California Might Owe You
Serious Money.
If your vehicle was sold at a lien sale auction for more than the cost of the bill, the surplus cash doesn't belong to the tow yard. It belongs to you.
The "Silent" Surplus
When a vehicle is sold at a lien sale (whether by a tow yard, mechanic, or storage facility), the lienholder is only legally allowed to keep the amount of money equal to their bill (plus lien sale costs).
The Math is Simple:
- Auction Sale Price: $5,000
- Tow/Storage Bill: - $1,200
- Excess Funds: $3,800
That $3,800 is sent directly to the DMV Lien Sales Unit in Sacramento.
The Catch? They Don't Call You.
The DMV holds these funds in trust, but they do not actively hunt down vehicle owners to write them checks. It is 100% up to the public to check for themselves. Millions of dollars sit unclaimed in this fund every year.
Check The Database Now
💰 Claim Your Money 💰Clicking above redirects to the official CA DMV Excess Fees Lookup Portal.