New laws, rules and rates that affect people whose cars were towed, newest first. Each item is our own short summary with a link to the official source.
San Diego Council policy: cite, don't tow, for registration expired more than six months
Council Policy 500-03, renamed 'Police-Initiated Towing' and amended by Resolution R-316931 effective September 29, 2026, states that the City should issue citations instead of towing vehicles whose registration expired more than six months ago. It also requires SDPD to report on the towing program, including tows and lien sales by tow reason, at least every three years.
In effect September 29, 2026. A Council policy guides City staff; it is not an ordinance.
KPBS: expired registration was still the top reason for San Diego police tows in 2025
Using SDPD records it requested, KPBS reported that nearly 30% of 2025 impounds were for registration problems, led by 6,533 tows for registration expired more than six months. It noted that three of the City Auditor's four 2022 towing recommendations were still not done.
News report. The Council policy change followed in September 2026.
Council committee backs ending tows for long-expired registration
On November 11, 2025, the Public Safety Committee unanimously approved amendments to Council Policy 500-03 and sent them to the full Council: citations instead of tows for registration expired more than six months, and SDPD towing reports at least every three years.
The Council adopted the policy change effective September 29, 2026.
The City's Fiscal Year 2026 user fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025, lists the Tow Impound Cost Recovery Fee at $115 per impound, up from $63 in Fiscal Year 2025. The tow company's own towing and storage charges are separate.
In effect since July 1, 2025. We have not found a Fiscal Year 2027 schedule.
City Attorney publishes a 'Know Your Rights' alert on private-property tows
The San Diego City Attorney's August 2024 consumer alert summarizes state rules for tows from private lots open to the public: the one-hour wait, the property owner's signed authorization, sign requirements and what the tow company must hand over. SDPD's towing-rights page points to the City Attorney's towing complaint form.
City Auditor: 'disproportionate impact' tows cost owners their cars and the City money
The City Auditor's performance audit found that tows for registration expired over six months, 72-hour parking and five or more unpaid tickets are 3 to 5 times more likely to end in a lien sale, that about 27% of tows end in lien sales, and that the program costs the City about $1.5 million a year. It asked SDPD for regular public reports.
Issued November 14, 2022. As of December 2025, three of four recommendations were past due.