Booted and Towed Vehicles

Booted Vehicle Release Information

In order to release a booted vehicle, a $150 fee must be paid. The booted vehicle will be released in-person once all fines are paid and proof of current registration is shown. A vehicle is generally released within three hours of payment.

If fines are not paid within 72 hours of the vehicle being booted, it will be towed. However, if the vehicle obstructs traffic or interferes with street cleaning, it may be towed before the three-day allotment is up.

Towed Vehicle Release Information

A Vehicle Release Order must be obtained in-person from a Customer Service Center at the time parking fines are paid to release a vehicle that has been towed due to five or more delinquent parking citations. Vehicles towed for illegal parking violations are transported to the Official Police Garage location nearest to where the vehicle was parked.

A Customer Service Center can provide the name and address of the Official Police Garage where the vehicle is being stored. Individuals may also locate a vehicle online using the Official Police Garage website.

The Official Police Garages collect towing and storage fees for vehicles they tow. Vehicles may be towed for various reasons by several different City agencies. The towing and storage rates are uniform throughout the City of Los Angeles. If a vehicle is not redeemed on the same day that it was towed, additional daily storage charges will incur.

		Towing Rates and Storage Fees:
		Towing Rates: $107.50 per hour for Standard Vehicles $208.50 per hour for Heavy Duty Storage Rates: $33.00 per day for Standard Vehicles $10.00 per day for Motorcycles $47.00 per day for Heavy Duty (over 1 ton, over 20 feet) $59.00 per day for Heavy Duty (over 1 ton, over 41 feet) City Release Fee: $100.00 for each vehicle released City Parking Tax: 10% City parking occupancy tax is collected on all storage fees.

All of the fees must be paid to the garage before the vehicle will be released.The vehicle may be lien sold if parking fines and towing and storage fees are not paid within 30 days. The money obtained from the sale will be used to recover towing and storage fees. Any leftover money will be used to pay parking fines. If the remaining parking fines exceed the amount gained from the sale, the violator must pay the balance.

Unregistered Vehicle Release Information

Vehicle owners are legally required to maintain current registration on the vehicle. An unregistered vehicle will not be released. The owner must go to a DMV location and register the vehicle before a release is authorized. If necessary vehicle information is stored in a towed vehicle, the owner may go to the Official Police Garage and retrieve it.

Vehicles must also have a current smog test to be eligible for release. The owner must go to the DMV and pay the appropriate registration fees. Bring proof of fee payment to the Customer Service Center.

Boot and Tow Hearings

Complainants who believe their vehicle was booted or towed in error can request an emergency Boot and Tow Hearing. The hearing will determine whether or not the vehicle had a sufficient number of delinquent parking tickets for booting or towing eligibility. Individual tickets cannot be contested at the Boot and Tow Hearing.

To request a hearing, an appointment must be made with one of the four walk-in Customer Service Centers. The hearing will take place that day, during the next available time.

If the parking tickets were paid at the DMV before the vehicle was booted, vehicle owners should bring the itemized DMV receipt to the hearing.

Public Service Locations

More release information for vehicles that were booted or towed because of delinquent parking tickets can be found by contacting a Customer Service Center:

Downtown - 312 W 2nd Street Map It

Mid-Wilshire - 3333 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 3337 Map It

West Los Angeles - 9911 West Pico Blvd, #B-201 Map It

Van Nuys - 6309 Van Nuys Blvd., #103 Map It

Office Hours: Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed Weekends and Holidays
(866) 561-9742