The Police Towed Your Car 2026 (What You Need to Know)

If the police towed your car, you will have to get it out of impoundment, which can be difficult and expensive. Cars may be towed by police for a number of reasons, from a lack of auto insurance to severe car damages after an accident.

If your car was towed by police, read on to learn about where your car goes when it gets towed, how to get your car out of impound, and what happens if you can’t afford to get your car out of impound. You need to act fast because the storage and towing fees are expensive, and the deadlines are short to retrieve your automobile before it’s sold or destroyed.

If you need help getting your car back after it was towed and impounded by the police, enter your ZIP code above to talk to a car accident attorney in your area.

Shopping around for multiple quotes can help you save. Enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool below to get started.

Reasons Why Police Tow Cars

What happens if your car is impounded by the police? There are a few things to consider before a car gets towed and impounded. In cases where you got into an accident and they found your car unfit to be driven, it would most likely be impounded due to safety reasons.

Why would a car be impounded after an accident? The driver may be suspected of a DUI or they don’t have a valid license or registration. The vehicle can be impounded if it’s blocking traffic or has outstanding warrants or fines. Check out the auto accident law if you need to connect with a lawyer.

In other cases, cars may be towed because they were involved in a crime where the driver broke driving laws. A car can also be taken by the police if they find it abandoned in a no-parking zone. Your rental car can be impounded by the police if it was involved in an accident or any of the other reasons mentioned above.

If your car is towed by the police, watch this detailed video on why your car can be towed and what steps to take.

We go into each of the reasons for police towing cars below.

The Police Towed Your Car Because It Was Undrivable

Sometimes, the police impound a car after an accident simply because it’s undrivable. In cases where a vehicle is undrivable, law enforcement would have the vehicle towed to a holding facility, referred to as an impound or tow yard.

Towing an undrivable vehicle is necessary to clear the street or to keep the car safe until the vehicle owner is able to legally retrieve it or the violation at issue is resolved.

The Police Towed Your Car Because It Was Used in a Crime

Cars impounded by police are typically held because they are involved in legal issues, such as traffic violations, accidents, criminal investigations, or being abandoned.

If the vehicle is suspected of being used in a crime, it will be towed to a location for police investigation before being impounded because your car is being held as evidence. How long can the police hold your car in an impound for an investigation?

If your vehicle was used for an illegal purpose, such as a drive-by shooting or a robbery, the government can seize your car in an asset forfeiture proceeding if they have evidence in their robbery charges that shows you profited from its use. Police may also tow your car when you are taken into custody, and no other arrangements can be made for your vehicle.

The Police Towed Your Car Because You Violated Driving or Insurance Laws

Police may tow cars because the vehicle was unregistered, the driver was uninsured, or the driver was arrested for a driving violation, like being stopped for drunk driving. In most cases, states can impound vehicles as a penalty for driving without compulsory auto liability insurance.

When you do get arrested what happens to your car? If the car is parked legally and in a safe location, the car may be left where it is.  If the car is parked illegally or in a hazardous location, the car will be towed.

Can the police tow your car for speeding or DUI? The answer is yes. While it’s unlikely that you’d be taken into custody for speeding, if you are arrested for a DUI and cannot easily arrange for someone else to take your car, the police could have it impounded, whether it’s your first DUI or your third.

Where Police Tow Cars

When your car is towed by the police, it goes to an impound, which is a holding facility. The impound may be operated by a law enforcement agency or by a private third-party holding facility. A police impound lot is a facility where vehicles are stored after being towed by law enforcement.

You should make sure the police officer provides you with the impound lot information. If you don’t have the impound lot information, try calling your city or town hall and ask the clerk how you can find out if your vehicle was recently listed as impounded.

If your car was taken to the state police impound lot, you will have to pay a fee to get it out.

You should try to get the vehicle released as soon as possible. Otherwise, the police or impound will claim it was left voluntarily or abandoned and will charge you storage fees.

What Happens to Police-Towed Cars After Impound

The police towed your can and now it’s impounded. If your car was impounded, it will not be released until further action is taken. So, just how long can police impound your car? Sometimes the car will be released once you’ve proven ownership and paid a fine and storage fee.

In other cases, the police may require the vehicle to be held pending a criminal investigation. Therefore, you need to ask if the car is subject to any sort of hold before it can be released from impound.

You may be worried about what happens if your car gets impounded and you don’t get it out. If your car gets impounded and you don’t retrieve it, depending on the location and length of time your car is impounded, a few things could happen.

The first concern is that charges will accrue daily. There may be legal consequences if you don’t get your car, i.e, car auction. There may be a credit and financial impact if you have a balance owed on your car.

How to Get a Police-Towed Car Out of Impound

The way to get a car out of impound depends on whether or not there is a police hold on the vehicle or an immobilization order preventing the release of the impounded vehicle.

The process is more straightforward if your car is not under an immobilization order. You can contact the tow company for the impound agency address. It is essential to ask for the total bill and a detailed invoice showing the complete breakdown of charges.

You may have to submit several documents to process a vehicle release from the police department after it’s been impounded. You’ll also need a set of requirements to get your car.

Showing proof of ownership, such as car title and registration, is necessary. Most locations will require a photo ID and for the car to be in drivable shape and properly documented. Without the proper documentation, you won’t be able to get your car out of impound.

Getting a Car With No Police Hold Out of Impound

Some jurisdictions, like Arizona, have laws regarding police-ordered tows and the process for vehicle retrieval. Generally speaking, if there is no police or immobilization hold, contact the tow company to determine where your vehicle is being stored.

Then, request the total bill amount from the tow and/or impound company. Make sure you receive a detailed invoice showing a complete breakdown of the charges.

You’ll need to bring proof of ownership or agency, such as the car title, registration, or rental agreement. If your license and title documents are inside the vehicle, you should be allowed to retrieve them at no charge, but you may not be able to get your other belongings from your towed car.

You may also need to show proof of insurance depending on the requirements of your state. It’s very difficult to get your car out of impound without insurance, especially if you were pulled over and cited for driving without insurance in the first place.

Make sure the vehicle has valid license plates, or you will not be permitted to drive it away from the holding lot. If the vehicle is not drivable due to invalid plates or accident damage, you will be responsible for towing or hauling your vehicle away.

Getting a Car With a Police Hold Out of Impound

If the law enforcement agency placed a police hold on the vehicle, you may still have the right to retrieve your property through an administrative hearing before an administrative judge or officer.

Some jurisdictions require formal written requests and a filing fee, and most have very short filing deadlines. In Illinois, for example, you have to ask for a preliminary hearing within 15 days of your car being impounded.

At the hearing, the government must present evidence concerning why they impounded the car, which is normally a police report or law enforcement testimony. You will be allowed to present valid defenses.

Annual Towing Incidents by State: Percentage of Cars Towed Each Year

Ask the police or your city or town hall for information on the hearing procedures for getting a vehicle released from impound. It may be time to seek lawyer involvement because the process will involve filing a petition for release, presenting evidence, and asserting limited defenses.

Generally, the only successful defense is that the car was stolen and reported stolen in a timely manner. Usually, the fact that someone else was driving your car is not a valid defense because, in most jurisdictions, unless the car was stolen, owners can be fined even if they were not driving and did not know how the car was being used.

If your car was stolen, read our article on car insurance claims for stolen cars and property for advice on what to do.

Having Someone Else Release Your Police-Towed Car Out of Impound

If you’re wondering if someone else can pick up your towed car, the answer is yes. If someone other than the registered owner is retrieving the vehicle, that person typically will need a valid driver’s license, a signed and notarized statement from the registered owner authorizing that person to retrieve the vehicle, and a photocopy of the owner’s valid driver’s license or official government photo identification.

Read more: Car Insurance for People Driving Your Car 

A formal written request and a filing fee are also required in some jurisdictions. During the hearing, the police will explain why your vehicle is impounded. This includes testimony or a police report, and then you’ll be able to present a valid defense. For cases like this, it’s best to seek a lawyer to help you through the process.

When You Can’t Afford to Get Your Towed Car Out of Impound

Impound fees are extremely expensive because the storage facilities charge by the day, and many people can’t afford to get their car out of the impound. If you want to know how to get your car out of impound for free, the only likely way will be if you win at the hearing and the order states that you are not responsible for paying the towing and storage costs.

If the fees to get the car back aren’t paid, the car will likely either be sold or destroyed. You should be given notice of the sale and can try to buy the car back then. Even if the car is destroyed or sold, the jurisdiction will still try to collect the fees owed for violations, towing, and storage in the same way that other debts can be collected.

When a police officer tows your car, at a minimum, you can expect to pay significant money for towing and storing costs. There’s even the potential to permanently lose your car. Don’t underestimate the seriousness of having your car towed and impounded by the police. If your car has been impounded and you don’t know what to do, consult a car accident lawyer.

Case Studies: Retrieving Impounded Vehicles Towed by Police and Legal Assistance

Retrieving an impounded vehicle towed by the police usually involves contacting the impound lot, paying associated fees, and providing proof of ownership, registration, and insurance. Legal assistance may be necessary if the impoundment was unlawful or if the vehicle was seized in connection with a legal matter. Read the case studies below.

Case Study 1: Impoundment Following an Accident

After a severe accident involving John’s car, rendering it inoperable, the vehicle was towed to an impound lot for safekeeping in accordance with police protocol. To regain possession of his car, John had to navigate the process of verifying ownership, paying fines, and covering storage fees.

Case Study 2: Vehicle Linked to Criminal Activity

Sarah’s car came under suspicion of being involved in a criminal act, leading to its impoundment by the police for further investigation. In order to reclaim her vehicle, Sarah had to adhere to specific procedures and potentially face asset forfeiture proceedings.

Case Study 3: Retrieving a Car Without Police Involvement

Due to a parking violation, Michael’s car was towed, but no police hold was placed on it. He reached out to the tow company to locate his vehicle, submitted the required documentation, settled the bill, and successfully retrieved his car from the impound lot.

Case Study 4: Requesting a Hearing to Release an Impounded Car

Emily’s car was impounded with a police hold placed on it. To contest the impoundment, she initiated a request for an administrative hearing. In this hearing, Emily presented her case and supporting evidence before an administrative judge to secure the release of her car.

Case Study 5: Inability to Afford Impound Fees

David’s car was impounded, but the exorbitant storage fees were beyond his means. He faced the possibility of permanently losing his car if he couldn’t settle the outstanding fees. To explore his options and potentially negotiate a resolution, David sought legal assistance.

The Final Word on What to Do When Police Towed Your Car

If your car has been impounded and you are unsure of what to do, consulting a car accident lawyer or traffic lawyer is a good first step. They can review the specific facts and circumstances to offer tailored advice and guidance on how to recover your vehicle.

If you suspect that the police towed your car illegally, or without proper cause, legal representation is even more important to challenge the impoundment, protect your rights, and potentially seek compensation for any wrongful actions taken against you.

You can find the cheapest insurance coverage tailored to your needs by entering your ZIP code above.