Monday-Friday
9:00am to 11:00am
(must arrive by 10:30am)
Closes for City Observed Holidays
928-341-2420 | 1030 E. Union St. | P.O.Box 3720 | San Luis, AZ 85349
The Records Division handles the verification and release processes for all impounded vehicles. If your vehicle was impounded by an officer of the San Luis Police Department please carefully read the information the officer provided you at the time of the impound for important instructions. For any questions contact the Records Division at 928-341-2460.
If your vehicle was impounded as evidence of a crime by the San Luis Police Department, you must contact the case officer for updates. If your vehicle was impounded by another law enforcement agency, you must contact that agency directly for assistance in obtaining the release of your vehicle.
Reasons for Impounding a vehicle under 3511
Under ARS 28-3511 Arizona State Law requires vehicles be towed for 20 DAYS for any of the following violations:
- Revoked Driver’s License
- No Driver’s License and no record of ever having one
- Canceled Driver’s License (Must also be involved in a collision and not provide insurance)
- Extreme DUI
- Aggravated DUI
- Driver Under 21 With Any Amount of Alcohol In Their System
- Violation of An Ignition Interlock Requirement
Releasing Impounded vehicles under the classification of "Authorized for Release"
You qualify for an immediate release, If your vehicle was impounded for the following reasons:
- Recovered stolen vehicle
- Driver was arrested
- Involved in an accident, operator was unable to provide removal
- Unattended/Abandoned
- Obstructing traffic
Owner must present the following documents for the impounded vehicle:
- Valid Driver’s License
- Proof of Insurance
- Registration
If Owner is unable to come in for the release then the owner may use a Limited Power of Attorney to assign power of attorney to someone with a valid Driver’s License. You must fill out the Power of Attorney (link below) and have it signed and notarized, then you must give the original notarized form to the person you are assigning P.O.A to and they will bring it to the Police Department with all of the required documents (listed above).
Click on the button below to download a blank Limited Power of Attorney form to release my vehicle.
Fees
Daily Storage Fee: $25
Authorized to Released Storage Fee: $40
Towing fee: minimum $165 depending on the location and condition of the vehicle
Administrative Fees: $150 (3511 process)
Money Order
Debit/Credit Card
Cashier’s Check
Business Check
Please make payment to: The City of San Luis
Claim Your Vehicle
How to determine if you qualify for an early release and what to do if you believe you qualify.
Instructions about how to get your vehicle after the 20 days has expired.
What to do if the 20 days has expired and your driver’s license is still not valid.
An option if the 20 days has expired and you live out of state and cannot return to get the vehicle released to you.
Early Release
IF YOU MEET ONE OF THE CRITERIA BELOW AND CAN PROVIDE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, YOU MAY POSSIBLY QUALIFY TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE RELEASED EARLY AND CAN PROCEED TO THE POLICE STATION LISTED BELOW DURING RELEASE HOURS (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Monday through Friday).
The following are common situations where we may be able to release the vehicle early. The required document list is provided after the impound situation. If you do not see your situation listed here, you may check the other examples listed at the bottom of this section.
- You are the owner/driver and have reinstated your license with the court AND MVD.
- You are the owner, were not driving, and you sign an Agreement of Operation which basically states you will not allow a driver of your car to violate 28-3511 again within the next year anywhere in the State of Arizona. The Agreement will be explained fully at the time of the release.
- The vehicle will NOT be released early to the driver if they own the vehicle
- If the owner or spouse was not driving, and they can provide all required documents, and sign an Agreement of Operation which basically states they will not allow a driver of their car to violate 28- 3511 again within the next year anywhere in the State of Arizona. The Agreement will be explained fully at the time of the release.
- If the driver is the car owner, they must have a device installed in the vehicle while it is at the tow yard, and they must provide paperwork showing it was installed.
- If the owner was NOT the driver, and they do not have an interlock restriction, no installation is required. They can provide all the required documents and sign an Agreement of Operation which basically states they will not allow a driver of their car to violate 28- 3511 again within the next year anywhere in the State of Arizona.
Early release will be granted if all required documents are provided ALONG WITH the rental contract and letterhead authorizing their assigned employee to recover the vehicle on the company’s behalf. That employee must also provide credentials showing he/she works for the rental car company.
Early release will be granted if the Lien Holder is repossessing the vehicle and can provide ALL required documents. Refer to (Lienholder and repossession information) for release information and required documents.
In all cases, the following documents are required and must be provided in person at the time of the request for early release:
- Your valid driver’s license
- Current insurance for the impounded vehicle
- Current registration on the impounded vehicle. It must be current and not have a Mandatory Insurance “M/I” suspension on the plate. If the paper registration is in your car, you do not need to bring it and we will try to look it up in our computer.
- A money order or cashier’s check made out to the City of San Luis for $150.00. No other forms of payment will be accepted.
- The pink or yellow copy of the vehicle impound report, or the DR# (09-00000).
- If you are the spouse, and not listed on the registration, you must provide your marriage license.
- If you were required to have an ignition interlock device installed, you must have paperwork from the company showing it was installed on the vehicle which is currently impounded.
- Rental car companies must provide the rental contract and letterhead authorizing their assigned employee to recover the vehicle on the company’s behalf. That employee must also provide credentials showing he/she works for the rental car company.
- Lien Holders, refer to (Lienholder and repossession information) for required document information not listed above.
If you believe you may qualify for an early release, you may take all of the required documents to the main lobby of the San Luis Police Station at 1030 E. Union Street.
See the “hours, Location, Payment Information” for current release hours and information.
At that time, we will review the vehicle history and your documents. Early release is based on Arizona State Law and the vehicle history. We are unable to take personal circumstances/hardships into account.
Presentation of fraudulent documents is a crime. All documents will be verified, and violators will be prosecuted.
You may be eligible to retrieve your vehicle early/before the end of the 20-day impound period if any of these additional conditions apply:
- It was driven by an employee of a business (including a parking service or repair garage) and the employer’s vehicle is subject to bailment (leased vehicle)
- A valid stolen vehicle report has been filed because the vehicle was stolen (A VALIDITY HEARING MUST BE REQUESTED AND CONDUCTED IF YOU ARE CLAIMING THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. Refer to the “Request a Hearing” section for further information.)
- If you believe an error was made, and you request a hearing within 10 days of the date of impound, and the Hearing Officer determines the impound was invalid. Refer to the “Request a Hearing” section for further information.
Post 20 Day Release Information
To review your vehicle on or after the 20 days has expired, you must provide the following:
- Your valid driver’s license
- Current insurance for the impounded vehicle
- Current registration on the impounded vehicle. It must be current and not have a Mandatory Insurance “M/I” suspension on the plate. If the paper registration is in your car, you do not need to bring it and we will try to look it up in our computer.
- A cash or money order made out to the City of San Luis for $150.00. No other forms of payment will be accepted.
- The pink copy of the vehicle impound report or the Case Number.
- If you are the spouse, and not listed on the registration, you must provide your marriage license.
- If you were required to have an ignition interlock device installed, you must have paperwork from the company showing it was installed on the vehicle which is currently impounded.
- Rental car companies must provide the rental contract and letterhead authorizing their assigned employee to recover the vehicle on the company’s behalf. That employee must also provide credentials showing he/she works for the rental car company.
- Lien Holders, refer to associated link for release information and required documents.
Presentation of fraudulent documents is a crime. All documents will be verified, and violators will be prosecuted.
If the 20 days have expired and I own the car but my driver’s license is not valid, or I live out of state and cannot come in for the release?
If you are the owner, you may use a Limited Power of Attorney to assign power of attorney to someone with a valid DL. THE POWER OF ATTORNEY CAN ONLY BE USED AFTER THE 20 DAYS HAS EXPIRED.
You must fill out the Power of Attorney (link below) and have it signed and notarized, then you must give the original notarized form to the person you are assigning P.O.A to and they will bring it to the Police Department with all of the required documents (listed above).
Click here for a blank Limited Power of Attorney to release my vehicle. The Power of Attorney may only be used AFTER the 20 days has expired.
The towing company is prohibited from releasing this vehicle to you unless you have the SLPD release form.
You must pay all towing and storage fees and you must show the towing company photo identification and proof of ownership in order for this vehicle to be released to you.
Tow Company Info/Fees
Please note: If your vehicle is unclaimed for more than ten (10) days after the 20 days has expired, under Arizona law the towing company may file a claim for an abandoned title and seek ownership of this vehicle on the 41st day of impound. If you will be delayed in getting your vehicle, please contact the towing company to make them aware you are not abandoning the vehicle.
