# Who pays if a tow truck damages my car in California? | Who Pays the Repair?

> California Vehicle Code 22658 makes a towing company responsible for damage in transit and storage after a private-property tow.

**Who pays:** depends

In California, a towing company that removes your car from private property is responsible for damage in transit and storage, and you may recover for damage from an intentional or negligent act.

**Boundary:** Under California Vehicle Code 22658, the owner of a vehicle removed from private property may recover for damage from an intentional or negligent act of a person causing the removal of, or removing, the vehicle. A towing company that removes a vehicle under that section is responsible for damage in transit and subsequent storage.

## Sources
- [California Vehicle Code Section 22658](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=22658) — "The owner of a vehicle removed from private property pursuant to subdivision (a) may recover for any damage to the vehicle resulting from any intentional or negligent act of a person causing the removal of, or removing, the vehicle." (accessed 2026-10-22)
- [California Vehicle Code Section 22658](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=22658) — "A towing company that removes the vehicle under this section shall be responsible for the following: (1) Damage to the vehicle in the transit and subsequent storage of the vehicle." (accessed 2026-10-22)

_Last verified 2026-10-22. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/california-private-property-tow-damaged-vehicle/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._