Chula Vista Impound Lot: Where Your Car Is and How to Get It Back

If your car was impounded by Chula Vista Police, the recovery process has one extra step: figuring out which contracted yard has your vehicle. CVPD rotates among several tow companies, and the specific yard depends on which company was on call at the time of the tow. The lot listed in the information card above is one of the most common contracted yards — but always verify with CVPD first before driving anywhere.

Step 0: Confirm which yard has your car

This is the step that catches most Chula Vista drivers off guard. Do not assume your car is at the address in the box above until you've confirmed with the police.

• Call Chula Vista PD non-emergency: 619-691-5151
• Give them your license plate.
• Ask: "Which contracted tow yard was used for this vehicle, and what's the case number?"
• Write down the yard name, address, phone, and case number.

If the answer matches the lot in the box above, you're good. If not, call the actual yard directly and confirm before driving over.

Where this lot is and how to get there

The address listed in the box above is on Broadway in Chula Vista, in the central commercial corridor. It's accessible from I-5 and I-805 with relatively easy freeway access from anywhere in the South Bay.

Approximate access:

• From central San Diego: I-5 south or I-805 south to a Chula Vista exit.
• From National City: I-5 south or surface streets.
• From East County: SR-94 west to I-805 south, or SR-125 south.
• From the border / South Bay: I-5 north or I-805 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 CVPD
• 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 which yard has your car

   Call CVPD non-emergency at 619-691-5151 first. Then call the contracted yard directly with your case number to verify.

2. Walk in with all documents

   Photo ID, registration, insurance, case number, payment.

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 rights.

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, call for a flatbed before doing anything else.

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

Common situation, predictable causes:

• Dead battery from parasitic drain after 4+ days of sitting.
• Original problem unresolved. A car towed because it broke down didn't fix itself in storage.
• Tow damage. Improper hookup, especially on AWD/4WD vehicles, can cause new mechanical issues.
• Flat tires. Slow leaks worsen during storage.

Don't try to limp it home. Chula Vista freeways at any hour are not where you want to discover the original problem isn't fixed.

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 South Bay tow company at the number in the box on this page. Tell them you're at the Chula Vista impound lot, 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, same number.

Common impound reasons that send cars here

Chula Vista contracted lots handle the full spectrum of CVPD enforcement tows. Common reasons:

• Street sweeping enforcement under CVC 22651(n)
• 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 on I-5, I-805, SR-54, SR-125
• 72-hour abandonment under CVC 22651(k)
• Blocking driveways, fire lanes, or red zones under CVC 22500.1 / 22651
• Private property tows from Chula Vista apartment complexes, HOAs, and shopping centers under CVC 22658

How to dispute charges

• Request a post-storage hearing within 10 days under CVC 22852. Submit in writing to Chula Vista PD.
• 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

Chula Vista impound recovery has one extra step — figuring out which contracted yard has your car — but the rest of the process is the same as any other San Diego County recovery. Confirm the yard with CVPD first, bring the right documents, and don't delay. The number on this page is one tap from a flatbed if your car won't start at the gate.