Your Car Got Towed When They Were Arrested
This is one of the most stressful parts of an arrest that nobody talks about. Here is exactly what you need to know — and what you need to do — to get that vehicle back before the fees become a second disaster.
Why I Put This Page Together
I get calls about this more than you would think. Someone just bailed their person out and now they are standing in front of a tow yard that will not release the car because the registration is in someone else's name. Or they did not know they needed a release form from the police department first. Or the fees have been running for a week and now it is $800. I do not handle impounds — that is not my job — but I can at least point you in the right direction so you are not starting from zero at 2 in the morning.
What to Do First — Step by Step
Call the arresting agency's non-emergency line
Before you drive anywhere, call the police department or sheriff's station that made the arrest. Give them the vehicle's license plate number. They will tell you which tow company has the car, where the impound lot is, and whether you need a release form from them first.
Find out if a police release form is required
Ask directly: 'Do I need to come to the station and get a vehicle release form before the tow yard will release the car?' Some departments require it. Some charge a fee. If they say yes, go to the station first — bringing your ID — before going to the tow yard.
Confirm who can pick up the vehicle
Ask the tow yard: 'What ID and documents do I need to bring?' The registered owner must be present, or you need a notarized release from them. If the car is in someone else's name, sort this out before you drive to the lot.
Get there as fast as possible
Every day the car sits costs you money. Daily storage fees in Southern California typically run $55–$75 per day. If you cannot get there today, call the tow yard and ask if there is anything you can do to pause the fees — some will work with you, most will not.
How Vehicle Impound Works After an Arrest
Police call a contracted tow company
When someone is arrested and their vehicle is at the scene, the arresting officer calls the city's contracted tow company. You do not get to choose the tow company. The car goes to that company's impound lot — sometimes miles away from where the arrest happened.
Some departments require a release form before the tow yard will release the car
This is the part that catches people off guard. Certain police departments require you to go to the police station first and get a vehicle release form before the tow yard will hand over the keys. Some departments charge a fee for this form. Without that form, the tow yard will not release the vehicle no matter what you say.
The tow yard requires ID matching the title
Here is where it gets complicated. Tow yards will not release a vehicle to someone who is not on the title. If the registered owner is someone other than the person who was arrested — or other than the person trying to pick it up — you need the registered owner present with their ID, or in some cases a notarized release from the registered owner. This is a hard rule. They are not going to bend it.
Fees start the moment the car is hooked
Towing fees, daily storage fees, administrative fees — they start immediately and they compound fast. In Southern California, daily storage fees typically run $50–$75 per day. After one week you are looking at $500–$800 before you even get to the tow fee itself. After 30 days, the tow yard can begin lien sale proceedings to sell the vehicle.
The Title Problem — Especially for Immigrants
This is a disaster I see regularly. Someone bought a car — paid cash, shook hands, drove it home — but never transferred the title into their name. The registration is still in the seller's name. Now the car is in an impound lot and the tow yard will not release it to anyone except the person on the title. If you cannot reach that person, or if they are uncooperative, that car is going to sit there and rack up fees until it gets sold at lien sale.
If the car is in someone else's name
You need the registered owner to either come in person with their ID, or provide a notarized letter authorizing release to you. Some tow yards will accept a signed release — others require notarization. Call the specific tow yard first and ask exactly what they need.
If you cannot reach the registered owner
This is the hard situation. You may need to consult with an attorney about your options — which could include filing for a bonded title through the DMV if you have proof of purchase. This takes time. Meanwhile, fees keep running. If the car is not worth more than the fees, you may have to make a painful decision.
Going forward — transfer the title
If you buy a car, transfer the title into your name at the DMV within 10 days. California law requires it. It costs about $15. It prevents exactly this situation.
Find Out Which Tow Yard Has the Car
Every city uses its own tow company, and the contracts change. The fastest way to find the car: call the non-emergency line of the police department or sheriff's station that made the arrest. Give them the license plate and ask three questions: Which tow company has it? Is there a hold on it? Do I need a release form from you before I go to the tow yard?
If the driver had a suspended or revoked license, or no license, police can hold the car for 30 days under Vehicle Code 14602.6. Ask about this on the same call.
Guns Were in the Car — How to Get Them Back
This is a completely separate process from getting the car back, and it is more complicated. The guns are not at the tow yard — they are in police property. The process depends on whether the guns are connected to the charges, who owns them, and which agency made the arrest. Here is what I know from watching clients go through this.
Two Very Different Situations
Guns seized as evidence (connected to the charges)
If the firearm is listed as evidence in the case — for example, it was used in the alleged crime, or the charge involves a weapon — you cannot get it back until the case is resolved. In many cases you will need a court order even after the case closes. An attorney handles this. Do not go to the police station and ask for it back — that will not work and may complicate things.
Guns in the car but not connected to the charges
This is the more common situation Chad sees. The person was arrested for something unrelated — DUI, warrant, drug charge — and there happened to be a legally owned firearm in the vehicle. The gun was not used in any crime. It was just there. In this case, the registered owner of the gun can apply to have it returned. The process varies by agency but it is doable.
What If the Guns Belonged to a Passenger, Not the Driver?
This happens. The driver gets arrested, the car gets towed, and there is a legally owned firearm in the car that belongs to a passenger who was not arrested and is not part of any charges. The gun owner still has to go through the agency's property return process — but because they are not the defendant and the gun is not evidence, the process is usually faster. They will need to show proof of ownership (the gun's serial number registered to them in the DOJ database) and a valid ID. They may also need to show they are not prohibited from owning firearms.
The General Process for Returning Non-Evidence Firearms
Contact the property/evidence unit of the arresting agency
Call the police department or sheriff's station that made the arrest and ask for their property or evidence division. Do not go in person first — call ahead. They will tell you what forms you need and whether an appointment is required.
Confirm the gun is not listed as evidence
Ask directly: 'Is this firearm listed as evidence in an active case?' If the answer is yes, stop — you need an attorney. If the answer is no, ask what the return process is and what documents you need to bring.
Bring proof of ownership and valid ID
You will need a government-issued photo ID and proof that the firearm is registered to you in the California DOJ Automated Firearms System (AFS). If the gun is not registered in your name in the DOJ system, the process becomes significantly more complicated. Some agencies will require a Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) or other documentation.
Pass a prohibited person check
The agency will run a check to confirm you are not a prohibited person under California or federal law. If the defendant (the person who was arrested) is now prohibited from owning firearms due to the charges — even if the gun belongs to someone else — that can complicate the return. The gun owner themselves must be eligible.
Fill out the agency's specific return form
Every agency has its own paperwork. Some use a standard DOJ form. Some have their own. Some require the form to be notarized. Ask for the exact form name and number when you call so you can download it in advance and arrive prepared.
Firearm Return — By County
Los Angeles County
LASD Property & EvidenceLASD handles property returns for all unincorporated LA County arrests and many city contracts. For LAPD arrests, contact the specific division's property room. LASD requires an appointment for firearm returns. The process typically takes 30–60 days from application to pickup. You will need to complete a DOJ Firearms Return form and pass a prohibited person check. If the case is still open, the gun will not be released regardless of whether it is listed as evidence.
Orange County
OCSD Property & EvidenceOrange County Sheriff's Department handles property returns for OCSD arrests. For city PD arrests (Anaheim, Santa Ana, etc.), contact that city's police department property room directly. OCSD requires a written request and will conduct a prohibited person check. Non-evidence firearms not connected to charges are typically processed within 30 days of a complete application.
San Bernardino County
SBSD Property & EvidenceSan Bernardino County Sheriff's Department property division handles returns for SBSD arrests. For city PD arrests (Ontario, Fontana, Victorville, etc.), contact that city's police department. SBSD requires the registered owner to appear in person with ID. If the firearm is not in the DOJ AFS under your name, you will need additional documentation. Call ahead — walk-ins are often turned away.
Riverside County
RPD / RCSD Property & EvidenceRiverside County Sheriff's Department handles property returns for RCSD arrests. For Riverside city arrests, contact Riverside PD property division. The process requires a written application, proof of ownership, and a prohibited person check. Riverside County has been known to take 45–90 days for non-evidence firearm returns. If the defendant in the case is prohibited, that does not automatically prevent a separate registered owner from recovering their gun — but it will be scrutinized.
When Do You Need a Court Order?
You generally need a court order to recover a firearm when: (1) the gun is listed as evidence in an active or recently closed case, (2) the defendant is prohibited from owning firearms and the agency is uncertain about the gun's ownership, or (3) the agency denies the return and you are appealing that decision. An attorney who handles firearms law can file a motion for return of property under California Penal Code § 1536 or § 1540. This is not a bail bonds issue — it is a separate legal matter — but Chad can refer you to attorneys who handle this.
Why Getting Out of Jail Fast Matters for Both
Here is the practical reality: the faster the defendant is out of custody, the faster they can deal with both the car and the guns. The car is running up storage fees every single day. The firearm return process often requires the registered owner — or the defendant themselves — to appear in person and sign paperwork. If the defendant is sitting in jail for two weeks waiting for someone to figure out bail, the car may be gone to lien sale and the gun return process has not even started. Getting out fast is not just about freedom — it is about protecting property.
Need to Get Out Fast? Call Chad.
The car fees are running. The gun return process cannot start until someone is out and dealing with it. Chad answers 24/7 and can have someone out in hours — not days.