California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 2415

(a) If the owner or other person entitled to the possession thereof fails to claim the property within six months and pay the charges, the department may sell it to the highest bidder at public auction at the place where the same may be held or stored, having first caused notice of sale to be given at least five days before the time fixed therefor, by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the sale is to be held.

(b) Any excess in the proceeds of the sale after paying such charges and expenses of sale including but not limited to the costs of advertising and a fee of not exceeding ten dollars ($10) to be charged by the department for making the sale shall be deposited in the State Treasury in the special deposit fund as money remaining unclaimed in the hands of the department.

(c) On payment of the price bid for the property sold, the delivery of the property with the commissioner's bill of sale vests title in the purchaser.

(d) In any case where there is no bid offered for the property, or if the highest bid offered does not exceed the charges for saving, holding, and storage and the expenses of sale, the same shall become the property of the department as compensation for expenses incurred.