The legal owner must give you 15 days written notice before they can sell or otherwise dispose of your vehicle. Repossession is lawful only when the written contract for the purchase or lease of the vehicle states that the creditor has the right to repossess the vehicle.In some cases, this notice may take several days to come. The first step is to fill out an FTC Fraud Affidavit, from the Federal Trade Commission website. Attorney specializing in California car repossession law. Learn about your California rights after a repossession and how to get your repossessed car back. Within a few days you should get a Notice of Intent to Sell Repossessed Vehicle in the mail. In California, a vehicle can be repossessed if the borrower fails to meet their loan obligations or fails to make insurance payments. How the Car Repossession Process Works. There is no specific regulation on the amount of the storage fee.