Call (858) 923-5787 right now if you need a tow for illegal parking on your San Diego property. We dispatch fast, handle the paperwork, and the vehicle owner pays, not you. Keep reading for the six steps you need to follow so the removal holds up legally.
As a property owner or manager in San Diego, you have the right to remove a vehicle parked illegally on your private property. That right comes with real obligations under California Vehicle Code 22658, so the six steps below matter. Skip one and the tow can be reversed.
Step 1: Confirm the parking violation
Before anything else, make sure the vehicle is actually parked illegally. Common violations on San Diego private property:
- Blocking a fire lane, driveway, or entrance
- Parked in a reserved or permit-only spot without a valid pass
- Occupying a handicapped space without a placard
- A vehicle left abandoned for 24+ hours in a common area
- Unauthorized vehicle in a tenant-only or employee-only lot
Check for any permits, placards, or passes visible on the car. If you’re unsure, wait and confirm before calling. A tow you can’t prove was justified creates more problems than the original violation.
Your property’s signage also matters here. If your signs don’t meet California’s requirements, you may not have the standing to tow at all. See our guide on private property towing sign requirements to confirm your lot is covered.
Step 2: Document everything with photos
Take photos before you call anyone. This is your protection if the vehicle owner later disputes the tow.
Your photos should show:
- The license plate, make, model, and color of the vehicle
- The specific violation (blocked fire lane, wrong spot, no permit visible)
- The posted signage indicating parking restrictions
- The surrounding area to establish location context
- Timestamp data (most phones embed this automatically)
Write down the date and time you first noticed the violation, the plate number, and the exact location on your property. For abandoned vehicles, note each observation over multiple days. This record proves the tow was authorized under CVC 22658.
Step 3: Call a licensed San Diego towing service for illegal parking
Now call a towing company that handles private property impounds. Specify that you need a tow for illegal parking on private property so the dispatcher knows what’s required.
Quick Tow SD handles private property towing for apartment complexes, HOAs, retail centers, and commercial lots across San Diego County. When you call, have ready:
- Your name and role (owner, manager, HOA rep)
- The property address and where on the lot the vehicle is parked
- The plate number, make, model, and color
- The nature of the violation
Do not attempt to move the vehicle yourself or arrange for anyone else to do so. Your role is to document and authorize. The licensed tow operator handles the rest.
Step 4: Provide written authorization
Under CVC 22658(l), whoever authorizes the tow must provide written authorization. This includes:
- The vehicle’s make, model, VIN, and license plate
- Your name, signature, job title, address, and working phone number
- The grounds for removal
- The time the vehicle was first observed and the time the tow was authorized
You generally need to be there. CVC 22658(l)(1)(A) requires the person signing to be present at the time of removal and to have verified the violation. The exception is narrow: a residential rental of 15 or fewer units with no onsite owner, agent, or employee, where a tenant verified the violation and requested the tow from their own assigned space in writing.
Our operators bring the paperwork. You sign it when we arrive. This form is what legally protects you, so read it carefully before signing.
Step 5: Law enforcement gets notified within one hour
CVC 22658(f) requires the local traffic law enforcement agency to be notified within one hour of the tow being authorized, by telephone or the fastest available means. For most San Diego properties, that’s SDPD or the Sheriff’s Department depending on jurisdiction.
This notification prevents the vehicle owner from filing a stolen-vehicle report. We handle this step as part of every tow we run, and we document the timestamp. For a full breakdown of what CVC 22658 requires from both property owners and tow operators, see our CVC 22658 explainer.
Step 6: The vehicle owner pays, not you
Under California law, towing and storage fees fall on the registered owner of the illegally parked vehicle. You don’t pay for the tow. The owner pays the tow company when they retrieve their car.
This holds as long as you followed the process correctly: a valid ground under CVC 22658(a), signed authorization from someone who verified the violation, and law enforcement notification. If a step was skipped, the property owner can end up liable, and a party that violates the section can be civilly liable to the vehicle owner for four times the amount of the charges involved. That’s why each step above matters.
For a deeper look at the compliance steps property managers need to complete before calling for a tow, see our post on how to legally tow a car from private property.
What makes a private property tow illegal (and costly)
These are the most common mistakes that expose property owners to liability:
Non-compliant signage. Signs must be at least 17x22 inches with lettering at least 1 inch high, posted in plain view at every entrance, and must carry the local traffic law enforcement phone number plus the name and phone number of each tow company under written agreement with the property. That law enforcement number is the element most properties leave off. Full requirements: private property towing sign requirements in California.
Misreading the waiting rules. CVC 22658 has no general waiting period, so towing on compliant signage doesn’t require a 24-hour delay. The one-hour rule people cite is CVC 22953, it covers property held open to the public for free parking, and it expressly exempts residential parking. Applying the wrong rule in either direction causes problems.
No written authorization, or nobody present. Verbal approvals aren’t enough. CVC 22658(l)(1)(A) requires written authorization from someone present at the time of removal who verified the violation, outside the narrow exception for residential rentals of 15 or fewer units with no onsite staff.
Letting the tow company decide. Standing authorization for a tow company to remove vehicles at its own discretion is limited to fire hydrants, fire lanes, and blocked entrances.
Skipping the police notification. One hour from authorizing the tow. It’s a statutory duty and one of the first things examined in a dispute.
Using an unlicensed operator. The tow company must be licensed and carry insurance. A fly-by-night operator leaves you exposed if anything goes wrong.
If you think a tow that was done to your vehicle was wrongful rather than valid, that’s a different situation. See our post on when a private property tow is illegal in California for the vehicle-owner perspective.
Call us for illegal parking towing in San Diego
When you’ve confirmed the violation and have your documentation ready, call (858) 923-5787. Quick Tow SD handles private property towing throughout San Diego County. We handle the paperwork, notify law enforcement, and make sure every step complies with CVC 22658 so you’re protected.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for towing an illegally parked car from private property in San Diego?
The registered owner of the illegally parked vehicle pays the towing and storage fees directly to the tow company upon retrieval. The property owner pays nothing, as long as the tow was authorized correctly under CVC 22658.
How quickly can you tow an illegally parked car from private property?
Immediate towing is allowed for vehicles blocking fire lanes, ADA spaces, driveways, or entrances. For standard unauthorized parking in a common area, California law requires documentation that the vehicle has been there for 24 hours. Call us and we’ll confirm what applies to your situation.
Do I need a towing company sign on my property to tow illegally parked cars in San Diego?
Yes. For most private property situations, California law requires posted signs at every vehicle entrance that include the towing company’s name and phone number. Without compliant signs, any tow you authorize is legally vulnerable. We offer free signage audits for properties we partner with.
Can I tow a car blocking my private driveway in San Diego without a sign?
Yes. Under CVC 22658, a vehicle completely blocking access to a single-family dwelling’s driveway can be towed without posted signage. Call (858) 923-5787 and we’ll confirm the situation before dispatching.
What’s the difference between a private property impound and a police tow in San Diego?
A private property impound is authorized by the property owner under CVC 22658 and handled by a private tow company. A police tow is ordered by law enforcement and handled by a police-contracted company. Both require law enforcement notification and follow regulated fee schedules. If your car was impounded and you need to retrieve it, see our guide on how to get your car out of impound in San Diego.
What if I think the tow company charged the vehicle owner too much?
CVC 22658 sets no dollar cap. Subdivision (i) treats a charge as excessive when it exceeds what the law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction would have been charged for the same tow or storage, so the benchmark is an approved rate rather than a fixed number. Two firm rules do apply: if the vehicle is released within 24 hours, only one day of storage may be charged, and an after-hours gate fee is capped at one-half of the hourly tow rate. If an owner believes they were overcharged, they can dispute it.