Jail Inmate Notary
We travel to Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers, Pitchess, and other Southern California facilities to notarize vehicle release authorization letters — so a family member or friend can retrieve an impounded car from an LAPD Official Police Garage, LASD contract tow yard, CHP impound lot, or city PD impound while the registered owner is still in custody.
A Vehicle Release Authorization Letter is a notarized statement from the incarcerated vehicle owner authorizing a specific outside person to retrieve their car from an impound lot. It is one of the most common notarizations we handle at Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers, and Pitchess. Impound storage fees accumulate every single day — a notarized release letter, delivered inside 24–48 hours, is often the fastest way to stop the meter and get the car home.
What this page covers
When an arrest results in a vehicle being towed — a traffic-stop arrest, a 30-day mandatory impound for driving on a suspended license, or a vehicle held briefly as evidence — the registered owner ends up in custody while their car sits at an Official Police Garage, LASD contract tow yard, or CHP impound lot. Storage fees start immediately and continue to accrue daily. A notarized vehicle release authorization letter lets a designated family member or friend take possession of the car on the owner's behalf, without waiting for release or bail. We travel to the facility, clear security, verify the inmate's identity, and notarize the release letter — usually in the same visit as any related documents like a power of attorney or affidavit.
Common impound scenarios
The driver is stopped, arrested at the scene, and the vehicle is towed to an LAPD Official Police Garage or the local LASD contract tow yard. The car cannot simply be left at the roadside. Once the driver is booked into Men's Central Jail or Twin Towers, the only way to retrieve the vehicle without waiting for their release is a notarized authorization letter naming a family member.
Under California Vehicle Code 14602.6, a vehicle is held for 30 days when the driver is arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license — or without ever having been licensed. The car cannot be released during the hold, but families use the incarceration window to get the release letter notarized so the authorized person can pick the car up the moment the 30 days end.
Following a DUI arrest, the vehicle is typically towed and held pending investigation or the mandatory hold period. Even after the criminal case is underway, the registered owner remains in custody and cannot personally sign for release at the tow yard counter. A notarized authorization letter transfers that ability to a designated family member.
A vehicle held as evidence in an investigation is eventually cleared and made available for release — but only to the registered owner or their authorized agent. If the owner is still in custody at Pitchess or Twin Towers when the hold clears, a notarized release letter lets the family retrieve the car promptly and stop the storage clock.
What the letter must contain
Exactly as it appears on the vehicle registration and on the inmate's ID. This is the person granting the authorization. If the vehicle is co-registered, both owners generally need to sign — call ahead so we know how many notarial acts to prepare for.
The Vehicle Identification Number is the tow yard's primary identifier. Include the license plate along with year, make, and model so the counter can match the letter to the vehicle in their system before releasing it.
The full legal name of the person granted permission to pick up the vehicle. That person will present their own government-issued photo ID at the tow yard counter — the ID does not need to be listed on the letter itself, but the name on the letter must match the ID exactly.
The owner dates and signs the letter in front of the notary. We attach a California all-purpose acknowledgment certificate, complete the notarial wording, and apply our official seal. Do not sign in advance — the signature must occur in the notary's presence.
How it works
Before drafting the letter, call the impound lot to confirm they accept a notarized third-party release letter and to ask whether they also require their own preprinted form. LAPD OPGs sometimes require both — a notarized letter from the incarcerated owner plus LAPD's Vehicle Release form completed at the counter by the authorized person.
Download our fillable template or use one provided by the tow yard. Fill in the registered owner's name, the vehicle (year, make, model, plate, VIN), and the authorized person's full legal name. Leave the date and signature blank — the inmate signs in front of the notary. Text a photo of the completed draft to us at (213) 933‑2507 so we can review it before we travel.
We submit a professional visit clearance with the facility. Because storage fees accrue daily, we treat impound release requests as time-sensitive and communicate that urgency when we submit. Most LA County jails process clearance within 24–48 hours.
At the facility, we clear security and verify the inmate's identity using a government-issued photo ID or facility booking records. The inmate reviews the letter, then signs in front of us. The signature must occur in the notary's presence — do not have them sign anything in advance.
We complete the notarial acknowledgment, apply our seal, and record the act in the notary journal. The signed and notarized letter is returned to the authorized family member, who takes it (with their own ID) to the tow yard or OPG counter to retrieve the vehicle.
Preparation checklist
Impound facilities we see most often
LAPD contracts with a network of numbered Official Police Garages across the city — OPG 1 through OPG 21+. Vehicles towed by LAPD following a traffic-stop arrest downtown often end up at OPGs near the arresting division. LAPD generally requires both a notarized authorization letter from the incarcerated owner and completion of LAPD's Vehicle Release form at the counter by the authorized person.
Vehicles towed by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies — including at unincorporated areas and cities LASD serves under contract — go to LASD-authorized tow yards. Most accept a notarized third-party release letter directly. Confirm with the specific tow yard before scheduling the notary visit.
California Highway Patrol arrests on freeways typically result in the vehicle being towed to a CHP-authorized impound lot. Notarized release letters are commonly accepted; some CHP offices may direct the authorized person to complete additional paperwork on site.
Arrests by city police departments outside LAPD's jurisdiction — Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and others — send vehicles to the respective city's contract tow yards. Each has its own paperwork preference; a notarized third-party release letter is almost always part of what's required when the owner cannot appear.
Vehicle release letter FAQ
A notarized statement from the registered owner of a vehicle authorizing a specific person — usually a family member or friend — to retrieve the vehicle from an impound lot, tow yard, or Official Police Garage on the owner's behalf. Most common when the owner cannot appear in person because they are incarcerated after an arrest that resulted in the car being towed.
A power of attorney is broad and grants an agent authority across many categories. A vehicle release letter is narrow — it authorizes one specific person to retrieve one specific vehicle from one specific impound. Most tow yards and OPGs accept a notarized release letter without requiring a full POA. If the family also needs to sell the car or handle DMV paperwork, a notarized POA is the correct instrument — we can notarize both in the same jail visit.
LAPD Official Police Garages, LASD contract tow yards, CHP impound lots, and most city police department impound facilities across Southern California accept notarized release letters when the registered owner cannot appear in person. LAPD has its own preprinted Vehicle Release form — the notarized letter typically supplements that form. Always call the specific tow yard or OPG before scheduling the jail visit to confirm what they will accept.
Full legal name of the registered owner, year/make/model of the vehicle, license plate, VIN, full legal name of the authorized person, and the date and owner's signature. The owner signs at the bottom in front of the notary. Download our fillable PDF template — or use one provided by the tow yard.
California Vehicle Code 14602.6 authorizes a 30-day mandatory impound when a driver is arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, or without ever having been licensed. The vehicle cannot be released during those 30 days — even to the registered owner. A notarized release letter is still worth preparing during the hold so the authorized person can pick up the car immediately once the 30 days end. Storage fees continue to accrue every day.
Most LA County jails clear professional visit requests within 24–48 hours. Because impound storage fees accumulate daily, we treat vehicle release visits as time-sensitive. Call or text (213) 933‑2507 with the facility name, inmate's full booking name and booking number, and a photo of the drafted release letter, and we will submit the clearance request the same day when possible.
Client feedback
“Shawn was absolutely wonderful to work with. Organized, exactly on time, a good conversationalist and very efficient. I would use him for all of my Notary needs.”
“Second time using this company. Shawn is awesome — highly recommend, my go to for Notary needs.”
“Shawn was very quick, thorough, friendly and professional. I'd definitely call him for services again!”
“Shawn provided excellent service and was very detailed and professional. I would definitely recommend him to my friends and family.”
“Shawn was the best. Quick, efficient and funny! Yayyyyy Shawn.”
“I found Mobile American Notary during a stressful, last-minute situation and couldn't have asked for better service. He was mobile, came to me, brought his own laptop and printer, and handled everything on the spot — even after hours. Since then, Shawn has always gone out of his way to fit me into his schedule. Reliable, flexible, and truly committed to helping his clients.”
Where these requests come from
Related jail notary services