First: people, then the car
If anyone may be hurt, call 911. If police are at the scene, follow their directions about moving the car. For the reports and deadlines after a crash, see what happens next and how to get an Oakland police report.
Drive it or tow it?
Drive the car only if it is safe to. Have it towed instead if warning lights are on, fluid is leaking, a wheel or tire is damaged or rubbing, lights don't work, an airbag deployed, or you are hurt or too shaken to drive.
If you arrange the tow yourself or through your insurer, write down the tow company's name, its phone number and where the car is going, and ask how storage is charged. Towing and road service is coverage you may have chosen to buy on your own policy; it isn't required [2].
Finding a car that was towed in Oakland
The City of Oakland's Towed Vehicles page links to an online lookup where you enter a license plate or VIN, and lists a phone number for the same check [1]. If a tow company that you or your insurer called took the car, ask that company or your insurer where it is.
Getting it back
- The City says you pay the towing and storage fees directly to the tow company [1].
- If the car was towed for parking tickets, you pay your City of Oakland tickets, and you may need to pay tickets from other California cities. The City says there are no payment plans for towed vehicles [1].
- If the car was stolen and then towed, the City says to call the OPD Records Division at (510) 238-3021, a line it says is answered around the clock, to confirm, and to get a release form at the Police Administration Building, 455 7th Street, Room 306, with a valid driver's license and proof that you are the registered owner [1].
- If you believe it was towed in error, the City says its Administrative Hearing Examiner may waive the fees: 510-238-4484 [1].
- For other questions, the City lists (800) 500-6484, with help in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin [1].
Choosing a body shop: it's your choice
In California, an insurer may not require that your car be repaired at a specific shop [3]. An insurer also may not suggest or recommend a specific shop unless you ask for a referral or it has told you in writing that you have the right to choose [3]. The Department of Insurance puts it plainly: the adjuster may refer you to a body shop, or you may choose your own [2].
Whichever shop you pick, get a written estimate, ask what kind of replacement parts will be used and what warranty comes with the repair, and keep a copy of everything you sign. This page doesn't recommend any shop.
A rental car while yours is in the shop
- Your own policy pays for a rental only if you bought rental reimbursement coverage. The Department of Insurance describes it as optional coverage that pays for a rental while your car is repaired after a covered accident [2].
- If the other driver was at fault, their property damage liability coverage pays for damage they caused to your car [2]. Whether that claim also covers a rental, and for how long, is a question to put to that driver's insurer, in writing.
- If the other driver had no insurance, uninsured motorist property damage coverage, if you have it, pays up to $3,500 for damage to your car, and only if the uninsured driver is identified [2].
Your policy and your claim decide the final answer. For who may pay for your medical care after a crash, use the who-pays tool.
If you were hurt
The car is only part of it. Get examined as soon as you can. An early, dated exam starts your record from the beginning.
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.
Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions, with Dr. Ben Glass and Dr. Irina Velichko, in English, Spanish or Russian. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients.
Ask for a call back
Leave a first name and number. We'll call you back within 30 minutes during clinic hours; outside clinic hours, first thing the next morning.
Questions
How do I find out where my car was towed in Oakland?
Do I have to use the body shop my insurance company picks?
Who pays for a rental car after a crash?
Related pages
Sources
- City of Oakland, "Towed Vehicles". Read October 6, 2026.
- California Department of Insurance, "Automobile Insurance" guide (Form 101, revised February 5, 2025). Read October 6, 2026.
- California Insurance Code § 758.5. Read October 6, 2026.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Rules, fees and phone numbers can change; check the official page before you rely on them.