602.6 lets a peace officer impound a vehicle for 30 days when the driver was driving with a suspended or revoked license, with a restricted license and no working certified ignition interlock device, or without ever having been issued a license.

• Hearing. The registered and legal owners can request a storage hearing under section 22852 to decide whether the storage was valid or consider mitigating circumstances.
• Early release. The agency must release the vehicle to the registered owner before 30 days in certain cases, including when the vehicle was stolen, when the driver's license was suspended or revoked for an offense outside the ones the law lists, when the offense does not authorize seizure, and when the driver reinstates or gets a license and proper insurance.
• Documents. Early release requires the registered owner's or agent's currently valid driver's license and proof of current registration, or a court order.
• Costs. The registered owner is responsible for all towing and storage charges for the impoundment, plus any authorized administrative charges.

Tows from private parking lots are usually arranged by the property owner, not the City, so AutoReturn may not show them. The Police Department says to look for the information posted where the car was parked, and that a motorist who needs help getting a tow company to release a vehicle should call local law enforcement. Its Know Your Towing Rights page summarizes the state rules; the law itself is California Vehicle Code section 22658.

• Signs. In most cases, a sign at least 17 by 22 inches, with letters at least one inch high, must be in plain view at all entrances, prohibiting public parking, saying vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense, and giving the phone number of local traffic law enforcement and of each tow company with an agreement. The law has exceptions, including a single-family home and a vehicle issued a parking notice 96 hours earlier.
• Authorization and the one-hour rule. The Police Department says the property owner or agent generally must be present and sign a written authorization, and may not have a car towed within one hour of it being parked, with exceptions such as fire lanes, disabled spaces and blocking an entrance or exit.
• If you return during the tow. If you get back before the tow truck leaves the lot, the driver must release the car immediately. The company may charge no more than half the regular towing charge.
• Notice. The tow operator must give the registered and legal owner written notice of the removal, the reason, and where the car was taken, if it can find out who they are. The tow company must also notify local law enforcement of the tow.
• Storage within 10 miles. The car must be stored within a 10-mile radius of where it was parked, at a facility open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except state holidays.
• Maximum charges. A towing or storage charge is excessive if it is more than the greater of the rate under the local law enforcement agency's towing agreement or the operator's CHP-approved rate. Charging an excessive rate makes the company civilly liable for four times the amount charged. The facility must take cash or a valid bank credit card.
• Report a suspected unlawful tow to the San Diego City Attorney's Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit with its Towing Complaint Form.

If someone else's car is parked in your driveway or blocking it, see our blocked driveways and illegal parking guide. This is general information, not legal advice.

A tow often comes with a parking citation. As of November 1, 2026, the City's parking FAQ says you must request an appeal within 21 calendar days of the issuance date, and pay within 21 calendar days to avoid delinquent penalties.

• Check, pay or appeal on the City's Customer Services Portal, using the citation number or the license plate and state.
• If your car was stolen before the citation was issued, the City's Citations page says to provide a copy of the stolen vehicle report and the recovery report (or, if it was never recovered, a document from your insurer showing the loss).
• Questions: 866-470-1308 (toll free).

For other City problems, see our guide to reporting a problem to the City of San Diego.