All Ways Towing San Diego: Impound Hours, Fees & Recovery

All Ways Towing's lot on Main Street in central San Diego handles a mix of SDPD enforcement tows, private property tows under CVC 22658, and accident tows. The address, phone, hours, payment methods, and typical fees are all in the lot information card above. This guide covers the rest of the recovery process.

Where this lot is and how to get there

Main Street between 17th and Cesar Chavez Parkway runs through the industrial corridor south of downtown San Diego. The neighborhood is light-industrial — auto repair, warehouses, tow yards. Not transit-friendly. Plan a ride.

Approximate access:

• From downtown: Surface streets south or I-5 south to a downtown exit.
• From central San Diego (North Park / Hillcrest): SR-94 west to I-5 south.
• From the coast: I-5 south.
• From East County: SR-94 west to I-5 south or I-805 south.
• From South Bay: I-5 north.

Plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before posted office close to give yourself time for paperwork, payment, inspection, and any second tow.

What to bring

• Government-issued photo ID
• Current vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance for the impounded vehicle
• The case or tow ticket number from the impounding agency
• Cash and a backup card for the full balance
• Lien holder authorization letter if the car is leased or financed
• Notarized power of attorney if you're not the registered owner

Step-by-step at the gate

1. Confirm the car is at All Ways before driving

   Call the impounding agency first (SDPD non-emergency 619-531-2000, CHP 1-800-TELL-CHP, or the property where it was towed from). Then call All Ways directly with your case number.

2. Walk in with all documents

   Photo ID, registration, insurance, case number, payment. Don't make multiple trips.

3. Read the invoice line by line

   Compare every charge to the lot's posted rate sheet (CVC 22850.5 requires public posting). Question discrepancies before paying.

4. Pay under protest if you suspect a wrongful tow

   Write "paid under protest" on every receipt. This preserves your right to recover later.

5. Inspect the vehicle (CVC 22852.5)

   Walk around with your phone camera open. Photograph everything. Note any damage on the release form before signing.

6. Try to start the car before leaving the lot

   If it doesn't start, see the next section before doing anything else.

What if your car won't start at this lot?

It happens at All Ways as often as anywhere else, and the math is the same: don't make it worse.

• Dead battery from parasitic drain. Common after 4+ days of sitting; older batteries die in 48 hours.
• Original problem unresolved. A car towed because it broke down didn't fix itself in storage.
• Tow damage. AWD/4WD vehicles improperly hooked can suffer transmission damage.
• Flat tires. Slow leaks worsen during storage.

Don't try to limp it home. Central San Diego freeways at any hour are unforgiving to a car with an unresolved problem.

Don't leave it for tomorrow. Storage keeps accruing.

Don't strap-tow. Illegal under CVC 21712 in most freeway scenarios.

Do dispatch a flatbed straight from the lot to your mechanic. Call the 24/7 San Diego tow company at the number in the box on this page. Tell them you're at All Ways Towing on Main Street, your car won't start, and where you want it taken. They'll meet you at the lot in 25–35 minutes.

What if you need it taken to a mechanic anyway?

Even if the car starts, a flatbed straight to your mechanic is often the smart play — for a post-impound check, to address whatever caused the original tow, or to inspect for tow damage. Same dispatch.

Common impound reasons that send cars to All Ways

All Ways handles a mix of police tows, private property tows under CVC 22658, and accident tows. Common reasons:

• Street sweeping enforcement under CVC 22651(n) in central neighborhoods
• Expired registration over six months under CVC 22651(o)
• Driver arrested at scene under CVC 22651(h)
• DUI mandatory 30-day hold under CVC 14602.6
• Unlicensed driver impound under CVC 14602.6 / 14607.6
• Five or more unpaid parking citations under CVC 22651(i)
• Accident scene tows when the vehicle is undrivable
• 72-hour abandonment under CVC 22651(k)
• Blocking driveways, fire lanes, or red zones under CVC 22500.1 / 22651
• Private property tows from apartment complexes, HOAs, and shopping centers under CVC 22658

How to dispute charges

• Request a post-storage hearing within 10 days under CVC 22852.
• Compare your invoice to the posted rate sheet under CVC 22850.5.
• For wrongful private-property tows under CVC 22658, pursue doubled damages under CVC 22658(l). See car towed without permission.
• Document procedural defects (missing storage notice, refused inspection, inflated day count).

Bottom line

All Ways Towing is a routine recovery as long as you bring the right paperwork and act fast. The trap is the no-start moment at the gate — plan for it. The number on this page is one tap from a flatbed, and timing the call right means the truck arrives just as you walk out with your keys.