Towing Issues: Towing Law, certified mail, department of motor vehicles

Question
I recently moved from southern California and drove one of my two cars out of state.  I left the other one at my previous residence(where my roommates still lived).  When I returned a month later, my car had been towed.  I called the towing company and they said they had already sold it.  My question is: Is this legal?  I was still making payments on this car and it seems like someone should have tried to contact me and wouldn't they have needed to have some form of contact with the bank I had the auto loan with?  It all seems strange to me.

Answer
Well lets start with the basics.

The vehicle was towed, after you left the state. Now that is legal to do if its classed as abandoned or if unregistered or like that.

Now if the former residence was an apartment they might of had a reason to remove the vehicle.

Now after towing the vehicle the tow company attempts to contact the owner via registered - certified mail. This information is gained via the Department of Motor Vehicles records. It should show that you and the bank are listed as owners. Now they do run behind at times in updating the information.  

When you moved did you do a mail forwarding change at the post office ?
If not then the mail would not of got to you. Certifed letters have to have someone sign for them. So your roommates might not of accepted it.

We have not covered the car and its value. In some states they have what is called " fast track leins " for vehicles that fit a certain value or description.

It might of fallen into that area. Not sure though. Now banks and other financial businesses do get the letters and usually will act on them to redeem vehicles. It usually is good for them to get the vehicle before the charges are more than the vehicle is worth.  Daily storage adds up fast.

Now my suggestion to you, is to actually go the tow company that did the tow. Ask to see the vehicle, as they might of got information wrong, never know. If they do not have the vehicle, then ask to see the letters of notification for tow and redemption. That should be the certified letters, and the associated green cards that are atteched to the letters or in the file showing that they were recieved or signed for by the bank and who ever else.

I hope this helps you, if not then you can email me at flatman57@aol.com