Driving without a license is against the law in California and one of the penalties is that if you are caught operating a vehicle without a valid license is that the law enforcement officer can impound the vehicle for 30 days.

Sections 14602.6 and 14607.6 of the California Vehicle Code both deal with reasons a car may be impounded. Section 14602.6 deals with drivers with suspended, revoked or unlicensed drivers and vehicle impoundment.

Under this section of CA law it states that whenever a peace officer determines that a person was driving a vehicle while his or her driving privilege was suspended or revoked, driving a vehicle while his or her driving privilege is restricted and the vehicle is not equipped with a functioning, certified interlock device, or driving a vehicle without ever having been issued a driver’s license, the peace officer may either immediately arrest that person and cause the removal and seizure of that vehicle or, if the vehicle is involved in a traffic collision, cause the removal and seizure of the vehicle without the necessity of arresting the person. A vehicle so impounded shall be impounded for 30 days.

Under section 14607.6 it does state under certain circumstances the police officer can exercise discretion in the situation about whether to impound the auto or not. So while some officers may allow a licensed passenger to drive the vehicle home it is also within the law that the car can be impounded if the officer decides to go ahead and do so.

If your car was impounded you will be able to pick it up after the 30 days. If you are the owner of the car you there will be required payment of towing and storage charges related to the impoundment, and any administrative charges. If you are not the owner of the vehicle then the owner may be able to get the car out of impound earlier under certain circumstances. The police or impoundment area should be able to give you more information.