After a Lancaster car accident, you may leave the scene in an ambulance, get a ride home, or simply be too shaken up to pay attention to where your damaged vehicle is going. Later, one practical question becomes urgent: How do I find my car?
If you are wondering how to find your towed car after a crash in Lancaster, California, your first step is to determine which law enforcement agency handled the collision. That matters because vehicles towed at the direction of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station and California Highway Patrol (CHP) can follow different procedures.
The good news is that Lancaster provides specific information to help you locate your vehicle.
How to Find My Towed Car in Lancaster, California
Start by identifying the agency that responded to your accident. Within the City of Lancaster, law enforcement services are provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Lancaster Sheriff’s Station is located at 501 W.
Lancaster Boulevard, Lancaster, CA 93534, and its phone number is (661) 948-8466. Its lobby is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If your accident occurred on a freeway or in certain unincorporated areas, CHP may have handled it instead. The Antelope Valley CHP office is located at 2041 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536, and can be reached at (661) 743-6060.
The Antelope Valley CHP patrol area includes approximately 30 miles of State Route 14 between Acton and the Kern County line, as well as State Route 138 and extensive unincorporated roads throughout the Antelope Valley.
That distinction is particularly relevant in Lancaster. A collision on a city street may involve the Sheriff’s Department, while a wreck on SR-14 may involve CHP.
When calling, have your license plate number, VIN if available, vehicle make and model, and the approximate location and time of your accident ready.
Where Does the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Tow Cars?
This is where Lancaster-specific information can save you considerable searching. According to the City of Lancaster, vehicles impounded or stored by LASD within the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station patrol area are taken to one of three contracted tow yards:
Clark & Howard Towing
42429 3rd Street East
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 940-8112*
Sierra Automotive & Towing
45813 Division Street
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 945-4521*
All Wayz Towing
42422 8th Street East
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 948-6200
The City lists these facilities specifically as contracted tow yards for vehicles impounded or stored by LASD within the Lancaster Station patrol area. Because towing contracts, contact information, and procedures can change, confirm your vehicle’s location with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station before traveling to a tow yard.
*The City’s published contact information should be confirmed when calling, as separate current business listings may show different telephone numbers for these facilities.
What If CHP Towed My Car After a Lancaster Accident?
If CHP responded to your collision, do not assume your vehicle went to one of the three Lancaster Sheriff’s Station tow yards. The City of Lancaster specifically warns that CHP contracts with several tow yards throughout the Antelope Valley. It recommends obtaining the tow yard’s name, address, and phone number from CHP.
The Antelope Valley CHP office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Do I Need a Release Before Getting My Car?
Possibly. If the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station had your vehicle towed after an accident, first determine whether it was classified as “stored” or “impounded.” LASD policy states that the Department does not issue release instructions for a stored vehicle.
Instead, the tow company is authorized to release the vehicle to the person it determines is entitled to possession. An impounded vehicle is different: if a hold remains on the vehicle, the owner may need to work with the investigating unit before it can be released.
The owner should be prepared to provide valid government-issued identification, and proof of current vehicle registration or a temporary operating permit may also be required.
If CHP ordered the tow, the process is different. The City directs owners to the Antelope Valley CHP station and states that CHP does not charge a vehicle-release fee.
Call the relevant agency before going in person to verify the current requirements.
What Should I Do Once I Find My Towed Car?
Finding the vehicle solves the immediate mystery, but you still need to protect yourself financially after the accident. Contact your insurance company and give the adjuster the tow yard’s information. Ask whether the insurer wants the vehicle inspected at the yard or moved elsewhere.
If possible, photograph the vehicle before it is repaired, transferred, sold, or disposed of. Take pictures from multiple angles and document both exterior and interior damage. If you have belongings inside the vehicle, ask the tow yard what you need to retrieve them.
Keep copies of towing and storage paperwork as well.
Under California law, a facility charging towing or storage fees must provide an itemized invoice of the actual charges before receiving payment. The statute also provides for towing and storage fees and an access notice containing information about a vehicle owner’s rights.
Storage charges can accumulate, so dealing with the vehicle promptly may prevent an already difficult situation from becoming more expensive.
Your Towed Car May Be Only One Part of the Problem
A serious Lancaster collision can leave you dealing with much more than finding your vehicle.
You may have medical bills, missed work, rental-car expenses, property damage, and an insurance company asking questions before you fully understand what happened.
The accident location can also affect which agencies and records are involved. A collision handled by the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station may follow a different path than one investigated by Antelope Valley CHP on SR-14 or another highway.
Once you have learned “how to find my towed car,” it is worth thinking about the bigger picture: Who caused the collision, what losses have you suffered, and who should ultimately be responsible for them?
Talk to a Lancaster Car Accident Lawyer
You should not have to become an expert on tow yards, insurance claims, medical bills, and California injury law just because another driver caused an accident.
The Law Offices of Steers & Associates has a Lancaster office, giving injured people in the Antelope Valley a local place to turn for help after a collision.
If you were injured because of another driver’s negligence, a Lancaster car accident lawyer at Steers & Associates can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you deal with the insurance and injury-claim process.
Contact the Law Offices of Steers & Associates for a free consultation about your Lancaster car accident. Once you know where your vehicle is, you can turn your attention to what matters next: protecting your rights and moving forward.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Lancaster Sheriff’s Station
- Antelope Valley CHP
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Manual of Policy and Procedures, § 5-01/090.00 – Release of Stored and Impounded Vehicles
- California Vehicle Code § 22651.07 – Removal of parked or abandoned vehicles
