Recovering an Impounded Vehicle After a DUI or Traffic Arrest

All Arizona cities contract with private towing companies to facilitate vehicle impoundments. If your vehicle is impounded, follow these steps to retrieve it.

What should I do if my car was impounded after I was arrested?

• The Vehicle Impound Report, provided by the officer at the time of the impound, will list the towing company and contact details.
• Contact the towing company to confirm they have your vehicle. 
• The impound company will inform you of the total amount owed for impound and daily storage fees, and let you know if there is a 30-day hold on your vehicle. 
• If there is no 30-day hold, you may retrieve the vehicle immediately. 
• You must prove you are the registered owner or leaseholder of the vehicle. 
• Provide the towing company with: 
  • A valid government-issued ID 
  • Current vehicle registration 
• If your registration is inside the vehicle, you should be allowed to retrieve it from the car. 

What do I do if my car has a 30-day hold?

• Contact the police department that ordered the impound and request a Post Storage Hearing within 10 days of the impound date. 
• The hearing determines whether the impoundment was valid and if early release is allowed. 
• The hearing may be requested by: 
  • The registered owner 
  • A leaseholder 
  • The legal spouse of either 
• In some cases, your spouse may need to sign a waiver agreeing that you will not drive the vehicle during the hold period. 
• The hearing is not in front of a judge. It is conducted by a Code Enforcement Officer at the police department. 
• Required documents: 
  • Valid driver license 
  • Current vehicle registration 
  • Proof of current vehicle insurance 

What if the 30-day hold is because of a DUI charge?

• Your vehicle will be subject to a 30-day impound if you are charged with: 
  • Extreme DUI (BAC of 0.15% or more) 
  • Aggravated DUI (e.g., DUI on a suspended license, multiple DUI offenses, or DUI with a minor in the vehicle) 
• The Vehicle Impound Report will show the PBT (Preliminary Breath Test) result, which helps determine if the hold applies. 
• Your legal spouse may request an early release at the Post Storage Hearing under the same conditions listed above. 

How do I retrieve my vehicle after the 30-day hold?

• On or after the 30th day, contact the police department that issued the impound to obtain the vehicle release form. 
• Next, contact the towing company to: 
  • Confirm your vehicle is ready for release 
  • Obtain the final amount due for storage and towing 
• Bring the following to the towing company: 
  • Vehicle release form 
  • Proof of vehicle ownership 
  • Full payment of towing and storage fees 

Why is my vehicle being impounded?

Arizona law mandates a vehicle be impounded under the following circumstances:

• Driving on a suspended or revoked license 
• No valid driver license or never issued a license 
• Charged with Extreme DUI (BAC ≥ 0.15%) 
• Charged with Aggravated DUI 
• Underage DUI (any alcohol in system under age 21) 
• Ignition interlock device violation

How much does it cost to retrieve my vehicle after it has been impounded?

• Costs vary by towing company and the duration of the impoundment. 
• You are responsible for all towing and daily storage fees, paid directly to the private impound company. 
• Fees can accrue daily