There are many different reasons why your car could be towed to an impounded lot. Were you parked illegally or caught driving without insurance? Do you have expired license plate tags? These are just a few reasons why a car might be impounded.
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There is never a good time to have to go through this. It is not a fun or simple process to get your car back from an impounded lot. You will need to gather some paperwork about your car and then pay some large fees to get your car back. Some fees are higher than others depending on what your car was impounded for. Additionally, some jurisdictions have different rules than others so it is best to call to get confirmation on what you need before you drive to get it.
Reasons A Car Is Impounded
So, as mentioned above there are a few very common reasons why your car was impounded. It is important to be aware of the different reasons and understand why your car was impounded so you don’t let it happen again. You will want to make note of the other common reasons as well. Once you go through this process once, you will realize you don’t want to do it again.
If you have been arrested for an alleged traffic violation or crime, your car could get taken from you without consent. The law enforcement team has the authority to do this. Additionally, if authorities deem your car abandoned then your car could get impounded. This would happen if authorities see that your car hasn’t been driven in months or it is on the side of the road somewhere parked illegally.
The other two most common reasons your car could get impounded are if you have numerous unpaid parking and speeding tickets or if your car was illegally parked. If you have received a parking ticket or speeding ticket, there will be a due date on the ticket. If you let these tickets sit past due for months and years your car could be in jeopardy to get impounded.
What To Do To Get Your Car Out Of Impound
There are a few different protocols and steps you will want to take to get your car back. It can be an overwhelming process, so it is nice to have a plan in place before you aimlessly drive around. The steps below will help you determine exactly what you need to do in order to get your car out of impound.
Determine where your car is located
The first step to this entire process is to figure out where your car is being held. That can be a difficult task in itself. It is important to note that the location of your car will relate to the reason it was originally impounded. So you might be thinking what does this mean for you? For example, if you were illegally parked the wrong way or on a road that didn’t allow parking, you might find signs in that lot showing where your car would go. It is important to look at these signs because that will help you determine which lot your car was impounded to.
Another different example would be if you were facing an arrest the police would take your car to the local police station. Instead of calling on different impound lots, you would want to talk to your local police station about your car getting taken away. They would be able to give you the best insight into this scenario.
Lastly, you could call the business that owns the lot where your car was parked. They will be able to give you clear information on what company they use for towing and then you can call that company to see where your car is located. It is definitely not an easy process to try and locate your car since there are a lot of different people involved. You just need to make that one phone car and start piecing the information together to eventually determine where your car is at.
Contact the local government officials
So, let’s say your car was towed without your consent and you had no idea it was taken away from you. This can be difficult to know where to start with the entire process. You can always contact your local government officials to try and gain some insight into your situation. They often will manage and document impounded cars so they should have a record of your car and where it was impounded at. You will want to give them the exact location of where your car was parked so they can help you determine the location and impound lot.
Call the exact impound lot that your car is at
Once you know the lot that your car was impounded at, you will want to call them to verify that your car is there. You will want to ask them what type of documents they will need to see so that you can get your car back. You will also want to ask them how much the fees will cost so you can account for the correct amount of money before showing up. It is important to be fully informed of everything before getting your car so you don’t miss any steps and you can get your car back as quickly as possible.
Determine the process to get your car back
Now that you know where your car is impounded at, you will need to communicate to the individuals who work there to figure out their exact process. Often you will need to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and your car registration. This will help the impound lot verify who you are and ensure they are giving the correct car back to the right individual. As stated above, you already know there will be fees associated with this so ask them how much it will cost. It is always better to be over-prepared.
You will also want to verify with them what form of payments they accept. Some may only take credit cards while others may only take cash for payment. This is a critical thing to ask because you don’t want to show up there with your credit card only and have them tell you they need cash. This would cause more of a headache for you and you would have to go to an atm to pull cash out. Avoid all of the unknowns and ask on the phone before you head to the impound.
Lastly, you want to always ask for a receipt before you leave. You will want to have proof that you paid to get your car out of the impounded lot. This will be handy in case any random issues arise in the future. It is best to keep this receipt in your car for a bit just so you have the correct proof that you paid for your car.
Immediately pick up your car
Now that you know where your car is located, go immediately pick it up. You do not want to waste any time when it comes to picking up your car. It is very common for these impound lots to charge daily lot fees. As you can imagine, these will add up quickly. Additionally, you don’t want to leave your car in a lot that you don’t know anything about in a random location. So, once you have confirmation of where your car is at and all of the documents that you need to retrieve your car, go get it.
Do I Need Legal Assistance?
Legal assistance could be necessary depending on your situation. There is no straightforward answer to this. It is very dependent on the reason behind your car getting impounded and the location of the lot. Some impound lots can be more aggressive and unfair than others. If you are debating whether to seek legal assistance, the best thing to do is just to reach out to a firm and ask them questions. They are the trained professionals who will be able to give you the answers you need to help you determine the best and easiest way to get your car out of impound.
The Bottom Line To Getting An Impounded Car
So as you can see getting your car impounded is not a fun process. There are a lot of unknowns when your car is impounded, like where is your car and how much will it cost to get it back. It can be a very stressful and overwhelming process. It is important to stay as calm as you can and determine where your car was impounded at. Once you have located your car, you will want to gather all of the necessary paperwork and money to pay the fees. You will want to make sure you have everything together before you head over to get your car out of impound. Once you have everything in order, go get your car as soon as possible.