AB-987
Consumer Protection

Vehicles: storage and towing.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands consumer protections by prohibiting excessive towing and storage fees for vehicles.
  • Prohibits charging extra storage fees on state holidays beyond standard daily rates.
  • Bans towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies.
  • Limits storage fees to 50% when vehicles are recovered within four hours.

Summary

Assembly Member Sharp-Collins proposes new limits on vehicle towing and storage fees through amendments to California's Vehicle Code that expand protections for vehicle owners while maintaining existing fee structures for law enforcement-initiated tows.

The legislation adds several categories to the list of presumptively unreasonable charges, including storage fees for state holidays that exceed standard daily rates and towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies. The amendments also classify as unreasonable various administrative costs such as security fees, dolly fees, load/unload fees, and pull-out fees. Gate fees remain permissible only when vehicle release is requested outside normal business hours, defined as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For vehicles recovered within four hours, storage facilities may not charge more than 50% of their daily rate. The amendments maintain current provisions allowing storage fees during the first 15 days of possession and, beyond that period, only after three days have elapsed following written notification to the legal owner. Towing companies that remove vehicles during emergencies receive liability protection for good faith actions, though this protection excludes cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 987 Sharp-Collins Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 9 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

LaShae Sharp-Collins
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Laurie Davies
Laurie DaviesR
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/19/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 8, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130013PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands consumer protections by prohibiting excessive towing and storage fees for vehicles.
  • Prohibits charging extra storage fees on state holidays beyond standard daily rates.
  • Bans towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies.
  • Limits storage fees to 50% when vehicles are recovered within four hours.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

LaShae Sharp-Collins
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Laurie Davies
Laurie DaviesR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Sharp-Collins proposes new limits on vehicle towing and storage fees through amendments to California's Vehicle Code that expand protections for vehicle owners while maintaining existing fee structures for law enforcement-initiated tows.

The legislation adds several categories to the list of presumptively unreasonable charges, including storage fees for state holidays that exceed standard daily rates and towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies. The amendments also classify as unreasonable various administrative costs such as security fees, dolly fees, load/unload fees, and pull-out fees. Gate fees remain permissible only when vehicle release is requested outside normal business hours, defined as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For vehicles recovered within four hours, storage facilities may not charge more than 50% of their daily rate. The amendments maintain current provisions allowing storage fees during the first 15 days of possession and, beyond that period, only after three days have elapsed following written notification to the legal owner. Towing companies that remove vehicles during emergencies receive liability protection for good faith actions, though this protection excludes cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/19/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 987 Sharp-Collins Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 8, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130013PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 9 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member