§ 305. TOWING AND STORAGE FEES.

(a) Fees.

(1) The SFMTA shall charge the registered owner of a towed vehicle, or the registered owner’s agent claiming a towed vehicle, or the renter of a towed vehicle, the following fees to reimburse the City for its costs related to the removal, storage, sale, or release of vehicles towed from the public right-of-way, public property, or private property:

Fee Type

Fee Amount Effective July 1, 2020

Fee Amount Effective July 1, 2021

SFMTA Administrative Fees
Administrative Fee (other than First Tow or Low Income)	$318	$325
First Tow (reduced fee available only to registered owner of towed vehicle, registered owner’s agent claiming the towed vehicle, or renter of towed vehicle)	$268	$275
Low Income (fee waiver available only to registered owner or renter of towed vehicle)	$0	$0
Tow Fees (Tow contract fees charged to registered or legal owner, owner’s agent, or renters claiming the towed vehicle.)
One-Time Tow Fee Waiver for People Certified as Experiencing Homelessness	$0	$0
Low-Income Tow Fee	$100	$100
Light Duty Vehicles under 10,000 GVW (e.g., cars, light duty trucks, vehicles with trailers, unattached trailers, motorcycles, and scooters)	$256	$268
Medium Duty Vehicles over 10,000 GVW (e.g., trucks, buses, and unattached trailers)	$256	$268
Heavy Duty Vehicles over 26,000 GVW (e.g., buses, tractor trucks, and/or trailers)	$256	$268
Dolly Fee	$46	$47
Storage Fees (Storage fees charged to registered or legal owner, or owner’s agent claiming the towed vehicle; storage fees waived if vehicle is picked up within four hours of arrival at storage facility.)
Storage Fee – Motorcycles/Scooters – first 24 hours or part thereof	$21.50	$22
Storage Fee – Motorcycles/Scooters – every full calendar day (or part thereof) following the first 24 hours	$26	$27
Storage Fee – Light Duty Vehicles (other than motorcycles/scooters) – first 24 hours or part thereof	$56.50	$58
Storage Fee – Light Duty Vehicles (other than motorcycles/scooters) – every full calendar day (or part thereof) following the first 24 hours	$67.50	$69.50
Storage Fee – Medium Duty Vehicles – first 24 hours or part thereof	$78	$80.50
Storage Fee – Medium Duty Vehicles – every full calendar day (or part thereof) following the first 24 hours	$93.50	$96
Storage Fee – Heavy Duty Vehicles – first 24 hours or part thereof	$115	$118
Storage Fee – Heavy Duty Vehicles – every full calendar day (or part thereof) following the first 24 hours	$138	$142
Tow-Back Fees (Upon customer’s request, and only if all towing and storage fees are paid, SFMTA may tow vehicle to a location customer specifies.)
Tow-back service	$256	$268
Lien Fees
Vehicles valued at $4,000 or less (upon lien initiation)	$35	$35
Vehicles valued at more than $4,000 (upon lien initiation)	$50	$50
Vehicles valued at $4,000 or less (upon lien completion)	$35	$35
Vehicles valued at more than $4,000 (upon lien completion)	$50	$50

(A) The SFMTA shall charge the registered owner or the registered owner’s agent claiming the towed vehicle the First Tow reduced administrative fee only if the vehicle has not previously been towed by the SFPD or SFMTA while registered to its current owner. The SFMTA shall charge the renter of the towed vehicle the First Tow reduced administrative fee only if the SFPD or SFMTA has not previously towed any vehicle registered to or rented by the renter of the towed vehicle.

(B) The SFMTA shall waive the administrative fee, any applicable dolly fee, any applicable lien fees, and the storage fees that would otherwise accrue during the first 24 hours and up to 14 consecutive calendar days thereafter that the vehicle is stored, and instead apply the Low Income Tow Fee only if the registered owner or renter of the towed vehicle (1) establishes his or her participation in an eligible program for low income families or individuals, (2) establishes that his or her annual household income is less than or equal to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and (3) removes the vehicle from impound. The SFMTA shall publish the list of eligible low income programs on its website.

(C) The SFMTA shall waive the administrative fee, any applicable dolly fee, any applicable lien fees, and the storage fees that would otherwise accrue during the first 24 hours and up to 14 consecutive calendar days thereafter that the vehicle is stored, and instead grant a One-Time Tow Fee Waiver for People Certified as Experiencing Homelessness only if the registered owner or renter of the towed vehicle (1) provides certification from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, (2) has not previously been granted the One-Time Tow Fee Waiver for People Certified as Experiencing Homelessness, and (3) removes the vehicle from impound.

(D) The reduced fees and waivers provided under subsections (A), (B), or (C) above shall not be available to either a registered owner of a towed vehicle or a registered owner’s agent claiming a towed vehicle if the towed vehicle’s registered owner is a business, including but not limited to a partnership, trust, for-profit corporation, or non-profit corporation.

(E) A renter of the towed vehicle shall be eligible for the reduced fees and waivers provided under subsections (A), (B), and (C) only if the towed vehicle’s rental agreement identifies the renter as the vehicle’s driver.

(2) The SFMTA shall charge the purchaser of a towed vehicle sold at a lien sale the following fees related to the sale:

Auction Sales Service Fees (Based on vehicle sale amount)
Fee Type	Fee Amount Effective July 1, 2020	Fee Amount Effective July 1, 2021

$0 - $249.99	$45	$45
$250 - $499.99	$75	$75
$500 - $999.99	$150	$150
$1,000 - $1,499.99	$250	$250
$1,500 - $1,999.99	$350	$350
$2,000 - $2,499.99	$450	$450
$2,500 - $4,999.99	$750	$750
$5,000 and above	$1,000	$1,000

(b) Reimbursement and Waiver of Towing and Storage Fees.

(1) Any fees charged or authorized under subsection (a) in connection with the towing, storage, or lien of vehicles towed from the public right-of-way, public property, or private property may be waived for, or reimbursed to, the registered or legal owner of the vehicle if the fees were incurred:

(A) Because the vehicle was towed or stored by order of the Police Department to examine the vehicle for evidence of a crime;

(B) Because the vehicle was towed or stored by order of the Police Department or the SFMTA and said towing or storage was not authorized by state or local law;

(C) Because the Police Department or the SFMTA erroneously reported, filed, or recorded the circumstances of the towing or storage of the vehicle; or

(D) Because the vehicle was towed or stored by order of the Police Department or the SFMTA for removal of components of the vehicle, which components were placed on the vehicle in violation of Section 10751 of the Vehicle Code.

(2) Upon verifiable proof that the vehicle was reported stolen before it was towed, or upon a determination by the Police Department that the vehicle was stolen, and if the vehicle owner is an individual, the SFMTA shall waive for, or reimburse to, the registered or legal owner:

(A) The administrative, towing, and lien fees established in subsection (a), above; and

(B) The storage fees that would otherwise accrue during the first 24 hours and two consecutive calendar days thereafter that the vehicle is stored.

(3) Neither the waivers nor reimbursements of fees available under subsection (b)(2) above for stolen vehicles shall be available if the towed vehicle’s registered owner is a business, including but not limited to a partnership, for-profit corporation, or non-profit corporation, or if the registered owner rents the towed vehicle to other persons as part of a peer-to-peer, person-to-person, or other social car sharing enterprise.

(c) Prohibition on Waiver and Reimbursement of Towing and Storage Fees. No reimbursement or waiver shall be made to the registered or legal owner of a vehicle pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b)(1) or (2), above, if:

(1) The owner or person in lawful possession of the vehicle is chargeable with violation of any law of the City and County of San Francisco, the State of California, or the United States, and said charge relates to the towing and storage of the vehicle or the removal of component parts thereof; or

(2) Reimbursement or waiver is requested pursuant to subsections (b)(1)(B) or (b)(1)(C), above, and the City’s error in ordering, reporting, filing or recording the tow is attributable, in part, to the conduct of the registered owner, legal owner, or one in lawful possession of the vehicle; or

(3) The registered or legal owner of the vehicle, including a firm or corporation that owns vehicles used for commercial purposes, cannot show evidence of financial responsibility for said vehicle as required by Section 16020 of the California Vehicle Code.

(d) Application for Reimbursement or Waiver.

(1) Requests for reimbursement of partial or full fees by individuals eligible for the reduced fees or waivers provided under Section 305 must be presented to the Director of the SFMTA or his or her designee, on a form provided therefor, within 30 days of payment of the full fees. The Director, or his or her designee, may, in his or her sole discretion, extend this deadline for good cause shown.

(2) Requests for reimbursement or waiver shall be itemized, describing all circumstances known to the requesting party. The Director of the SFMTA or his or her designee may request such additional information as necessary to determine the legitimacy of the request for reimbursement or waiver.

(3) All requests for reimbursement or waiver shall be made under penalty of perjury.

(4) The amount of the requested reimbursement or waiver shall not exceed the actual fees charged to the individual or entity requesting reimbursement or waiver.

(e) Prosecution of Person Responsible. No request for reimbursement or waiver shall be considered by the Director of the SFMTA or his or her designee unless and until the person requesting reimbursement or waiver agrees in writing that said person will fully cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of any person or persons responsible for any violation of law giving rise to the request for reimbursement or waiver.

(f) Subrogation. Whenever reimbursement or waiver is made pursuant to this Section 305, the City and County of San Francisco is subrogated to all rights and privileges, at law or equity, of the person, or his or her heirs or assigns, to whom payment was made to recover any monies, from any source whatsoever, due to the person requesting reimbursement or waiver arising from the activity that caused the fees to be incurred.

(g) Procedures. The Director of Transportation may establish such procedures as he or she deems appropriate to facilitate the waiver and reimbursement of towing and storage fees, and the reduction of administrative fees, in accordance with this Section 305.

(SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 08-151, 8/19/2008; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 5/3/2011, Eff. 6/3/2011, Oper. 7/1/2011; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 4/17/2012, Oper. 7/1/2012; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 4/15/2014, Eff. 5/16/2014, Oper. 7/1/2014; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 8/18/2015, Eff. 9/18/2015, Oper. 12/1/2015; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 2/16/2016, Eff. 3/18/2016, Oper. 4/1/2016; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 3/15/2016, Eff. 4/15/2016, Retro. 4/1/2016; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 4/5/2016, Eff. 5/6/2016, Oper. 7/1/2016; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 6/6/2017, Eff. 7/7/2017; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 4/3/2018, Eff. 5/4/2018, Oper. 7/1/2018; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 180515-079, Ad. 5/15/2018, Eff. 6/15/2018, Oper. 7/1/2018; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 200421-043, Ad. 4/21/2020, Eff. 5/22/2020, Oper. 7/1/2020*; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. , Ad. 6/30/2020, Eff. 7/31/2020, Oper. 8/1/2020)

*Editor’s Note:

The operative date of the amendments adopted by Res. No. 200421-043 was altered by Section 2 of Res. No. .