18.050 Declaration of Opposition to a Lien Sale (CC §§3071 [d][e], 3072 [d][e])

Follow the steps to process a removal of an abandoned low value vehicle by local enforcement:

Step 1

• At least 72 hours before the vehicle is removed, a peace officer or an authorized public agency employee must securely attach a distinctive notice stating the vehicle will be removed by the public agency.
• If the vehicle lacks an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highways, it may be removed immediately without posting a notice (VC §22669(d)).

Step 2

Immediately after the vehicle is removed, the public agency must notify the Department of Justice at:
Department of Justice
Bureau of Information Services
Stolen Vehicle Unit
PO Box 9034l7
Sacramento, CA 94203-4l70

Step 3

The public agency or the lienholder, at the request of the public agency, must obtain (from the DMV record) the names of all persons having interest in the vehicle.

Step 4

Within 48 hours of the removal, excluding weekends and holidays, the public agency or the lienholder, at the public agency’s request, must notify all interested parties of the intent to dispose of the vehicle as follows:

• Public agency notification — By first class or certified mail, send a written notice pursuant to VC §22851.3(d) to:
  • The registered owner.
  • The legal owner.
  • Any other persons having interest in the vehicle.

Lienholder notification at the request of the public agency — Complete and send by certified mail a Notice of Intent to Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency for Reasons Other Than Abandonment (REG 684) form to:

• The registered owner.
• The legal owner.
• Any other persons having an interest in the vehicle.

Step 5

• The public agency must complete Section A of the Public Agency Authorization to Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less to a Scrap Iron Processor or Dismantler (REG 462) (PDF):
  • If the vehicle remains unclaimed after 15 days from the notification date.
  • The towing and storage fees were not paid.
  • A request for a post-storage hearing was not made or the post-storage hearing was not attended.
    
• The REG 462 as follows:
  • White and pink copies to the towing agent.
  • Yellow copy retained by the public agency for their records.

If there is no DMV record, the public agency may issue a REG 462 any time after the removal.

Step 6

If the notification was made by the lienholder at the request of the public agency, the lienholder must complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) and a Statement of Facts for Vehicles Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency for Reasons Other Than Abandonment (REG 686) (PDFs) (VC 22851.3).

Step 7

The public agency must dispose of the vehicle to a licensed dismantler or a scrap iron processor and give the dismantler or scrap iron processor the following:

• Public agency notification.
  • A REG 462 white copy (lienholder completes Section B).
  • Copy of the written notification.
• Lienholder notification.
  • REG 462 white copy (lienholder completes Section B).
  • REG 684.
  • REG 686.
  • Certified mailing receipts.

Step 8

If the notification was made by the lienholder at the request of the public agency, the lienholder must mail a copy of the REG 686 to DMV at the address on the form.

Step 9

Within 90 days of acquiring the vehicle, the dismantler must submit to DMV a:

• Notice To Dismantler (Report of Vehicle to be Dismantled) (REG 42) form.
• REG 462 white copy.
• REG 684.
• REG 686.
• Certified mailing receipts or the written notification from public agency.

A scrap metal processor who acquires a vehicle subject to registration fees is not required to pay registration fees or submit a PNO if the vehicle was abandoned and removal was authorized by a public agency (VC §9564).