If your car was towed from your apartment complex in California, the complex almost certainly used California Vehicle Code 22658, the law that lets property owners tow unauthorized vehicles once they’ve posted warning signs and the manager has authorized the tow. To get your car back, find out which yard has it, bring photo ID and proof you own the car, and pay the tow and storage fees. At Quick Tow SD, we run 24/7 live dispatch across San Diego County, so once your car is released we can connect you with a nearby flatbed operator to get it home if it won’t drive.
Walking out to an empty parking spot at your own apartment complex hits different than a street tow. It feels personal, and it usually is, since someone at the property made the call. Here’s why it happens, how to check whether it was actually legal, and what it takes to get your car back.
Why did my apartment complex tow my car?
Most apartment tows come down to a parking rule you crossed without realizing it. Common triggers are parking in someone else’s assigned spot, sitting in visitor parking without a current guest pass, missing a required parking permit, blocking a driveway or fire lane, or letting your registration lapse more than six months. California lets private property owners, including apartment complexes and HOAs, order these tows under CVC 22658. The law exists so a property can enforce its own lot without calling the police for every parking dispute.
Was the tow even legal?
A private-property tow is only legal if the complex followed CVC 22658’s rules, and quite a few apartment tows skip a step. Run through this checklist:
- Signage at every entrance. The complex must post a tow-away warning sign at each entrance to the property. The sign has to name the tow company and its phone number and state that unauthorized vehicles get towed at the owner’s expense.
- Manager authorization, not a neighbor’s word. In most cases, the property owner or an authorized manager has to specifically authorize each tow in writing at the time it happens. A tenant down the hall or an angry neighbor can’t order your car towed on their own.
- Except for a short list of situations. Signage still has to be posted, but per-tow written authorization isn’t required if you were blocking a driveway, fire lane, or entrance, parked in a spot marked for people with disabilities, or your registration had been expired more than six months.
- Police notified within an hour. The tow company has to notify local police or the sheriff within one hour of towing the vehicle.
If the complex skipped the signage or never authorized the specific tow, that’s worth flagging when you’re getting the car back, and it’s worth reading more on know your rights when your car gets towed in San Diego and the full breakdown of CVC 22658’s private property towing rules.
How do I find my towed car and get it back?
Start by calling the tow company’s number off the entrance sign, or the local police non-emergency line, since either one can tell you which yard has your car. Once you know where it is:
- Call ahead and confirm what the yard needs for release, since requirements vary by lot.
- Bring a valid photo ID and proof of ownership, like your registration card or the title.
- Be ready to pay the tow and storage fees before they release the vehicle.
- If you catch the car before it’s actually left the lot, the tow company generally has to release it back to you.
- If it’s already hooked to the truck but hasn’t driven away yet, California caps the charge at half the normal tow fee.
If you’re not sure where to even start looking, our post on how to find your towed car in San Diego walks through the search step by step.
What does it cost to get my car back from an apartment tow?
Expect a flat tow fee plus a daily storage fee that grows every day the car sits on the lot. There’s no set dollar figure since it varies by yard, but the pattern holds everywhere: the longer the car stays, the more you owe. Retrieving it the same day or the next morning keeps the bill as small as it’s going to get. For real San Diego fee ranges and worked examples, see what it costs to get your car out of impound in San Diego.
What if my apartment towed my car illegally?
Start by requesting a copy of the towing authorization from the tow company or the property manager. If the complex never posted proper signage, or nobody actually authorized your specific tow, CVC 22658 lets you sue the tow operator in small claims court for up to twice the towing and storage charges. Keep your receipts, take photos of the signage (or the lack of it) at every entrance, and get the authorization paperwork in writing before you decide whether it’s worth pursuing.
How do I keep my car from getting towed again?
Register for whatever guest or resident parking permit your complex requires, and don’t assume a spot is open just because it’s empty. Park only in your assigned space, keep your registration current, and actually read the signs posted at each entrance since they spell out exactly what gets a car towed. If you have guests coming, ask the office about their visitor parking rules before they arrive rather than after their car disappears.
Frequently asked questions
Can an apartment complex tow my car without notice?
Yes, in most cases. Under CVC 22658, apartment complexes don’t have to warn you individually before towing, as long as they’ve posted a tow-away sign at each entrance and the manager authorized the tow. The posted sign is considered your notice, not a phone call or a note on your windshield.
Can they tow me from a guest parking spot?
Yes, if you didn’t have a valid guest pass or parked in a spot reserved for someone else. Guest and visitor spots are still subject to the complex’s posted rules, and a missing or expired pass is one of the most common reasons apartment tows happen.
How long can the tow yard keep my car?
There’s no fixed holding period like a police impound. The car generally has to be stored within 10 miles of where it was towed, at a licensed facility, and it stays there until you pay the fees and retrieve it, or until the yard pursues a lien sale for an unclaimed vehicle.
Do apartment tow companies have to notify the police?
Yes. Under CVC 22658, the tow company must notify local police or the sheriff within one hour of towing the vehicle. That notification is also how you can track down which lot your car ended up at if you call the police non-emergency line.
Can I get my car back the same day it was towed?
Usually, yes, as long as you know which yard has it and show up with ID, proof of ownership, and payment for the fees. Most private-property tow yards release cars the same day. The sooner you go, the less you’ll owe in storage.
If your car’s been released and it won’t drive, call Quick Tow SD 24/7 at (858) 923-5787. We’re not the tow company that took your car and we don’t run the impound lot, but our dispatch covers towing across San Diego County and we can connect you with a nearby flatbed operator to get it home once you’ve cleared it with the yard.