California’s towing and lien-sale system can cost drivers far more than a car. Since 2016, the DMV has taken in over $8 million from roughly 5,300 auctioned vehicles—often including surplus funds the original owners could legally claim but were never told about. This video explains how that happens, who’s most affected (from low-income workers to people living in their cars), and the reforms advocates say are overdue—like mandatory owner notification and a simpler claims process.