Why we tow vehicles

We may tow your vehicle for a number of reasons including

• Being illegally parked or blocking traffic
• By police order (for example, if it's been in an accident, stolen or involved in a crime)
• Violating snow emergency rules
• Blocking street sweeping, seal coating or street maintenance crews or vehicles
• If it's abandoned
• If it poses a danger to public safety

Avoid being towed

To lower the chances of your car being towed, be sure to follow

• Permanent and temporary street signs
• Parking meter rates, rules and restrictions
• Snow-related parking rules

Getting your vehicle back

Picking up your vehicle yourself

Vehicles can be released to the registered owner or a relative with the same last name. To have your vehicle released, you or a relative with the same last name must pay the fees and show the following information:

• Proof of insurance in your name
• Current registration, title or lease agreement
• License plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Picture ID such as a driver's license or Minnesota ID card

A licensed driver is required to drive the vehicle from the lot. You may also have the vehicle towed from the lot.

Authorizing someone else to pick up your vehicle

Someone other than the registered owner or a relative with the same last name may pick up the vehicle or remove property from it if they have a notarized statement from the registered owner that includes:

• The name of the authorized person
• A photocopy of the registered owner’s ID or driver’s license
• The license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• The make and year of the vehicle

You can submit these statements several ways:

• Email them to the Impound Lot
• Fax them to the Impound Lot
• Deliver them in person

Picking up a rental car

To pick up a rental vehicle, you must present the rental agreement and an ID or driver’s license that matches the name on the agreement. In some cases, the rental company has to fax an authorization letter with the name of the person who can pick up the vehicle.

View the Impound Lot fax number

Impound fees

How to pay fees

You can pay impound fees with

• Cash
• Check or money order (personal, cashier or traveler's)
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)

Parking tickets

We'll also issue any parking citations when we release a towed vehicle. You may pay these fines by mail in the envelope provided or at the Hennepin County Violations Bureau

Reasons we may hold your vehicle

Parking violations

If you have 5 or more unpaid parking citations, we will not release your vehicle until you pay all fines and present a letter from the Hennepin County Violations Bureau confirming you've done so.

If you have any citations in collections, you must pay those fines in person at the Minnesota Department of Revenue, then bring the receipts to the Hennepin County Violations Bureau and get a letter confirming you've paid all fines.

Minnesota Department of Revenue

Hennepin County Violations Bureau

Police holds

Vehicles involved in a crime must be cleared of any police holds. For details on clearing a police hold, call the Minneapolis Impound Lot

Repossessions

We'll release impounded vehicles to repossessors who

• Present an Affidavit of Repossession
• Pay the towing and storage fees

We can not hold vehicles for repossessors. If the registered owner comes in first and meets the requirements for release explained in "Getting your vehicle back" above, they'll be allowed to take the vehicle.