Towed Vehicles
Having your vehicle towed and impounded is unpleasant, regardless of the reason. This information will give you a better understanding of what to expect and how to redeem your vehicle.
- There is an Administrative Impound release fee of $60. This fee and other fines owed to the City are paid directly to the City. This fee is in addition to any other parking or moving violation fines owed.
- Redeem your vehicle as soon as possible. Storage fees accumulate on a daily basis, regardless of the reason that it was towed and impounded. All towing and storage fees are paid directly to the towing company.
- Approved towing companies are open 24 hours a day/7 days a week for you to redeem your vehicle.
- If your vehicle has been towed from private property, the City has no involvement. Call the tow company directly.
- If your vehicle was towed by the City of Ann Arbor, and you wish to contest the towing of your vehicle or the reasonableness of the towing and impound fees, you must file a form petition with the court requesting a hearing. Contact the 15th District Court for the form petition. It is located on the 4th floor of the Justice Center at 301 E. Huron, Ann Arbor, MI (phone 734-794-6752.)
If you have further questions, please contact the Police Department front desk at (734) 794-6920 or visit our website at A2gov.org.
To Redeem a Vehicle Towed From Private Property and Impounded
By City ordinance, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on private property without the property owner's consent ("vehicle trespass"). If you have done this and you find your vehicle missing, the private property owner may have authorized a towing company to tow and impound your vehicle. If so, the towing company must report the vehicle identification information to the Ann Arbor Police Department for entry into the computerized Law Enforcement Information Network so that its status and location can be determined when the vehicle owner appears to redeem the vehicle.
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Call the police desk. If your vehicle was towed from private property at the property owner's request, it is not necessary to appear in person at the police front desk nor do you make any payments at City Hall.
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Police staff will inform you where your vehicle is impounded and how to get there.
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Take enough money with you to the towing company to pay all towing and impound fees to redeem your vehicle. You will also need your driver's license and vehicle registration.
To Redeem a Vehicle Towed and Impounded For 4 or More Outstanding Parking Tickets
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Bring your driver's license and vehicle registration to the police front desk.
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Pay the amount shown on the warrant for outstanding parking tickets plus the $60 city administrative fee; Optionally, you may file a motion at the 15th District Court to contest the tickets, which will require the posting of a bond equal to the amount owed, but it will not release your vehicle from impound if this avenue is pursued.
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Once you have a receipt for payment of the outstanding parking tickets and the administrative fee, police staff will complete and provide to you a Vehicle Release form.
Police staff will give you directions to the towing company. Take the receipt, the completed Vehicle Release form, and enough money with you to the towing company to pay all towing and impound fees to redeem your vehicle.
To Redeem a Vehicle Towed and Impounded Under Other Circumstances
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Bring your driver's license and vehicle registration to the police front desk.
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Pay the city administrative fee of $60. Once you have a receipt for payment of the administrative fee, police staff will complete and provide to you a Vehicle Release form.
Police staff will give you directions to the towing company. Take the receipt, the completed Vehicle Release form, and enough money with you to the towing company to pay all towing and impound fees to redeem your vehicle.
To Redeem a Recovered Stolen Vehicle
- Bring your driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance to the police front desk.
- Pay the city administrative fee. Once you have a receipt for the administrative fee, police staff will complete and provide to you a Vehicle Release form.
- Police staff will give you directions to the towing company. Take the receipt, the completed Vehicle Release form, and enough money with you to the towing company to pay all towing and impound fees to redeem your vehicle.
Vehicle auctions are held on a monthly basis. When the vehicle auction list has been determined and completed, it will be posted here. If you have questions, please call our Special Services Unit at (734) 794-6940.