Police Impounds

Police Impound Notification and Reclaiming Process in Iowa

The last registered owner of the towed vehicle is notified by certified mail within 20 days of impoundment. The notice includes the vehicle location, cost of towing, storage, and deadline for reclaiming the vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle has 10 days to reclaim it and personal property once the certified mail has been received and after the invoice has been paid.

Once the invoice has been paid or the insurance company has contacted us with payment, the vehicle will then be released for the owners to reclaim any personal property.

Reasons Why the Police Would Have Your Vehicle Towed

In Iowa, police may have a vehicle towed for several reasons, including:

• Vehicles can be towed for unpaid parking fines or for failing to provide proof of insurance and/or expired registration.
• Unauthorized parking on private property or violating local parking regulations, such as snow ordinances, or outside of parking hours
• Appearing abandoned, such as a breakdown on the side of the road. Vehicles left unattended on public property for more than 24 hours, lack current registration plates or are inoperable.
• If the vehicle is positioned in a way that constitutes a hazard to traffic.
• If a vehicle is involved in an accident and needs to be removed to preserve evidence, protect it from theft or further damage, or prevent it from being a traffic hazard.
• If an officer believes the person in control of the vehicle wrongfully possesses it.
• If the vehicle identification number (VIN) or any component part’s identification number has been altered or defaced.
• If there is probable cause to believe the vehicle is being used to transport contraband.
• If the vehicle is involved in a person’s death and needs to be secured for evidence.
• If the driver is arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), has prior OWI convictions, or is driving in violation of a license revocation.

These measures help ensure safety, preserve evidence, and enforce legal compliance in Iowa.