QuestionQUESTION: my rv was towed from a city street (i was out of town and had not moved it for >72 hrs), and taken to a storage facility in salinas, california. when i realized the rv was gone, i called the sheriff first, and was given the name/number of the tow/storage company. the tow/storage company claims to have filed a lien with the DMV after not being contacted within 72 hours, and the DMV responded stating that there was no VIN or registered owner on file. the rv was registered (and has been the entire time i've owned it). now i'm faced with a $660 tow fee and 20 days of $55/day storage fees. doesn't the tow/storage company or the sheriff have the obligation to notify the registered owner? given that i've paid registration on the rv, and have tags on the license plate, why would the DMV claim that there is no record of registration? does that even seem plausible? i feel like my rv is being held hostage for exorbitant ransom.
ANSWER: How long was it before you discovered it was missing and how long after that did you contact the towing company?
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QUESTION: i discovered it missing yesterday (11/24), and immediately contact the sheriff and then the tow/storage company. it was towed, however, on 11/9.
AnswerI can't answer why DMV did not have the information, that is something I would take up with them. As for the storage, most towing companies are not required to notify an owner or lien holder until 30 days after they pull the vehicle in. The towing fees and storage are a little high, but it is an RV and rates in California are higher that most states.
