Rules
Looking for a Tow Yard in Bakersfield? Start Here
Don't start by calling tow yards in Bakersfield. Start by finding out who ordered the tow. City police, the Kern County Sheriff, the CHP and private lot owners all have cars towed here, and each one points to a different yard. Call Bakersfield Police at 661-327-7111, the Sheriff at (661) 391-7500, or CHP Bakersfield at 661-396-6600. From a private lot, read the tow-away sign.
Why is my towed car so hard to find in Bakersfield?
Bakersfield is spread out, and the big roads skirt the edges. I-5 runs several miles west of town. SR 99 cuts straight through it. SR 58 heads east over the Tehachapi Mountains. South of town, I-5 drops down the Grapevine from Tejon Pass near Wheeler Ridge.
So "my car was towed in Bakersfield" can mean a lot of places. It could be a curb downtown. It could be a shopping center on Rosedale Highway. It could be the shoulder of I-5 out past the farm fields. A car pulled off the Grapevine can end up stored a long way from where you sleep tonight.
The fix is simple. Don't guess at yards. Find the agency first. The agency knows which tow company it used.
Who could have towed my car?
Think about the exact spot where you left it. Then match it to this list.
- Bakersfield Police: a street or public spot the city police handle. Call 661-327-7111.
- Kern County Sheriff's Office: a deputy stopped you or tagged the car. Call (661) 391-7500. The office is at 1350 Norris Road.
- California Highway Patrol: a CHP officer had it moved, often off a freeway shoulder. See the CHP numbers below.
- A private property owner: a store, apartment or office lot with tow-away signs.
Not sure if you were inside city limits? Call the city police and the Sheriff both. It takes two short calls. Have your plate number and the street name ready.
Which CHP office do I call?
The CHP splits the Bakersfield region into separate offices. They all run through the same Bakersfield dispatch center. Call the office closest to where your car was.
| CHP office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 661-396-6600 |
| Buttonwillow (on Stockdale Highway) | 661-764-5580 |
| Fort Tejon (in Lebec) | 661-248-6655 |
Don't know which office it was? Start with Bakersfield. Ask which tow company took the car and where that yard is. Write down the yard's address before you hang up.
My car vanished from a parking lot. Now what?
Walk back to where you parked and find the tow-away sign. California Vehicle Code 22658 says a private lot sign must hang at every entrance. It must be at least 17 by 22 inches. It must list the local police phone number and the name and phone number of the tow company.
That sign is your map. Call the tow company on it. The law also gives you more help:
- The property owner must tell the local police within one hour after they OK the tow.
- The tow company must also report the tow to police while the car is on the way to the yard.
- The owner or the tow driver must tell you why the car was towed if you ask.
No sign, or no answer? Call the police number from the list above. If nobody has a record of a tow, your car may be stolen. Report it right away.
What should I watch for in the mail?
When a public agency stores your car, California law says a notice must go to the registered owner. The deadline to mail or hand it over is 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. It says where the car is stored and why it was removed.
That notice matters. You can ask for a poststorage hearing within 10 days of the date on it. Ask in person, in writing or by phone. The agency then has 48 hours to hold the hearing, again not counting weekends and holidays. If the agency had no good reason to tow, it pays the towing and storage. This hearing rule does not cover private lot tows.
What if a Kern County deputy towed it?
The Sheriff's Office posts its release rules for cars it seized in the Bakersfield metro area. You need the right papers before the tow yard will help you.
- Proof of current registration.
- Proof of valid insurance.
- A valid driver's license. If you don't have one, bring another government photo ID and a licensed driver with you.
- The vehicle release claim check from the Sheriff's Office.
Get the claim check at the Sheriff's Office, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., not on holidays. Only the registered owner can pick it up. For a regular tow, the Sheriff doesn't charge for the claim check. The tow company still charges its own fees.
What is a 30-day impound?
Some cars are held under Vehicle Code 14602.6. The Sheriff holds those for 30 days, and a release fee applies. In the first 10 days, the registered owner can go to an impound hearing. The Sheriff holds them Monday to Friday, 9 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. It may get the car out early.
What should I bring to the tow yard?
Bring your license, current registration and insurance card. A car stored for expired registration only comes out with proof of current registration. Then know your rights at the yard. California Vehicle Code 22651.07 says:
- You get an itemized invoice of actual charges before you pay.
- You can get your personal things out at no charge during normal business hours.
- You can look over your car for free before you pay.
- The yard must take cash, a valid bank credit card or your insurer's check.
- After hours, the yard must give you a number to leave a message.
Ask for the Towing and Storage Fees and Access Notice. It lists these rights in writing.
What if my car won't run when I get it back?
This happens a lot in Bakersfield. A car that sat in a hot yard for days can come back with a dead battery. A car towed after a crash may not be safe to drive at all.
Once the yard releases it, a jump start may wake up a weak battery. If the car can't be driven, a car tow can take it home or to a repair shop. Tell the dispatcher the yard's address and where the car needs to go. Curious what changes the price of that tow? Our Bakersfield tow cost guide explains it.
Does Sentinel get cars out of impound?
No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or private property tows. Only the agency and the tow yard can release your car. We help after that, or when you break down on the road.
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent, and we check on you by text until your driver arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. Our Bakersfield towing page covers local roads, heat and fog.
If you stall on SR 99 or I-5 on the way home, get as far off the road as you can and turn on your hazards. Kern County has roadside call boxes on certain state highways. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Bakersfield Tow Yard Questions
How do I find out which tow yard has my car in Bakersfield?
Ask the agency that ordered the tow. Call Bakersfield Police at 661-327-7111, the Kern County Sheriff at (661) 391-7500, or the CHP office for that area. From a private lot, the tow-away sign lists the tow company's phone number.
Can I get a Sheriff's claim check on the weekend?
No. The Kern County Sheriff's Office gives vehicle release claim checks Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and not on holidays. Plan for it, since the yard keeps charging storage.
Can I get my things out of the car before I pay?
Yes. Under California Vehicle Code 22651.07, you can get your personal property at no charge during normal business hours. You can also look over the car for free.
My car was towed off I-5 near the Grapevine. Who do I call?
Call the CHP. The Fort Tejon office in Lebec is at 661-248-6655, and the Bakersfield office is at 661-396-6600. Ask which tow company has the car and where its yard is.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Kern County Sheriff: Vehicle Release, CHP office locations, Governor of California (BPD phone), CVC 22658, CVC 22852, CVC 22651.07, CVC 22850.3, Kern COG Motorist Aid.
