§ 488.385.To Attach Vehicle Or Vessel, Mobilehome Or Commercial Coach Which Is Equipment of Going Business
Title 6.5. Attachment · Chapter 8. Levy Procedures; Lien of Attachment; Management and Disposition of Attached Property · Article 2. Methods of Levy · Last amended 2004 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 488.385 attaches a vehicle, vessel, mobilehome, or commercial coach that is equipment of a going business by having the levying officer file a notice of attachment with the DMV or the Housing and Community Development department, for a $15 fee, rather than physically seizing the vehicle.
(a)To attach a vehicle or vessel for which a certificate of ownership has been issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or a mobilehome or commercial coach for which a certificate of title has been issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is equipment of a going business in the possession or under the control of the defendant, the levying officer shall file with the appropriate department a notice of attachment, in the form prescribed by the appropriate department, which shall contain all of the following:
(1)The name and mailing address of the plaintiff.
(2)The name and last known mailing address of the defendant.
(3)The title of the court where the action is pending and the cause and number of the action.
(4)A description of the specific property attached.
(5)A statement that the plaintiff has acquired an attachment lien on the specific property of the defendant.
(b)Upon presentation of a notice of attachment, notice of extension, or notice of release under this section for filing and tender of the filing fee to the appropriate department, the notice shall be filed and indexed. The fee for filing and indexing the notice is fifteen dollars ($15).
(c)Upon the request of any person, the department shall issue its certificate showing whether there is on file in that department on the date and hour stated therein any notice of attachment filed against the property of a particular person named in the request. If a notice of attachment is on file, the certificate shall state the date and hour of filing of each such notice of attachment and any notice affecting any such notice of attachment and the name and address of the plaintiff. The fee for the certificate issued pursuant to this subdivision is fifteen dollars ($15). Upon request, the department shall furnish a copy of any notice of attachment or notice affecting a notice of attachment for a fee of one dollar ($1) per page.
(d)If property subject to an attachment lien under this section becomes a fixture (as defined in paragraph (41) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code), the attachment lien under this section is extinguished.
Plain-English Summary
Vehicles used as business equipment get their own filing method, parallel to § 488.375 but routed through the agency that issues the relevant title document — the DMV for a vehicle or vessel with a certificate of ownership, or the Department of Housing and Community Development for a mobilehome or commercial coach with a certificate of title. The levying officer files a notice on the agency's prescribed form containing the same core information as § 488.375's notice, for a $15 filing fee, and anyone may request a $15 certificate confirming whether a notice is on file.
As with equipment generally, the lien created under this section is extinguished if the vehicle later becomes a fixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a business vehicle attached under California law?
Section 488.385 has the levying officer file a notice of attachment with the DMV (for vehicles and vessels) or the Department of Housing and Community Development (for mobilehomes and commercial coaches), for a $15 fee.
Is this the same method used to attach an ordinary consumer vehicle?
No. Section 488.385 applies specifically to a vehicle, vessel, mobilehome, or commercial coach that is equipment of a going business; § 488.425 addresses vehicles whose certificate of ownership or title is still in effect more generally.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:attaching business vehicle california levydmv notice of attachment feeccp 488.385 vehicle equipment of going business