California Codes

(A) THE FIRST 15 DAYS OF POSSESSION AND (2) FOLLOWING THAT 15-DAY PERIOD, THE PERIOD COMMENCING THREE DAYS AFTER WRITTEN NOTICE IS SENT BY THE PERSON IN POSSESSION TO THE LEGAL OWNER BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED.

(B) THE COSTS OF NOTIFYING THE LEGAL OWNER MAY BE CHARGED AS PART OF THE STORAGE FEE WHEN THE MOTOR VEHICLE HAS BEEN STORED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME AND NOTICE IS GIVEN NO SOONER THAN THE THIRD DAY OF POSSESSION.

(B) IF THE PUBLIC AGENCY FAILS OR REFUSES TO PUT A VALUE ON, OR TO ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF, THE VEHICLE WITHIN THREE DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF REMOVAL OF THE VEHICLE, THE GARAGE KEEPER SPECIFIED IN SECTION 22851 OR THE GARAGE KEEPER’S AGENT SHALL DETERMINE, UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, IF THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN ORDERED REMOVED, TOWED, OR STORED, IS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500) OR LESS, OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500) BUT FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000) OR LESS, OR OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000).

(A) EVERY PERSON HAS A LIEN DEPENDENT UPON POSSESSION FOR THE COMPENSATION TO WHICH THE PERSON IS LEGALLY ENTITLED FOR MAKING REPAIRS OR PERFORMING LABOR UPON, AND FURNISHING SUPPLIES OR MATERIALS FOR, AND FOR THE STORAGE, REPAIR, OR SAFEKEEPING OF, AND FOR THE RENTAL OF PARKING SPACE FOR, ANY VEHICLE OF A TYPE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE VEHICLE CODE, SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS CHAPTER. THE LIEN SHALL BE DEEMED TO ARISE AT THE TIME A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF CHARGES FOR COMPLETED WORK OR SERVICES IS PRESENTED TO THE REGISTERED OWNER OR 15 DAYS AFTER THE WORK OR SERVICES ARE COMPLETED, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK OR SERVICES, THE LIENHOLDER SHALL NOT DISMANTLE, DISENGAGE, REMOVE, OR STRIP FROM THE VEHICLE THE PARTS USED TO COMPLETE THE WORK.

(1) THAT PORTION OF THE LIEN IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,500) FOR ANY WORK OR SERVICES, OR THAT AMOUNT, SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION 10652.5 OF THE VEHICLE CODE, IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($1,025) FOR ANY STORAGE, SAFEKEEPING, OR RENTAL OF PARKING SPACE OR, IF AN APPLICATION FOR AN AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT A LIEN SALE HAS BEEN FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3071 WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STORAGE OR SAFEKEEPING, IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($1,250) FOR ANY STORAGE OR SAFEKEEPING, RENDERED OR PERFORMED AT THE REQUEST OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE LEGAL OWNER OR LESSOR, IS INVALID, UNLESS PRIOR TO COMMENCING ANY WORK, SERVICES, STORAGE, SAFEKEEPING, OR RENTAL OF PARKING SPACE, THE PERSON CLAIMING THE LIEN GIVES ACTUAL NOTICE IN WRITING EITHER BY PERSONAL SERVICE OR BY REGISTERED LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE LEGAL OWNER NAMED IN THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, AND THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THAT LEGAL OWNER IS OBTAINED BEFORE ANY WORK, SERVICES, STORAGE, SAFEKEEPING, OR RENTAL OF PARKING SPACE ARE PERFORMED.

(A) THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO DISCHARGE THE LIEN AND THE COST OF PROCESSING THE VEHICLE SHALL BE PAID TO THE LIENHOLDER. THE COST OF PROCESSING SHALL NOT EXCEED SEVENTY DOLLARS ($70) FOR EACH VEHICLE VALUED AT FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000) OR LESS, OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) FOR EACH VEHICLE VALUED OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000).

(B) THE BALANCE, IF ANY, SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES WITHIN 15 DAYS OF ANY SALE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3071 OR WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ANY SALE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3072 AND DEPOSITED IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT IN THE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND, UNLESS FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THESE FUNDS TO BE DISPOSED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.

THE LIENHOLDER MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR LIEN SALE PREPARATIONS NOT TO EXCEED SEVENTY DOLLARS ($70) IN THE CASE OF A VEHICLE HAVING A VALUE DETERMINED TO BE FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000) OR LESS AND NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) IN THE CASE OF A VEHICLE HAVING A VALUE DETERMINED TO BE GREATER THAN FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,000), FROM ANY PERSON WHO REDEEMS THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO DISPOSAL OR IS PAID THROUGH A LIEN SALE PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER. THESE CHARGES MAY COMMENCE AND BECOME PART OF THE POSSESSORY LIEN WHEN THE LIENHOLDER REQUESTS THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL PERSONS HAVING AN INTEREST IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. NOT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE ALLOWABLE FEE MAY BE CHARGED UNTIL THE LIEN SALE NOTIFICATIONS ARE MAILED TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND THE LIENHOLDER OR REGISTRATION SERVICE AGENT HAS POSSESSION OF THE REQUIRED LIEN PROCESSING DOCUMENTS. THIS CHARGE SHALL NOT BE MADE IN THE CASE OF ANY VEHICLE REDEEMED PRIOR TO 72 HOURS FROM THE INITIAL STORAGE.