Consumer Question 12

This is a general guide and not intended as legal advice.

How Long After My Car Was Towed Did The Tow Service Begin Looking For Me?
Typically within 15 days of the date the lien sale arose, the towing service has completed a form called Registration Information Request for Lien Sale (INF 1126) and submitted it to the DMV.  After which, the DMV provided the towing service with a vehicle history record that showed you as the current Registered Owner. This report also listed all other Interested Parties and Legal Owner(s) of record. In the event an owner was identified from incomplete transfers they would have been included as interested parties.

If there was a Vehicle License and Title “stop” on record, the towing service would have sent a copy of the printout to the Lien Sales Unit along with the lien sale possession date and the name and address of the person conducting the lien sale. The Lien Sales Unit would have reviewed the “stop” to determine if a lien sale could be processed. A letter would have been mailed to the company and/or individual conducting the lien sale to advise them if it was OK to proceed with the lien sale or not. If the lien sale could not be conducted, the Lien sale unit would provide contact information so that the necessary steps could be taken to remove the “stop” and proceed with the lien sale.

In the event of an improperly identified vehicle the lien sale will be considered invalid and would have required the lien holder to reapply for a lien sale even when the vehicle has already been sold.

Below is a list links to California Vehicle Codes and/or California Civil Codes that support the explanation above.

Notice by Lienholder: Low Value Vehicle (CVC 22851.8)
Liens on Vehicles Valued Over $4,000 (CCC 3071) 
Liens on Vehicles Valued Under $4,000 (CCC 3072)

If you have any further questions that are not in our frequently asked questions, please contact us in one of the following ways:

General inquiries via telephone:

Please call one of our account specialists at (877) 757-2296 or fax your question to (408) 380-8660. Please be prepared to provide your consumer account number,  full name, social security number, complete address, and phone number so that we can verify and respond to your inquires in a timely manner.

General inquiries via postal mail:

Lien Enforcement, Inc
PO Box 3000E
San Jose, CA 95156

Please remember to provide your consumer account number,  full name, social security number, complete address, and phone number so that we can verify and respond to your inquires in a timely manner. If the question is directed to a specific employee please remember to direct the letter to that person’s attention.

Your Options for Timely Resolution:

• Go to Make a Payment located on our web site to pay your account balance now.
• Mail your payment in full to PO Box 3000E, San Jose, CA 95156.  Remember to include your customer number so we can apply your payment to the correct account.
• Contact our office at (877) 757-2296 to negotiate the terms of your payment
• Contact our office at (877) 757-2296 and notify us of the individual(s) you believe to be the true and correct registered owner at the time your vehicle was impounded.