How to Get a Car Out of Impound: Fees, Steps, and What to Know Before You Go

Getting a car out of impound is stressful, confusing, and expensive if you don’t know what to expect. The process varies by jurisdiction, but the core requirements are consistent: you need to prove you own the vehicle, address whatever caused the impound, and pay the accumulated fees. Move slowly and you’ll pay more — daily storage fees add up fast.

This guide covers how impound works, what it costs, what documents you need, and how to avoid common mistakes. This is part of the Used Car Buying Guide.

Why Cars Get Impounded

Understanding why a car was impounded determines what you need to resolve before getting it back:

Traffic violations: Driving without a license, DUI, excessive speed in some jurisdictions, or expired registration can result in impound at the officer’s discretion.

Abandoned vehicle: A vehicle left on public property for a defined period (typically 72 hours to several days) may be towed and impounded.

Outstanding warrants or unpaid tickets: In some cities, vehicles registered to owners with unpaid tickets or warrants are subject to impound through targeted enforcement programs.

Illegal parking: In dense urban areas, illegally parked vehicles — especially in tow-away zones during street cleaning — are towed to an impound lot.

Vehicle registered to a suspended driver: In many states, if the registered owner’s license is suspended and they’re caught driving, the vehicle can be held for a set period regardless of who owns it.

Police investigation: Vehicles involved in or near a crime scene may be held as evidence. Release in these cases requires coordination with law enforcement, not just the impound lot.

The resolution required depends on the reason. A parking tow is resolved by paying fees. A DUI hold may require a waiting period. An evidence hold requires law enforcement clearance. Know which situation you’re in before going to the lot.

What It Costs

Impound costs have two components: the initial tow fee and the daily storage fee.

Tow fee: $100–$250 in most jurisdictions. This is charged when the vehicle is brought in.

Daily storage fee: $25–$100 per day depending on city and lot. This accumulates every day the vehicle sits. A week in impound can easily add $200–$700 in storage on top of the tow fee.

Total example:

• Day 1: $150 tow + $50 storage = $200
• Day 4: $150 tow + $200 storage (4 days × $50) = $350
• Day 10: $150 tow + $500 storage = $650

Administrative fees: Some jurisdictions charge a release fee ($30–$75) separate from towing and storage.

Auction/lien sale risk: After a defined holding period — typically 15 to 30 days for registered owners, sometimes less for abandoned vehicles — impound lots in most states can begin the process of selling the vehicle at auction to recover their costs. If this process has started, you may owe auction preparation fees in addition to towing and storage.

Act as quickly as possible. Every day costs money, and delay increases the risk of the vehicle entering an auction pipeline.

What You Need to Get the Vehicle Released

Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but standard documents for release include:

Proof of ownership:

• Vehicle title in your name (most authoritative)
• Or current vehicle registration in your name
• Or both if the lot requires it

If you recently purchased the vehicle and don’t yet have title in your name, a bill of sale plus the signed-over title may be accepted, but this varies by impound lot and jurisdiction.

Photo ID: Government-issued ID matching the name on the ownership documents.

Proof of insurance: Most impound lots require proof of valid insurance before releasing the vehicle. If your insurance has lapsed, you may need to reinstate it before pickup.

Resolved underlying issue (if applicable):

• Unpaid tickets: May need to show payment receipt or court clearance
• Suspended license: The vehicle may still be released to someone else with a valid license, or after the mandatory hold period
• DUI hold: Some states mandate a 30-day hold regardless of other factors — paying fees won’t release the vehicle during this period

Payment: Cash is accepted at all impound lots; credit cards and debit cards are accepted at most. Personal checks are rarely accepted. Confirm accepted payment methods before arriving.

How to Find Your Car

If your car was towed and you’re not sure where it went:

1. Call local police or the non-emergency line — they maintain records of tows made under their authority
2. Call your city’s parking enforcement office — handles parking-related tows
3. Check online: Many major cities have tow lookup tools on their city websites. Search “[your city] tow lookup” or “[your city] impound lot”
4. Check the California tow portal (CA residents): California maintains a statewide abandoned vehicle search tool
5. Ask local tow companies: In smaller jurisdictions, a limited number of tow companies rotate city contracts — calling the main operators in your area often locates the vehicle quickly

The Release Process Step by Step

1. Locate the vehicle using the methods above
2. Call the impound lot to confirm hours, required documents, and accepted payment methods before making the trip
3. Resolve any mandatory holds (DUI, suspended license) before attempting pickup — you can’t talk your way past a legal hold period
4. Gather documents: Title or registration, valid ID, proof of insurance
5. Go to the lot during business hours — most impound lots operate on business hours only; some have reduced weekend hours
6. Pay fees — get an itemized receipt showing the tow fee, each daily storage fee, and any other charges
7. Inspect the vehicle before driving off — note any damage to the vehicle (dents, scratches, missing items) and photograph it before leaving the lot; disputing damage is much harder after you’ve driven away
8. Drive the vehicle home — ensure you have a valid driver’s license and valid insurance before driving off the lot

Disputing Fees

Impound fees are regulated in most jurisdictions and must follow published rate schedules. If you believe fees are incorrect:

• Request an itemized billing statement
• Compare charges against the posted rate schedule (required to be visible at the lot or available on request)
• Contact your city’s consumer affairs office or parking enforcement division if you believe overcharging occurred
• In egregious cases, small claims court is an option

Fee disputes are generally resolved before release — you typically can’t get the car back and dispute later. This makes the itemized receipt critical.

If You Can’t Afford to Get the Car Out

If accumulated fees exceed the vehicle’s value, you have options:

Voluntary release: You can sign the vehicle over to the impound lot, releasing yourself from the fees in exchange for surrendering the vehicle. Get any fee waiver in writing.

Negotiate: Some impound lots, particularly in jurisdictions with regulated fees, have provisions for financial hardship. Ask to speak with a manager — it costs nothing to ask.

Check for government assistance programs: Some cities have programs to reduce impound fees for low-income residents. Search for “[your city] impound fee waiver program.”

Act quickly: The longer a vehicle sits, the less leverage you have and the less the vehicle is worth relative to the accumulated fees.

Before Buying a Car, Check Its Impound History

If you’re buying a used car and want to know whether it’s been impounded, involved in legal holds, or has title complications from past ownership situations, run a Bumper VIN check before purchasing. A vehicle history report can surface title brandings, police records, and ownership patterns that suggest a complicated past.

Also make sure the vehicle has current registration before purchase — an unregistered vehicle is more likely to be impounded during a routine traffic stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my car out of impound? Locate the lot (call police non-emergency or check your city’s online tow lookup), then call ahead to confirm hours, required documents, and payment methods. Bring proof of ownership (title or registration), a valid photo ID, and proof of insurance. Resolve any mandatory holds first (DUI holds, suspended license holds) — these can’t be bypassed by payment. Pay the tow and storage fees, get an itemized receipt, and inspect the vehicle before driving away.

How much does it cost to get a car out of impound? Expect a tow fee of $100–$250 plus a daily storage fee of $25–$100. A car impounded for a week commonly runs $350–$900 total before any administrative fees. Costs vary by jurisdiction and are regulated in many cities — request the posted rate schedule if fees seem excessive.

What documents do I need to get a car out of impound? Typically: proof of ownership (vehicle title or current registration in your name), a valid government-issued photo ID, and proof of active insurance. If you recently purchased the vehicle and don’t yet have the title in your name, a notarized bill of sale may be accepted at some lots, but this varies by jurisdiction — call ahead to confirm.

What if I can’t afford to get my car out of impound? You have a few options: voluntarily surrender the vehicle to the lot in exchange for a fee waiver (get it in writing), negotiate directly with the lot manager, or check whether your city has an impound fee waiver program for low-income residents. If repair costs or fees exceed the vehicle’s value, voluntary surrender is often the most practical path.

How long does an impound lot hold a car before selling it? Most states require a minimum 15–30 day holding period for vehicles with registered owners before a lien sale or auction can occur. The lot must attempt to notify the registered owner during this period. After the holding period, the vehicle can be sold to recover costs.

Can someone else pick up my impounded car? In most jurisdictions, yes — a designated agent (someone with a notarized authorization letter, or a licensed tow company on your behalf) can retrieve a vehicle. Call the specific lot to confirm their policy.

Will my insurance cover impound fees? Standard auto insurance does not cover impound or storage fees. These are out-of-pocket costs. Some premium roadside assistance plans may cover limited towing costs, but not storage.

Do impound fees affect my credit? Unpaid impound fees don’t directly appear on credit reports. However, if a lot obtains a judgment against you for unpaid fees, that judgment can appear. In practice, most lots would prefer to sell the vehicle than pursue collections.

What if the impound lot damaged my car? Document damage immediately with photos before driving away. File a written claim with the impound lot and follow up with their insurance carrier. In some jurisdictions, lots are held to a “duty of care” standard for vehicles in their custody.

Run a Bumper VIN Check — Verify History Before You Buy →

Part of Used Car Buying Guide — The Used Car Buyer’s Ally