Getting into a crash is stressful enough. Finding out your car was towed after an accident without permission can make things feel even worse.
You may have no idea where your car is, why it was taken, or who is paying for the car accident towing and storage fees. But in California, police and tow yards have rules they must follow, and you do have rights.
Below is a straightforward guide on what to do next, how towing laws work, and how LA Injury Lawyers and an experienced car accident lawyer can help you protect your car, your wallet, and your injury claim.
Can Police Tow Your Car After an Accident Without Permission in Los Angeles?
Yes, in many situations, police can order your car towed after an accident without permission.
California’s towing law, Vehicle Code § 22651, lets officers remove vehicles that block traffic, create a hazard, or must be held after a crash or arrest.
However, that does not mean every tow is automatically legal or that you are stuck with every fee.
You still have the right to notice, a hearing, and a chance to challenge an improper car accident towing.
Step 1: Confirm Who Towed Your Car and Where It Is
After a crash, you might leave by ambulance, or officers may not clearly explain what’s happening to your vehicle.
So the first step is essential but straightforward: find your car.
Right after a car is towed after an accident without permission, you can:
- Call the non-emergency number for the LAPD or CHP that responded to the scene.
- Ask for the report number and the tow company’s name and phone number.
- Use any online “find my towed car” tools listed on the agency’s website.
The police report or dispatch record should show which tow company took your car and under what authority (for example, “VC 22651”).
Step 2: Understand Why Your Car Was Towed
Next, ask why your vehicle was taken. Common reasons include:
- Your car could not be safely driven from the scene.
- The vehicle was blocking traffic or creating a hazard.
- The driver was arrested (for DUI, warrant, or driving unlicensed).
- The car was severely damaged and needed to be stored as potential evidence.
If none of those apply, you may have a stronger argument that the car accident towing was unnecessary or improper.
Write down what officers told you at the scene and what the tow yard says when you call.
Step 3: Know Your Rights to Notice and a Post-Storage Hearing
When a public agency orders your car towed after an accident without permission, you’re usually entitled to written notice and a chance to challenge the tow.
Under California Vehicle Code § 22852:
- The agency must mail or deliver a Notice of Stored Vehicle within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays).
- That notice must tell you where the car is, why it was towed, and how to request a post-storage hearing.
- You generally have 10 days from the date on the notice to request that hearing.
- The hearing must typically be held within 48 hours of your request, excluding weekends and holidays.
At the hearing, an officer or hearing officer (not the one who ordered the tow) decides whether the tow was legally justified.
If they decide it was not justified, the agency—not you—may have to pay towing and storage costs.
If you believe the car accident towing was unfair, request a hearing in writing, by phone, or in person as soon as you receive the notice.
Step 4: Dealing With Towing and Storage Fees
Two yards can charge for both towing and daily storage.
Those bills add up fast, especially if you don’t know your car was towed or where it is.
California law requires that towing and storage charges after an accident be reasonable, as stated in Vehicle Code § 22524.5(c).
Practical tips:
- Ask for an itemized invoice showing every fee.
- Keep copies of all receipts and notices.
- If the charges seem excessive, raise this at your post-storage hearing.
- Ask your insurance adjuster whether your policy will reimburse towing and storage.
If the hearing officer later decides the tow was invalid under VC 22852, the agency may be responsible for the fees you already paid.
Step 5: Protect Your Injury Claim While Your Car Is in the Tow Yard
Your car is more than transportation—it’s evidence.
Photos, impact points, and even onboard data can support your personal injury case.
If your car was towed after an accident without permission, try to:
- Take photos or video of the vehicle at the tow yard, including all sides and the interior.
- Avoid authorizing repairs or allowing the car to be scrapped until your lawyer has seen it.
- Keep copies of all tow and storage paperwork for your claim file.
A Los Angeles car accident lawyer can coordinate with experts or investigators to document the damage before the car is repaired or totaled.
Step 6: Watch for Red Flags of Predatory Towing
Most police-ordered tows follow the rules.
However, there are situations—especially after larger incidents—where predatory or fraudulent towing becomes a problem.
Be cautious if:
- A tow truck shows up before the police and pressures you to sign something.
- The company refuses to tell you clearly what it will charge.
- Your car is moved to a faraway lot with very high fees.
- You never received the required written notice from the city or agency.
If something feels wrong about your car accident towing, talk to LA Injury Lawyers about challenging the tow and exploring a claim for improper charges.
Step 7: How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A tow is often just one piece of a much bigger puzzle: injuries, lost income, medical bills, and a damaged vehicle.
When you work with LA Injury Lawyers, we can:
- Explain why your car was towed and what laws apply.
- Help you locate your vehicle and understand the fees.
- Guide you through requesting a post-storage hearing under Vehicle Code § 22852.
- Fold your towing and storage costs into your overall injury claim.
- Protect critical evidence in your vehicle before it’s repaired or sold.
- Negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurer to recover towing, storage, and repair costs.
We bring decades of combined experience with serious LA crashes, towing disputes, and complex insurance issues—and we charge no upfront fees.
We only get paid if we recover money for you.
Car Towed After Accident Without Permission?
If your car was towed after an accident without permission in Los Angeles and you’re unsure what to do next, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Contact LA Injury Lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable Los Angeles car accident lawyer. Call us now at (818) 418-4000. We can help you sort out towing issues and protect your broader injury claim.
Don’t Let a Tow Truck Take Your Rights With Your Car
Having your car towed after an accident without permission is frustrating, confusing, and expensive.
But you still have rights—to notice, to a hearing, and to fair compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the crash.
If you’re dealing with police-ordered car accident towing in Los Angeles, reach out to LA Injury Lawyers today.
Let an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer help you get your car back, challenge unfair fees, and pursue the full value of your injury claim—with no upfront cost to you.
FAQs: Police Towed Your Car After an LA Crash
1. Can police really tow my car without my permission?
Yes, if legal criteria are met.
Under Vehicle Code § 22651, officers can tow vehicles that block traffic, pose a hazard, or must be held after certain violations or arrests.
2. What if my car, towed after an accident without permission, wasn’t blocking anything?=
You may have grounds to challenge the tow.
Request a post-storage hearing under VC § 22852 and explain why you believe the tow was unnecessary or unlawful.
3. Who pays for car accident towing and storage?
Initially, you—as the registered owner—usually have to pay to get the car out.
However, those costs can later be included in your claim against the at-fault driver or reimbursed if the tow is ruled invalid.
4. How long can they keep my car?
It depends on the reason for the impound and how quickly you act.
If you wait too long, some vehicles can even be sold at a lien sale after a period of impoundment under California towing laws.
5. Should I call a lawyer if it was “just” a tow and not much damage?
Yes—especially if you’re injured or facing big storage bills.
Towing issues are often tied to larger questions about fault, insurance coverage, and compensation for your medical costs.
