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The short answer: if a City of Phoenix contract tow company took your car, start by calling the tow company to find which lot has it and what you owe. If the car is on a mandatory impound hold, contact the Phoenix Police Department’s Public Records and Services Unit at 602-495-2096 for release information. You’ll need a police release form before the tow company can give the car back. If you think the impound was wrong, you generally have 10 days from the impound notice to request a free post-storage hearing.
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How to Find a Towed or Impounded Car in Phoenix
- Call the tow company listed on your paperwork. Ask which lot has the car, what the total bill is, and whether the car has a mandatory impoundment period.
- If you don’t know who towed it, call the Phoenix Police Department. If the car isn’t in police records, report it as possibly stolen.
- Watch your mail. Phoenix PD mails impound notices to registered owners, and to lienholders for ARS 28-3511 impounds.
Getting Your Car Back
If there’s no hold
Phoenix PD says you’ll need your title or registration to prove ownership. If those papers are inside the car, you’ll be allowed to get them. If someone else picks up the car for you, they need an official government photo ID, a signed statement from the registered owner giving them permission, a photocopy of the owner’s government photo ID, and payment.
If the car is on a mandatory impound (ARS 28-3511)
- Contact the Public Records and Services Unit at 602-495-2096 for release information. The unit is at 100 W. Washington St., is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is closed most holidays. Releases are issued during business hours only.
- Pay the $150 administrative fee to the City of Phoenix by cash, cashier’s check, or money order, and get the release form.
- Take the release to the tow company. Pay towing and storage there by cash, money order, certified check, or credit card. Bring proof of identity and ownership.
The registered owner must show a valid driver’s license, current registration, and proof of insurance. If the car isn’t titled in your name yet, you must meet title and registration requirements through Arizona MVD first. The tow company can’t release an impounded car without Phoenix PD paperwork.
Some owners can get early release. One example is when the driver’s license is reinstated. A car can also be released to a lienholder or repossession agent on record. Ask PRS whether you qualify.
Phoenix Towing and Storage Fees
- Storage cap: $25 a day for ARS 28-3511 impounds and $15 a day for vehicles stored under Phoenix City Code 23-55
- After-hours pickup: $75
- Administrative fee: $150 for mandatory impounds, paid to the city
Don’t wait. Phoenix says that if you don’t claim the car within ten days of the date it becomes available for release, the tow company may file for an abandoned title. If you can’t afford the fees, talk to the tow company directly. For a step-by-step checklist that works in any city, see our impound lot guide. Compare costs elsewhere in our tow truck cost guide.
Requesting a Post-Storage Hearing
For ARS 28-3511 impounds, the registered owner, the owner’s spouse, or the lienholder may request a free post-storage hearing. It decides only whether the impound was valid. Phoenix’s hearing page says the request must be received within 10 days of the date of the impoundment notice. The main impound page describes the window as ten business days from the tow, so act early and follow your notice. Request it by phone at 602-495-2096, by fax at 602-262-1863, or in writing. Hearings are currently held by phone, and you don’t need a lawyer. If the hearing officer finds the car was improperly impounded, Phoenix PD is responsible for the towing and impound fees. Rules change; verify with your local authority.
If the tow company damaged your car
Phoenix PD advises pointing out the damage before you take the car, paying and getting a detailed receipt, taking photos right away, writing down names and times, and contacting a tow company supervisor. See how to choose a tow company and avoid scams.
Broken Down or in a Crash on a Phoenix Freeway
Arizona’s quick-clearance law (ARS 28-674)
On divided highways with two or more lanes, if a crash happens and no serious injury or death is apparent, drivers must move the vehicles out of the travel lanes to the shoulder, emergency lane, median, or another safe place. This applies only if it can be done safely and the car can be driven normally without towing. Moving the car doesn’t by itself make you at fault. If a car can’t be driven, stay safe and call for a tow.
Move over for stopped vehicles (ARS 28-775)
When you approach a stationary vehicle with flashing or warning lights, Arizona law says to move into a lane not next to it if you safely can. If that’s impossible or unsafe, slow down and proceed with caution. The base civil penalty is $275. This protects you, too, when your own car is the one on the shoulder.
Dust storms: Pull Aside, Stay Alive
Monsoon dust storms can wipe out visibility fast. ADOT says not to drive into a dust storm, and to exit the highway if you can. If you can’t, check traffic and slow down, and pull completely off the paved roadway, not onto the shoulder or travel lanes. Set the parking brake, turn off all lights including flashers, take your foot off the brake, and keep your seat belt on until it passes. ADOT also warns not to cross a flooded wash.
Special Vehicles
EVs and AWD vehicles often need a flatbed. See our EV and hybrid towing guide, towing methods by vehicle weight, and how to tow a car safely. Moving a car out of state? Compare towing vs. car transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my impounded car back in Phoenix?
For a mandatory impound, contact PRS at 602-495-2096, pay the $150 city fee for a release form, then pay towing and storage at the tow company with ID and proof of ownership.
How much does storage cost in Phoenix?
For police tows, storage is capped at $25 a day for ARS 28-3511 impounds and $15 a day under City Code 23-55.
How long do I have to request a hearing?
Phoenix says the request must be received within 10 days of the impoundment notice. Act early and check your notice.
Can someone else pick up my car?
For tows without a hold, yes, with the right documents: their photo ID, your signed permission, and a copy of your ID. For mandatory impounds, the registered owner must meet the release requirements.
Request a Tow Quote in Phoenix
TowCars.com doesn’t tow vehicles or handle police impounds. If you need a private tow, send us a request and we’ll pass it to independent towing providers serving the Phoenix area.
Sources
- Phoenix Police Department – Vehicle Towing
- Phoenix Police Department – Vehicle Impoundment Information
- Phoenix Police Department – ARS 28-3511 Impoundment FAQ
- Phoenix Police Department – Request a Post-Storage Hearing
- Arizona Revised Statutes §28-3511
- Arizona Revised Statutes §28-674 – Quick Clearance
- Arizona Revised Statutes §28-775 – Passing Stationary Vehicles
- ADOT – When Dust Storms Hit: Pull Aside, Stay Alive
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