A Reliable Recovery Service, Inc. - Law's Q&A

Vehicle Repossession Law's Questions and Answers: The Question and Answer section below is revised annually and is prepared with the assistance of many "California Association of Licensed Repossessors" (C.A.L.R.) members and its counsel in the hope that it will enlighten and benefit individuals and firms concerned with the repossession industry. For all laws referred to in the Question and Answer section, please refer to the full sections of the Business and Professions Code, Vehicle Code, Penal Code, Civil Code, California and the United States Constitution for further clarification. CAUTION:    Different facts may require different answers and all laws are subject to change. Consult counsel about individual problems. Note: B&P=Business & Professions Code; VC=Vehicle Code; PC=Penal Code; GC=Government Code; & CC=Civil Code.

1. (Q) What is a "repossession agency" as defined by the State of California? (A)    A repossession agency means and includes any person who, for any consideration whatsoever, engages in the repossession business or accepts employment to locate or recover personal property, including but not limited to, personal property registered under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code which is subject to a security agreement. [B&P 7500.2] (Top of Page) 2. (Q) What is not a "repossession agency" as defined by the State of California? (A)    The following are exempt from the definition of a "repossession agency:" Banks Licensed lending institutions Attorneys performing legal duties Legal owners of collateral which is subject to a security agreement. Federal, state or municipal officers or employees performing official duties. Persons employed exclusively and regularly by one employer in connection with the affairs of that employer only and where there exists an employer/employee relationship. [B&P 7500.3] (Top of Page) 3. (Q) Who may legally undertake repossession assignments? (A)    Unless exempted pursuant to B&P Code 7500.3, only persons holding a valid repossession agency license or registration, issued by the State of California, may engage in the activities of a repossession agency. [B&P 7500.3] (Top of Page) 4. (Q) May a tow service, auto driveaway service or transport company not specifically licensed as a "repossession agency" repossess collateral VOLUNTARILY or INVOLUNTARILY? (A)    NO! These businesses are not exempt under B&P Code 7500.3 and would therefore be in violation relating to unlicensed activity. Violators are subject to fines of $5,000 and / or one year in the county jail. [B&P 7502.1] (Top of Page) 5. (Q) How may it be determined whether or not a person or agency holds a valid repossessor's license? (A)     Any person may contact the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services at 401 "S" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-4000, to determine whether or not a particular person or agency is licensed. (Top of Page) 6. (Q) May unlicensed repossession activity be penalized? (A)    YES! Any person who engages in repossession activity (other than a licensed repossessor), is guilty of a misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine of $5,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both. [B&P 7502.1(a)] (Top of Page) 7. (Q) May a financial institution be penalized for using an unlicensed repossession agency or person? (A)    YES! Any person who knowingly engages an unlicensed repossession agency or person to repossess personal property is guilty of a misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine of $5,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both. [B&P 7502.2] (Top of Page) 8. (Q) At what point has a motor vehicle been legally repossessed? (A)    With regard to collateral subject to registration under the Vehicle Code, a repossession occurs when the repossessor gains entry to the collateral or when the collateral becomes connected to a tow truck. [B&P 7507.12] (Top of Page) 9. (Q) May a repossessor lawfully enter any area for purposes of repossession? (A)    YES! with the exception of a private building which means and includes any dwelling, outbuilding, other enclosed structure or any secured area which means and includes any fenced and locked area. Entry into these areas with the consent of the owner or person in legal possession is permissible. [B&P 7500.1(s)] (Top of Page) 10. (Q) When may a vehicle secured by a contractual agreement be repossessed? (A)    Normally, only when the buyer has defaulted in the performance of any obligation under the contract. Ordinarily a default occurs when an installment payment is delinquent. However, if the consumer is required by the contract to maintain insurance, a failure to do so may constitute a default, as allowing the collateral to be jeopardized. [CC 2983.3] (Top of Page) 11. (Q) Is police notification required prior to an attempted repossession? (A)    NO! Some jurisdictions, however, request a courtesy call prior to a repossession to eliminate the possibility of a repossessor being stopped at gunpoint in the event someone telephones in a report of a stolen vehicle or a prowler. (Top of Page) 12. (Q) Is a police report required on all repossessions? (A)    YES! Whenever possession is taken of any vehicle by or on behalf of any legal owner thereof under the terms of a security agreement or lease agreement, the person taking possession shall (a) notify, within one hour after taking possession of the vehicle, and by the most expeditious means available, the city police department where the taking of possession occurred, if within an incorporated city, or the sheriff's department of the county where the taking of the possession occurred, if outside an incorporated city, or the police department of a campus of the University of California or the California State University, if the taking of possession occurred on that campus, and shall within one business day forward a written notice to the city police or the sheriff's department. (b) Any person failing to notify the city police department, sheriff's department or campus police department as required by this section is guilty of an infraction, and shall be fined a minimum of $300 and up to $500. The district attorney, city attorney, or city prosecutor shall promptly notify the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of any conviction resulting from a violation of this section. [VC 28] (Top of Page) 13. (Q) May a licensed repossessor accept an assignment from a registered owner? (A)    YES! Assignment also means an authorization by the registered owner to recover collateral registered under the Vehicle Code where an employer/employee relationship exists or existed between the registered owner and the possessor of the property and the possessor is wrongfully in possession of the property. [B&P 7500.1(o)] (Top of Page) 14. (Q) Must licensees make condition reports of repossessions? (A)    YES! Repossession agencies are required to keep and maintain adequate records of all transactions including condition reports reflecting the condition of a vehicle at the time of repossession and its odometer reading (IF AVAILABLE). [B&P 7507.3] (Top of Page) 15. (Q) What is to be done with personal effects or other personal property? (A)    Personal property shall be removed and a complete and accurate confidential inventory shall be made. Said items shall be securely stored for a minimum of 60 days. It is required that the repossession agency only notify the consumer of this inventory by written notice or by personal service within time limits prescribed by law. [B&P 7507.9] (Top of Page) 16. (Q) What is to be done with deadly weapons contained in or on collateral at time of repossession? (A)    Deadly weapons and dangerous drugs shall be turned over to a local law enforcement agency for retention. These items shall be entered on the inventory and a notation shall be made as to the date, time and place the deadly weapon or dangerous drug was turned over to the law enforcement agency. A receipt from the law enforcement agency shall be maintained in the records of the repossession agency. [B&P 7507.9(b)(1)] (Top of Page) 17. (Q) What is to be done with combustibles after being removed from a repossession? (A)    Combustibles shall be inventoried and noted as "disposed of, dangerous combustible" and disposed of in a reasonable and safe manner. [B&P 7507.9(b)(2)] (Top of Page) 18. (Q) May a repossession agency charge a fee for storing personal effects? (Referring to inventory of effects from a repossession) (A)    YES! A licensee may charge the debtor for storing personal effects since B & P Code 7507.9 and 9(d) states in part, "The inventory shall include; an itemization of all personal effects and storage charges that will be made by the repossession agency." A licensee may not charge a legal owner for storage of personal effects unless specifically agreed to at the time of the assignment or at a subsequent time. (Top of Page) 19. (Q) Is it a crime to conceal a motor vehicle or other collateral? (A)    YES! Any person in possession of collateral who conceals property with the intent to defraud a creditor may be guilty of a felony. [PC 154, 504a or 538] (Top of Page) 20. (Q) When a vehicle has been impounded by a public agency, who should notify the legal owner? (A)    Within 48 hours of the storage, unless the vehicle is in a vehicle abatement program, or abandoned, the public agency is required to notify both legal and registered owners. [VC 22852(a)] The tow company is required to notify by certified mail the legal owner by the 16th day of possession or storage fees are limited on private or public agency impounds. [VC 10652-5] (Top of Page) 21. (Q) What is the maximum amount a repair garage may charge on a repair or storage to a legal owner? (A)    On work or services performed, up to $750 is allowed and the garage must have permission from the legal owner to exceed that amount. [CC 3068(c)] Storage is allowed up to $400 for a vehicle under $4000 in value and $500 if the vehicle is valued over $4000. [CC 3068(c)] There is also a requirement to notify the legal owner by the 16th day of possession if storage fees are charged and if legal owner is not notified, storage is limited to 15 days. [VC 10652.5 and CC 3071 & 3072] (Top of Page) 22. (Q) Are there any reporting requirements when a vehicle is stored in a private building? (A)    YES! Every person other than the keeper of a garage renting any private building used as a private garage or space therein for the storage of a vehicle of a type subject to registration under this code, when the agreement to rent includes only the building or space therein, shall, within 24 hours after the vehicle is stored therein, report such fact together with the name of the tenant and a description of the vehicle, including the name or make, the VIN and the license number to the sheriff's office of the county or the police department of the city wherein the building is located. "Private garage" as used in this section does not include a public warehouse or public garage. [VC 10654] (Top of Page) 23. (Q) What can happen to a tow company if the legal owner is not notified? (A)    Under Civil Code Section 3070, a legal owner has a right to accuse the tow company of "improperly causing a vehicle to be towed" if the tow company tries to collect storage over 15 days when VC 10652.5 is violated. A notice must be sent to the legal owner by the 16th day of possession in order to collect over 15 days of storage fees. [CC 3070(d1), (d2), (A)] (Top of Page) 24. (Q) Are there limits on the number of days storage can be charged to the lien holders? (A)    YES! Civil Code 3068.1 limits public agency and private tows to a certain number of days chargeable for storage. A vehicle under $4000 in value shall not accrue storage charges beyond the 15th day unless lien sale proceedings have commenced. If the lien is filed by the 15th day of possession, the storage is limited to 60 days. This would include a required notice to be signed by the legal owner before the 16th day of possession. [VC 10652.5] A vehicle with a value over $4000, the lien sale shall commence by the 30th day of storage and allowing the storing party to collect for storage up to 120 days. If the lien sale commenced after 30 days-60 days of storage, then Vehicle Code 10652.5 applies and the storing party may only collect up to the 16th day of storage. (Top of Page) 25. (Q)May a "Repossessor's Tow Vehicle" be cited by law enforcement for violations of Vehicle Code Sections 25253(a), 27700, or 27907 which all pertain to a "Tow Truck"? (A)    NO! Vehicle Code sections 615(a) and 615 (b) (definitions of "Tow Trucks") say that "Tow Truck" does not include a "Repossessors Tow Vehicle". (Top of Page) 26. (Q) May a law enforcement officer force a repossessor to give up possession of an automobile or property? (A)    Peace officers may not advance or hinder repossessions. Because they are acting under "color of state law," they may no more force a debtor to surrender a car than they may, after a car has been repossessed, force the repossessor to return it. Without a court order, both things violate the "due process" requirements of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Sections 13 and 15 of the California Constitution. (Top of Page) 27. (Q) Should a repossessor have a Police Officer accompany him / her on a repossession? (A)    Self-help repossession provisions of UCC 9-503 do not violate the Fourteenth Amendment if it is the conduct of a private individual dealing with a private individual. However, the presence of a police officer or a patrol car accompanying a repossessor has been found by several courts to constitute "color of law" and has taken the repossession out of the area of "purely private conduct without state assistance." Do not take a sheriff or police officer out on a self-help repossession. (Top of Page) 28. (Q) Must a debtor pay a fee (Normally $15.00) to a police department or sheriff's department before redeeming the repossessed vehicle (unless waived by said department)? (A)    YES! pursuant to Government Code Sections 26751 and 41612. This fee is not the obligation of the lienholder or repossessor. (Top of Page) 29. (Q) Is a repossessed vehicle exempt from current registration? (A)    A vehicle repossessed pursuant to the terms of a security agreement is exempt from the registration solely for the purpose of transporting the vehicle from the point of repossession to the storage facilities of the repossessor, and from the storage facilities to the legal owner or to a licensed motor vehicle auction provided that the repossessor transports with the vehicle the appropriate documents authorizing the repossession and makes them available to a law enforcement officer on request. [VC 4022] (Top of Page) 30. (Q) Does the mandatory 30 day vehicle impoundment for driving with a suspended, revoked or invalid license apply to the legal owner? (A)    NO! A legal owner or its agent may obtain a release from impoundment prior to the 30 days if they meet three conditions: 1) They are legally operating in this state; 2) they pay all towing & storage fees related to the seizure of this vehicle; 3) provide foreclosure document or affidavit of repossession. [VC 14602.6(f)(3)] (Top of Page) 31. (Q) Should a legal owner have a copy of the Repossessor's State issued license number on file prior to assigning an account to them? (A)    Although it is not required by law, it would provide a positive defense to any allegation of having assigned an account to a nonexempt unlicensed person in violation of B&P Code section 7502.2 which is punishable by a fine of $5,000. (Top of Page) 32. (Q) Is possession by a registered repossessor of tools described as "burglary tools" and of vehicle or wheel lock master keys as defined in Sections 466 and 466.5 of the California Penal Code prohibited by law? (A)    NO! Those sections specify that possession with the "intent feloniously to break or enter any building or vehicle" is a misdemeanor, and that possession of vehicle master keys with the intent to use them "in the commission of an unlawful act" is a misdemeanor. Tools used by repossessors are "tools of the trade" and are legally possessed without any intent to commit a crime. (Top of Page) 33. (Q) May local law enforcement collect an administrative fee from a legal owner or their agent to release impounded collateral? (A)    NO! Effective on January 1st, 2000 any such Fee shall be collected by the applicable Local or State Authority ONLY from the registered owner or agent of said registered owner. [VC 22850.5 (b)(2)] (Top of Page) 34. (Q) Is it lawful for a repossessor to take or use personal effects that are connected to the collateral at the time of repossession? (A)    YES! "Nothing prohibits the using or taking of personal effects that are connected, adjoined or affixed to the collateral through an unbroken sequence, if that use or taking is reasonably necessary to effectuate the recovery in a safe manner or to protect the collateral or personal effects". [B&P 7505.2]

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