Towing Issues: Tow Issues, dixon california, certified mail

Question
I let a person without a valid license drive a vehicle that was in my name, and shortly after it got towed in Dixon, California. This happened in January of 2008 and had a hold on it for 30 days. The amount of money they requested for me to get the out was far too expensive for the car they had taken ($1,400.00 for a 1981 buick). They told me it would be sold and whatever was leftover I had to pay. I got a call today from a place wanting $1,610.00 saying I had one month from the time of sale to pay the remaining balance, and that I had 12 days left to pay in full. They had an incorrect address (when the towing company had the right one) and wrong work history, but did not give me an explanation of why I wasn't told it was sold or anything. What can I do? Is everything that they are doing right?

Answer
Well without knowing all the details on the whole issue, it is really hard to say if they did it all right...

California has several laws regarding notification, and lien processes and several of them deal with the value of the vehicle...

Being as it's a 1981 Buick, I would assume that it is not of "REAL VALUE" (example say $ 500.00)...

Now as I understand it there are lien processes for vehicles of "high value", "normal value" and what they call "abandoned or scrap vehicles"  (remember I am in Alabama and not totally up on all the laws in California and the changes that happen often)

If it was valued at say $400.00 by appraisal and the limits, requirements where meet their might not be a notification sent, but as a general rule the DMV records for the last registered owner is what the notification letters are sent to... If you moved, or its not in your name then you will not get the letter as it is sent "certified mail" which the post office does not forward.  And it you are not listed then it goes to the last registered owner who might of told the collection agency or who ever contacted you.


But yes, California also has a law where the vehicle owner is responsible for any and all towing and storage fees over and above the price the vehicle was sold for at auction.. If it went for $ 25.00 and the tow and storage was $ 1400... then you are responsible for $ 1375.00....


Below is the link to the California DMV web site and you can read though it as they have all the laws... There are several areas which  you should look into, one being the "LIEN PROCESS", and the notification areas in that section... Also the tows ordered by Law enforcement  for suspended licenses are there also...

Hope this helps a bit.


http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc_index_l.htm