Getting a car out of impound is never a task to look forward to; but if you have the information you need, then the process can be a bit less stressful. So, for how to get a car out of impound, gather the information you need in the words that follow and get your car back!
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
Most Common Reasons That A Car Is Impounded
Your car has been impounded and you either know why or you don’t. So. What are some of the most common reasons companies take a car without your consent?
- When you have been arrested for an alleged traffic violation or some other alleged crime.
- Authorities deem your car abandoned.
- Your car was a part of an alleged crime and needs to be impounded to view alleged evidence.
- You have a number of unpaid parking tickets or (in some states) speeding tickets.
- Your car was parked illegally.
How to Get Car Out of Impound Without Insurance
If your car is impounded, you may be thinking about how to remove it from impound without insurance. While just about every state in the U.S. requires drivers to have auto insurance, you may find yourself where your car has been towed to an impound lot. Some of the reasons your car could be impounded include being caught driving without insurance, your car was parked on a road illegally, arrest, or even impeding traffic with the vehicle. So, what steps do you take and how do you get your car back? Check out the following steps providing you the assistance you need.
Find out where your car is being held
The location of the car will depend upon the reason it was impounded in the first place. For example, if you are unfortunate to be facing a recent arrest, then your car may be on a lot that belongs to the local police in your town or city. If your car was illegally parked, there may be signs around the parking lot or area that displays a name and company that tows vehicles and they also display where the towed vehicles are taken. You may also want to call or contact the business that owns the lot where you parked the car. They will have a partnership with a local tow and impound company- that they work with- when someone illegally parks in their lot.
Contact local government officials
When your vehicle is towed without your consent or your knowledge, you may not know where to even begin looking for it. Many local governments manage and document impound and impound records. So, be sure to call your city or county to find out where your car may be located. Be sure to give the location or address where the car was parked.
Contact the lot
The next step you want to take, is to contact the impound lot where it has been taken. You may want to call ahead so that you can gather any documents and information you need about when and how to get it out of the impound lot. If you call the lot where your car was taken and that impound lot has no record of your car, your car may just have been recently towed and is not present in the company’s computer system.
Find out the process of getting your car back
Once you verify that your car is at the impound lot, now is the time to ask about the process of getting it back. Generally, you will need to show your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. You will also need to pay any fees to get that car out of impound. The cost will vary and you want to make sure that you have all monies for fees. It may also help to ask what forms of payment the impound yard takes. Some take debit cards, others take credit cards and many take cash.
But you want to ask beforehand. And don’t forget to request a receipt after you pay. Keep that receipt somewhere other than your car, to show proof that you paid for your car to be released from the impound lot.
Proof of Insurance
Proof of insurance is a very important document to have, when you are looking to get a car out of impound. Your insurance card or paper typically displays:
- The information about your policy and the kind of coverage you have.
- The name(s) of the person(people) who are owner(s) of the policy
- Details about the vehicle and the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification number)
- The address of the insured party/parties.
Pick up your car immediately
Once you confirm where your car is located and you have all of the details that you need, you don’t want to waste any time picking up your car Impound lot fees often add up daily. So, the longer you wait to get your car, the higher you impound bill may be. You also may have to wait a bit to retrieve your car, as there may be a line at the impound lot.
Additional tips
- Have all documentation handy. Just once piece of paper you need, can keep you from getting your car.
- Ask about fees and be sure that you have a receipt for what you pay. You may even want to make a copy of your receipt. Keep one copy in your car’s glove box, and one copy at your home in a safe place.
- Ask why the car was impounded if you’re not sure why. You don’t want to keep getting your car impounded.
What If You Don’t have Proof of Car Insurance?
If your vehicle does not have current, active and updated vehicle insurance, you need to find out if the impound lot requires that you show proof of insurance to get it back. Many outlets report that in most states, failure to have sufficient and active insurance can be the cause that your car was impounded in the first place. With any kind of lapse of insurance coverage, it could be difficult to obtain a new policy as well as face the rising rates.
If you have to show proof of insurance to get your car back, then begin the process fast. Compare rates and decide what you can afford. You may even opt to get a small and rather inexpensive policy that meets the requirements to get your car out of impound. Then, once you have the car, you can call your insurance agent to find out what you can afford regarding a long-term policy. Most insurance companies have three, six- and 12-month policies.
Lots of insurance companies specialize in offering policies to vulnerable and high-risk drivers. And depending on where you live in the country, you may be paying a higher or a lower rate. Michigan, for example, has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country. Their “no-fault insurance” coverage is expensive.
In lots of cases when a car is impounded, you have to show proof of insurance. Follow these steps and practice safe driving and parking to avoid the demise of impound lots.
How To Get A Car Out Of Impound Without Limited or No Money
It’s enough to have your car in impound. It’s added stress to have a car in impound and you don’t have the money to get it out. Who has “just in case my car gets towed fees” just laying around? What do you do? Where do you go? Who can you call? While it’s never a great experience to have your car impounded, there are some things you can do to get it out.
What Happens If You Can't Afford To Get Your Car Out Of Impound?
Communication is the key. Let’s examine some steps you can take to get your car out of impound, even if you don’t have the money to get it out.
Try to talk to the impound lot about your issue
First, it’s important to take a breath. Being angry or irate with the impound lot will not make it easier for you to get your car out.
Check on any payment plans
The impound lot may have payment plans and financing available. It doesn’t hurt to ask and you may be able to strike a deal with the owner.
Special Note
It’s important to note that the value of the car may not cover the entire debt of the impound fees. If this is your case you may want to begin working on the problem immediately to lessen the monies owed.
Tips for Coming up with Quick Cash for Impound Fees
You may have some of the money for impound fees and maybe need just $100 more to get your car out. Or you may not have any of the money. Check out a few ways you may be able to get the money you need.
Ask a friend or a family member for the money
Sure, no one wants to ask a friend, an aunt, a sister or a brother for money to pay for a car that is in impound. But you may just have to bite the bullet and ask. It hurts, but you have to do what you have to do.
Pawn something of value
You may have to temporarily part with that piece of jewelry, or something else of value, in order to get your car out of impound. You can also take the time to post an ad on a Craigslist or Facebook, to sell something of value that will cover your impound fees. Yes, it hurts to do this, but again, you have to do, what you have to do.
What About FREE Legal Assistance?
Sometimes an impound lot may be a bit unfair or aggressive with you. And with the right legal aid, you may find that they broke a law all together. So, you may have to contact the free or sliding scale legal aid companies or programs in your community.
It’s important to note that if your car was impounded due to alleged criminal activity, you may find that free legal assistance may not be for you. Most free legal companies will not even think of touching impound cases such as yours.
At the end of the day, a family that has low income and is facing a car that a low-income family drives has been impounded, the options available for releasing that vehicle are limited. But it is not hopeless. We hope the resources above are able to assist you to pay impound fees.
Impound Towing- The Basics & Tips
There is never a convenient time for a car to be impounded. It can be frustrating, stressful and even surprising. Check out a few facts and tips that you may found helpful.
- Each year in the country, there are thousands of illegally parked cars that are towed away. Those vehicles may be abandoned, or part of crime. Local as well as regional municipalities work to remove those cars, to ensure the safety of other residents. The cars are also removed to ensure proper and safe traffic flow. Those cars pose a problem for local areas. For many cities, it is against a law to leave a car unattended for over 48 hours.
- Not knowing where your vehicle is after being impounded can be stressful. It comes down to why your car was impounded- this will dictate where your car is located. If your car was part of an alleged crime, you will have to contact local police. If it was illegally parked on a city or county street, you want to contact your city or county. You will have to ask the clerk to view if your car is on the recent impound list.
- And after all of that you still cannot find your car, you may have to wait a bit for the car to be entered into the impound system.
- Gather as much documentation as you can. You want to have proof of insurance, your picture ID, registration and other pertinent documents.
- Once you find out where your car is, as the impound lot what fees you have to pay. You also want to find out what methods of payment they accept.
- Facing a shortage of money? Ask a friend or a family member to float you some cash. You may also have to pawn or sell something of value to get your car out of the impound lot.
There’s nothing fun about a car being impounded. It may be easier said than done to even write “keep calm”- but you have to. Find out why your car was impounded and work to gather all paperwork and fees- to your best ability-to get that car out of impound. It can be done; but it will take work and a cool head, on your part.