Your car was towed. Check what the law required.
- Find your car: the official lookup, just below
- Check your tow against the rules for where it happened, each linked to the law
- Get your letter, filled in and ready to send
Find your car
Where the car may be, who to call and what to bring, from official pages. Each part shows its source and the date we checked it.
City of Los Angeles (LAPD / LADOT tows to Official Police Garages)
Search the official towed-car lookup opglaviic.com · checked October 7, 2026
Phone numbers
- LADOT Boot Release Line (boot releases and tow inquiries, delinquent-citation tows) (855) 288-2642 Hours: 24 hours daily
- LAPD non-emergency 1-877-ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273)
- LAPD Area auto detectives (30-day holds, releases, impound hearings): Central 213-972-1203; Rampart 213-484-3450; Hollenbeck 323-342-8900; Northeast 323-344-5731; Newton 323-846-5363; Southwest 213-485-6570; Harbor 310-726-7900; 77th St 213-485-4175; Southeast 213-972-7813; Van Nuys 818-374-0040; West Valley 818-374-7730; North Hollywood 818-623-4045; Foothill 818-834-3115; Devonshire 818-832-0609; Topanga 818-756-4820; Hollywood 213-972-2967; Wilshire 213-922-8205; West LA 310-444-1502; Pacific 310-482-6313; Olympic 310-482-6313 (as printed; same number as Pacific) see label Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
1 more numbers
- LAPD Commission Investigation Division (OPG questions/complaints), 100 West First Street 1st Floor 323-680-4869 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (business hours)
Stolen or towed?
Search the OPG database or call LADOT Boot Release Line (855) 288-2642; if no record, call LAPD non-emergency 1-877-ASK-LAPD. LAPD does not publish a single stolen-vs-towed line on the impound page.
Impound lots (18)
- Absolute Towing (OPG Area 4, Hollenbeck)
4760 Valley Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90032 · MapSource: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Al's Towing (OPG Area 12, 77th)
6180 St Andrew Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 · Map
323-778-4903Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Viertel's - Northeast Division (OPG Area 11)
2010 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065 · Map
323-342-0342Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Black & White Towing (OPG Areas 16 & 19, Foothill & Mission)
10857 San Fernando Rd., Pacoima, CA 91331 · Map
818-896-9511Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Bruffy's Tow (OPG Area 14, Pacific)
11101 S. Hindry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045 · Map
310-395-0084
Hours: 24 hours a day, everydaySource: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Hollywood Tow Service (OPG Area 6, Hollywood)
1015 N. Mansfield Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038 · Map
323-466-5421Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Jon's Towing (OPG Areas 10 & 21, West Valley)
7930 Deering Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91304 · Map
818-884-5600Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Kelmark Tow (OPG Area 18, Southeast)
620 E. 111th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90059 · Map
323-779-3202Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Keystone Towing (OPG Area 9, Van Nuys)
7817 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91406 · Map
818-782-1996Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Quick Silver Towing (OPG Area 8, West LA)
1981 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025 · Map
310-478-1201Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Ross Baker Towing (OPG Area 17, Devonshire)
8750 Vanalden Avenue, Northridge, CA · Map
818-886-7411Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- S & J Wilshire Tow (OPG Area 7, Wilshire)
2400 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90018 · Map
323-734-3137Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Seventh Street Garage (OPG Area 5, Harbor)
1615 E Mauretania Street, Wilmington, CA 90744 · Map
310-856-1980Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Swanney & McDonald (OPG Area 3)
4833 W. Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016 · Map
323-733-6898Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- US Tow (OPG Area 13, Newton)
2119 E. 25th St, Los Angeles, CA 90058 · Map
213-749-7100Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Viertel's Automotive Service (OPG Areas 2 & 20)
1155 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Map
213-250-0143Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- Pepe's Towing Wilmington (OPG Area 31, heavy duty)
220 N. Broad Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 · Map
(310) 518-7100Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- All LA OPGs - uniform City rates and release requirements
see individual OPGs · Map
Hours: OPGs operate 24 hours a day per OPGLA home pageWhat to bring
- For LADOT delinquent-citation tows: Vehicle Release Order from LADOT first
- current DMV registration or deposit copy
- valid government photo ID
- if agent: notarized authorization letter from registered owner plus copy of owner's photo ID
Ways to pay
- Cash
- Mastercard
- Visa
- ATM bank debit card (checking withdrawal)
Fees
Effective Jan 1, 2026 (OPGLA rates page): standard tow first hour $220 credit card / $215 non-credit; each extra half-hour $109/$106; daily storage standard vehicle $68/$66; motorcycles $18/day; EV surcharge $77/$75; City of L.A. release fee $115 per vehicle; 10% city parking tax on storage; lien-sale processing fees up to $70/$100 under Civ. Code 3074 (not before 72 hours). LADOT: full payment required within 30 days or vehicle may be lien sold.
Source: opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
Sources (7)
- ladotparking.org, checked October 7, 2026
- opglaviic.com, checked October 7, 2026
- opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- opgla.com, checked October 7, 2026
- lapdonline.org, checked October 7, 2026
- lapdonline.org, checked October 7, 2026
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
Other places in this area
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) - unincorporated areas and contract cities
Phone numbers
- The LASD station that stored/impounded the vehicle - its 24-hour business line (station list at lasd.org/stations/) varies by station Hours: 24 hours
Stolen or towed?
Call the local LASD station's 24-hour business line. Number varies by station.
Sources (5)
- lasd.org, checked October 7, 2026
- lasd.org, checked October 7, 2026
- pars.lasd.org, checked October 7, 2026
- cityofpalmdaleca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
California Highway Patrol (CHP) - Southern Division / LA-area offices (freeways, unincorporated roads)
Phone numbers
- 1-800-TELL-CHP (statewide non-emergency info; also anti-auto-theft hotline) 1-800-835-5247 Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- The CHP Area office that caused the tow (Southern Division offices: 519 Exposition Park, 525 Baldwin Park, 530 South LA, 535 East LA, 540 Newhall, 545 Antelope Valley, 550 Santa Fe Springs, 565 West LA, 575 Altadena, 580 West Valley, 590 Central LA; phones on each office page) see https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office/southern-division
Stolen or towed?
1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247), 24/7; CHP GO 60.8 says it also serves as the CVC 10902 anti-auto-theft hotline. For a CHP tow, contact the Area office that caused the tow.
Impound lots (1)
- CHP rotation tow company storage yard (varies by Area)
What to bring
- 'Stored' vehicles (collision, freeway >4 hours, hazard): retrieve directly from the tow company as registered owner or agent
- 'Impounded' vehicles (invalid license, investigation, no valid registration): need a release from the CHP office that caused the impound
Source: chp.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
Sources (3)
- chp.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
- chp.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
- chp.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
If it was towed from a private lot
- The property owner must phone the local police within 1 hour after authorizing the tow. Cal. Veh. Code § 22658(f)
Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
- The tow company must notify the local police after removing the car. Not doing so within 60 minutes after removal, or 15 minutes after reaching the storage lot (whichever is less), is a misdemeanor. Cal. Veh. Code § 22658(m)(2)
Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
- The sign at each entrance must show the local police phone number and the name and phone number of each towing company. Cal. Veh. Code § 22658(a)(1)
Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, checked October 7, 2026
Information only. Numbers and pages change; the agency's own page has the final word.
California and Los Angeles give tow companies a long list of rules: signs, written authorization, receipts, hours, rates, and lien-sale deadlines. When a rule is broken, the law can limit or cancel what they are allowed to charge. Answer a few questions, collect the right evidence, and send a letter in your own name.
Loads a made-up sample tow, clearly marked, so you can see how the steps work. Your own case starts empty.
What happened
These questions decide which rules apply to your tow and whether any short deadlines are running. "Not sure" is always a fine answer.
Your documents
Gather what you have. Each one is optional. An itemized invoice and the written tow authorization answer many questions, because the law says exactly what they must contain.
Automatic reading is coming next. Soon the tool will read your invoice and authorization and list which required items it can and can't find. For now, keep your files here as your evidence set and use them to answer the questions.
iPhone photos are fine; we convert them automatically.
Your files stay in this page only. They are not uploaded or saved, and they are cleared if you reload. Before you share documents with anyone, cover other people's names and home addresses.
Questions
One section at a time, only for the rules that fit your tow. Answer what you can. "Not sure" keeps the rule on your review list and adds items to your evidence checklist.
Finish your letters
A few more questions fill the blanks in your letters. Skip anything you don't know; the letter keeps a yellow blank for it.
The follow-up questions couldn't load. You can fill in Your details in the last step instead.
Evidence to collect
Built from the rules your answers left open, including every "Not sure." Evidence disappears fast: signs get replaced and paperwork gets lost. Photograph with the date visible. Write notes instead of recording conversations.
Do the best you can. You don't need everything on this list — even a few photos help. Start with the items marked Most important: papers and signs the law requires. Then, if you can, the ones marked Also important.
Review and choose
These are the requirements your answers left open. Each one is general information about what the law requires, not a conclusion about your tow. Nothing is selected for you. Check only the ones you believe were not met, and say what happened in your own words.
Your letters
Drafts built only from the items you selected, with your own words exactly as you typed them. Yellow marks something to fill in. Edit them, then send them yourself.
Your details
Set from your answer to “How are you connected to this vehicle?” in Step 1. Change it here if it's wrong.
Your own figure. The tool does not calculate penalties or add up amounts.
For the complaint
Filled in from the location check in Step 1 when it is sure. Change it if it's wrong.
From the tow authorization
From the notice of storage
From the lien-sale notice
Did it work? When your tow is resolved (or if it's still going), tell us how it turned out. It helps the next person. Share your story