B&D Towing San Diego: Impound Lot Hours, Fees & Recovery

B&D Towing's yard on Marlesta Place sits in the South Bay industrial corridor near the I-5 / SR-905 interchange and is a frequent contracted lot for South Bay and central San Diego enforcement tows. The address, phone, hours, payment methods, and typical fees are all in the lot information card above. This guide covers the rest of the recovery process.

Where this lot is and how to get there

Marlesta Place is in the South Bay industrial area of San Diego, south of National City and north of San Ysidro, in the network of streets between I-5 and the bay. It's accessible by freeway from anywhere in the county but the immediate streets are industrial — no transit, no walkable services. Plan a ride.

Approximate access:

• From central San Diego: I-5 south to one of the South San Diego exits, then surface streets to Marlesta Pl.
• From Chula Vista / National City: Quick I-5 north hop.
• From East County: SR-94 west to I-5 south, or I-805 south.
• From the coast: I-5 south the entire way.

Plan to arrive at least 90 minutes before posted office close so you have time for paperwork, payment, inspection, and a possible second tow.

What to bring

• Government-issued photo ID
• Current vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance for the impounded vehicle
• The case or tow ticket number from the impounding agency
• Cash and a backup card for the full balance
• Lien holder authorization letter if the car is leased or financed
• Notarized power of attorney if you're not the registered owner

Step-by-step at the gate

1. Confirm your car is at B&D before driving

   Call the impounding agency (SDPD non-emergency 619-531-2000, CHP 1-800-TELL-CHP, or the city PD that ordered the tow). Then call B&D directly to confirm.

2. Walk in with all documents

   Photo ID, registration, insurance, case number, payment. Don't make two trips.

3. Read the invoice carefully

   Compare every charge to the lot's posted rate sheet (CVC 22850.5 requires public posting). Question discrepancies before paying.

4. Pay under protest if you suspect a wrongful tow

   Write "paid under protest" on every receipt. This preserves your right to recover later.

5. Inspect the vehicle (CVC 22852.5)

   Walk around with your phone camera open. Photograph everything. Note any damage on the paperwork before signing.

6. Try to start the car before leaving the lot

   If it doesn't start, see the next section before doing anything else.

What if your car won't start at this lot?

This is the recovery problem most people don't plan for, and it happens at B&D as often as anywhere else. The reasons are familiar:

• Dead battery from parasitic drain. Cars sitting 4+ days commonly arrive at the gate with a dead battery. Older batteries die in 48 hours.
• Unresolved original problem. A car that broke down before being towed didn't fix itself in the storage yard.
• Tow damage. Improper hookup, especially on AWD/4WD vehicles, can cause new mechanical issues.
• Flat tires. Slow leaks worsen during storage.

Your bad options:

• Limping it home is dangerous. South Bay freeways at rush hour are not where you want to discover the problem isn't fixed.
• Leaving it at B&D to "deal with tomorrow" costs you another full day of storage fees.
• Strap-towing with a friend's truck is illegal under CVC 21712 in most freeway scenarios.

Your good option: dispatch a flatbed from B&D directly to your mechanic. Call the 24/7 San Diego tow company at the number in the box on this page. Tell the dispatcher you're at B&D Towing on Marlesta Place, your car won't start, and where you want it taken. They'll meet you at the lot in about 25–35 minutes. One tow, one bill.

What if you need it taken to a mechanic anyway?

Even if the car starts and seems to run, an immediate flatbed to your mechanic is often the smart move — for a post-impound inspection, to address whatever caused the original tow, or to check for tow damage (especially on AWD/4WD vehicles). Same number, same dispatch.

Common impound reasons that send cars here

B&D Towing handles a mix of police tows from SDPD and surrounding agencies. Common reasons cars end up here:

• Street sweeping enforcement under CVC 22651(n)
• Expired registration over six months under CVC 22651(o)
• DUI mandatory 30-day hold under CVC 14602.6
• Unlicensed driver impound under CVC 14602.6 / 14607.6
• Driver arrested at scene under CVC 22651(h)
• Five or more unpaid parking citations under CVC 22651(i)
• Accident scene tows when the vehicle is undrivable
• 72-hour abandonment under CVC 22651(k)
• Blocking driveways, fire lanes, or red zones under CVC 22500.1 / 22651
• Private property tows under CVC 22658 — apartment complex, shopping center, or HOA tows

How to dispute charges

If the tow was wrongful or charges look inflated:

• Request a post-storage hearing within 10 days of the tow under CVC 22852.
• Compare every line of your invoice to B&D's posted rate sheet under CVC 22850.5.
• Document procedural defects — missing storage notice, refused inspection, inflated daily count.
• For wrongful private-property tows under CVC 22658, you may be entitled to up to twice the tow and storage charges in damages under CVC 22658(l). See car towed without permission for the small claims playbook.

Bottom line

B&D Towing is a routine recovery if you bring the right documents and act fast. The trap is the car-won't-start moment at the gate — plan for it. The number in the box on this page is one tap away from a flatbed to your mechanic, and timing the call right means the truck arrives at the same moment you walk out with your keys.