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