Recently my car was towed. It happens to the best of us but not very often so most are uncertain what to do. Hopefully answering some of the questions that I had will help you to get your car back sooner and with less of a headache. When I picked up my car from the towing yard I brought my registration and a copy of my I.D. which matched the name on the registration. I also learned what to do if the car was not in my name or if I wanted someone else to pick up the car for me.
How to release a car from the tow yard if it is not in my name
Proof of ownership is required to release the vehicle from the towing yard. It is possible to have someone else pick up the vehicle on the owners behalf but requires a letter of authorization with signed permission from the owner as well as the I.D. of the person retrieving the vehicle. The authorization form details vary and each towing yard will have their requirements.
There are strict regulations that towing companies must follow when releasing an impounded vehicle. One of those is to ensure that the owner, or someone duly authorized by the owner is picking up the vehicle. There are just a few simple steps to authorize someone other than the owner to pick up a towed vehicle.
Someone Else Picking Up My Towed Car
Upon arriving to retrieve a vehicle from a towing yard, the tow company will request the car registration or insurance to verify that the person showing up is the owner of the vehicle.
The general rule of thumb is that the individual listed on the registration must pick up the car from the towing yard in order for the vehicle to be released.
Here are a few tips to follow to be able to successfully have someone else pick up your car or get someone else’s car out of impound for them!
Letter of Authorization
The towing yard will require a letter or authorization including information such as the vehicle information, owner information, and the I.D. of the person picking up the vehicle.
Some may require a notarized authorization but most towing yards have a simple form that you need to fill out and will have to provide your I.D. to pick up the car out of impound without being the registered owner.
Use Insurance Information to get the Towed Vehicle
It is never convenient to pick up a towed car and perhaps you are at work or out of town.
Can my spouse pick up a towed car for me?
A spouse or family member will be able to pick up the vehicle if they are listed on the same insurance policy as the owner. Sometimes, depending on the tow yard, they will require more than that, showing proof of ownership, but with the key to the car, and insurance listing information about the car like the owners name and the vin that is enough to retrieve the car.
Not to worry if your name is not on the registration, as long as it is on the insurance for the vehicle this will be acceptable!
If your spouses name is not on the registration or the insurance for a vehicle that is impounded, then the spouse may not be able to pick up the car from the tow yard. Contact the tow yard directly first, but you may easily be able to provide written authorization.
Go to the Towing Yard
Towing companies risk losing their license and other penalties if they release a car to an individual other than the owner, but showing up and providing information about the car and requesting the required info is the best place to start.
If you must pick up an impounded vehicle for someone else and cannot obtain signed authorization and are not the owner of the vehicle then it is still possible. As a spouse or family member you stand a good chance that the towing yard will allow you to take the vehicle.
You may need a few things such as the keys to the vehicle and be able to tell them where the car was towed from to provide them with at least some proof of ownership.
They will take a copy of your license so it infrequent that someone would try to steal a car this way. Partially for this reason some towing yards will be lenient.
Some private towing companies may even announce less strict regulations. A private property towing company may have a rule such as requiring to show proof of ownership. Such as keys to the vehicles, know the make and model and where it was towed from.
If someone other than the owner is attempting to retrieve a vehicle, just go show up to pick it up and they may be satisfied with the keys and registration.
Other Circumstances when Someone Other than the Owner May Pick up an Impounded Vehicle
- Settling an estate of a deceased person or estate executor – prove with documentation
- Lien holder – if there is a lien on the vehicle a lien holder can repossess the car even while impounded and you would still be liable for the original towing fees.
- Sometimes the towing yard is lenient with their requirements
Go show up, present your license then inform them that you are the owner’s friend, spouse, cousin, or whatever you really are. They may tell you that you need notarized authorization to release the vehicle but they may be content with the proof of ownership that you can provide such as knowing where the car came from, the name of the owner and have the key to the car.
Related Questions
How to I get a car out of impound without registration?
You do not need the physical registration paperwork as long as you are the registered owner and your I.D. indicates such. If the car is not registered, you must register the car or obtain a “moving permit” before the car can be released from the impound lot. The moving permit can be issued to you by the DMV or AAA
What is a Vehicle Moving Permit?
A DMV moving permit is a permit issued to allow a vehicle to be operated on the road before passing emissions test. It is commonly issued to allow you to drive your vehicle to be smog checked with registration expired.
Registration fees must be paid prior to obtaining a moving permit and can be paid at the time of application.
A moving permit is only valid for one day. This is most often used to drive a vehicle to a smog test but can also be useful in the instance of releasing an impounded vehicle that is not registered.
You only need a moving permit to get a smog check if your registration is expired. It is not necessary to get a moving permit to do a smog check if registration is up to date.
