This is a general guide and not intended as legal advice.
Removal of an Abandoned Low-Value Vehicle (CVC §22851.3)
Law enforcement or an authorized public agency employee would have securely attached a distinctive notice stating that your vehicle would be removed by the public agency at least 72 hours before removing the vehicle.
If your vehicle lacked an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other part or equipment necessary to operate safely on highways, it would have been removed immediately by Law Enforcement without posting a notice. (CVC 22669[d]).
Immediately after your vehicle was removed, the public agency would have notified the Department of Justice, Bureau of Information Services – Stolen Vehicle Unit.
Either the public agency or the lienholder (at the request of the public agency), would have obtained from the DMV a record of the names of all people having interest in your vehicle.
Within 48 hours of removing your vehicle (excluding weekends and holidays), the public agency or the lienholder (at the request of the public agency) would have notified you and all other interested parties of their intent to dispose of the vehicle as follows:
If notification was sent by a Public agency, you would have received it via first class or certified mail, in the form of a written notice pursuant to CVC 22851.3(d). This notification would have been mailed to:
If notification was sent by a Lienholder (at the request of the public agency) you would have received it via certified mail in the form of 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). This notification would have been mailed to:
The public agency would then 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). If the vehicle remains unclaimed after 15 days from the notification date, the towing and storage fees were not paid, and a request for a post-storage hearing was not made or the post-storage hearing was not attended.
The registered owner
The legal owner
Any other persons having an interest in the vehicle
The public agency would then distribute the REG 462 accordingly, the white and pink copies to the towing agent and the yellow copy would 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.
If the notification was made by the lienholder at the request of the public agency, the lienholder would have then completed a Statement of Facts for Vehicles Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency (REG 686B) (CVC 22851.3).
The public agency would have then disposed of your vehicle to a licensed dismantler or a scrap iron processor and gave the dismantler or scrap iron processor the following.
Public Agency Notification
The Public Agency Authorization To Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less to a Scrap Iron Processor or Dismantler s (REG 462)-white copy (the lienholder would have completed Section B) and a copy of the written notification.
Lienholder Notification
Public Agency Authorization To Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less to a Scrap Iron Processor or Dismantler (REG 462)-white copy (lienholder completes Section B) , Notice of Intent To Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency (REG 684B), Statement of Facts for Vehicles Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency (CVC 22851.3) (REG 686B), and Certified mailing receipts.
If the notification was made by the lienholder at the request of the public agency, the lienholder would have mailed a copy of the REG 686B to the DMV.
Within 90 days of the Dismantler acquiring your vehicle, they would have submitted to the DMV, a Report of Vehicle to be Dismantled (REG 42), Public Agency Authorization To Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less to a Scrap Iron Processor or Dismantler (REG 462) white copy, AND a Notice of Intent To Dispose of a Vehicle Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency (REG 684B), Statement of Facts for Vehicles Valued at $500 or Less Removed by a Public Agency (CVC 22851.3) (REG 686B), Certified mailing receipts OR A copy of the written notification from the public agency.