Contest a Tow

CONTEST A VEHICLE TOW ORDERED BY SFMTA ENFORCEMENT

If you believe your vehicle was towed in error, you may contest the validity of the tow by scheduling a hearing within 30 days of the tow. The date selected for a hearing does not need to be within 30 days. If your vehicle is worth $500 or less and you have not retrieved it from storage, you must request a hearing within 10 calendar days of the date of the tow.

Schedule a Hearing

To schedule a hearing and/or submit a written protest, complete the online form at the end of this page. You can choose to have your hearing by telephone, email, mail-in, or through online submittal. At this time, in-person hearings are not being conducted due to COVID-19.

Hearing Location (accepting mail-in hearings while office is closed to the public)

SFMTA Customer Service Center
11 South Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94103

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.

TO CONTEST A TOW ORDERED BY SFPD

To contest a tow ordered by the SFPD, you must appear in person at the police department. For more information visit SFPD's tow page. To listen to a recorded message with SFPD tow information call 415.553.1619.

San Francisco Police Department at Hall of Justice
850 Bryant Street, Room #154
San Francisco, CA 94103

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, excluding holidays.

TO STOP ACCRUAL OF STORAGE FEES

Storage fees accrue daily and you are responsible for the payment of all towing and storage fees. You should get your vehicle out of Impound immediately to stop the accrual of storage fees even if you believe the vehicle was towed in error. If you do not pay the towing and storage fees and remove the vehicle from Impound, storage fees will continue to accrue. If you choose not to remove your vehicle from Impound during the hearing process, you are responsible for all towing and storage fees if you do not prevail at your hearing. If you cannot afford to pay the fees to get your vehicle out of Impound, you should immediately schedule a hearing by calling 415.701.5400. If you prevail at your hearing, a refund will be mailed to you 4-6 weeks from the date of your hearing.

UNACCEPTABLE GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OF TOW FEES

Financial hardships or personal circumstances will NOT exempt the owner from paying the appropriate administrative fee, and all other tow fees, as a result of contesting a vehicle tow. Hearing officers will only determine if the tow is legal.

Find out more about our Tow Hearing Procedures.