QuestionSo.. first of all, is it legal for an apartment to tow my car if it was "abandoned" in my assigned parking spot after I moved out? Don't they have to notify me of moving it?
Second, my car has about a $600 lien against it from the tow date of 2/14 to the day they sent the letter 2/20.
If I pick it up today, the charge is upwards of $1K.
My car is only worth, maybe $500.
What are my options?
1. Pay $600 and don't get the bike
2. Pay $1100 and get the bike back
3. Don't do anything and then what happens?
4. others..
Answerwell let me understand this correctly...
You moved out of the apartment and left a vehicle there (where did the bike come from or is that what was towed)
They towed the vehicle away since you left it there and its not worth much and you really do not want it back... Correct ?
Well first of all California has about 200 laws regarding towing, the lien process, disposing of vehicles, abandoned vehicles and such... The link to the California DMV web site is at the end of this answer...
BUT basic answer here is that you moved out, and left trash there... Yes the car can be considered trash and as such they can have it removed... Now the garbage company does not take then, and so a tow company does tow it away and as such they incurred expenses and charge for storage each day it is there...
Now the laws also cover what they can charge for, what they can do and the penalties if you do not pick it up... Yes the penalties can also include liens against you, collection agencies calling and trying to collect from you... They also can have your license suspended at times also (if that law passed recently)
But what to do, will I would suggest you see what you can work out with the tow company and fast so that you do not incur further expenses...
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and get it in writing...
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc_index_l.htm
