How To Get a Car Out of Impound Without Insurance (2024)

If you’re wondering how to get a car out of impound without coverage, then your car has probably already been impounded. So what can you do?

How do you get a car out of impound without auto insurance? What if your car is impounded because you were driving without auto insurance to begin with?

Can you get a car out of impound without auto insurance?

The short answer is no, you can’t. You will need auto insurance to get your vehicle out of impound.

Understanding auto insurance basics and the requirements in your area can help you figure out your next steps for getting your car out of impound. Continue reading through this guide to learn how you can get auto insurance before you get to the impound lot.

To make sure you have the coverage you need to get your vehicle out of impound, you can enter your ZIP code in our free comparison tool to get a free quote today.

What happens when my car is impounded?

When your car is impounded, it will be towed to an impound lot. This is usually the lot closest to wherever your car was located at the time of the impoundment, but be sure to call ahead to be sure before you show up.

Once at the lot, your impounded car will have to stay there for a mandatory impoundment period. This could just be one day, but it could also be a week, or even a whole month.

Once that mandatory time is over, you can pick up your car. You’ll most likely have to pay the impound fees to drive it home, but only after you provide proof of ownership, proof of insurance, valid ID, and other paperwork.

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Do I need coverage to get my car out of impound?

As we already noted, the answer is yes, you do need coverage. You can’t get a vehicle out of impound if it’s uninsured. If you are insured, bring your proof of insurance to the impound lot.

How to Get a Car Out of Impound Without Insurance

Let’s say your car is impounded for no insurance. What do you do? Can you get your car back? If so, what steps do you need to take? How much will it cost? 

Regardless of the reason your car was impounded, you’re going to need valid insurance to get your car out of the impound lot – but especially if your car was impounded for no insurance.

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What if I don’t have proof of coverage?

If you don’t have proof of coverage, you most likely won’t be able to get your vehicle out of impound. Your best bet is to purchase a basic policy that meets the minimum auto insurance coverage you have to sign up for so the lot will release your vehicle, which we’ll discuss in more detail later.

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How to Get a Car Out of Impound Without Paying Impound Fees

You’re probably wondering, how to get my car out of impound for free? Unfortunately, payment of impound fees is almost always required before a lot will release your vehicle.

So how much are impound fees? Here’s a rough estimate of how much money you can expect to pay for impound and towing fees.

Estimate of Impound Release Fees and Towing Fees

Impound release fees can vary by city. You could pay more or less based on the distance your car had to be towed or the maximum penalty of a local ordinance.

It may be cheaper (and easier) to get coverage. You can even get it in less than 15 minutes. Start with your ZIP code and our free comparison tool to get a quote.

What about non-owner auto insurance for getting my car out of impound?

Some drivers have a policy through non-owners auto insurance, which says that someone else is the primary policyholder to your policy.

But how do you get a car out of impound without the owner? The short answer is you can’t. The vehicle owner has to be the person to pick up the vehicle.

Am I required to carry proof of insurance?

In 49 states in America (all except New Hampshire), you are required to carry proof of coverage in the form of a card or certificate whenever you’re operating a vehicle on public roads.

Failure to carry proof of coverage will lead to fines, vehicle impoundment, and potentially even more severe consequences.

If you are pulled over by a police officer and are unable to provide proof of coverage, then the officer may choose to impound your vehicle.

This is the reason the impound lot will not release your vehicle without proof of insurance. You need to drive your vehicle off the lot, but you cannot legally drive your vehicle until it’s covered.

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Even if your vehicle is impounded for something that isn’t your fault, like if it was stolen, you’ll often still have to pay fines, provide proof of insurance, etc. to get your vehicle off the lot.

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What are my options for how to get a car out of impound without insurance if my car was impounded and uninsured?

As we noted earlier and promised we’d discuss in more detail later, if you don’t have coverage, you probably won’t be able to get your car out of the impound lot. So what’s next? Keep reading to find out.

How can I get insurance for an impounded car?

So your vehicle has been impounded. You don’t have auto insurance on the impounded vehicle, but you need auto insurance to recover your vehicle. What do you do now? Here’s what you need to do.

Should I shop around for auto insurance before getting my car out of impound?

First, you can find auto insurance quotes online using your vehicle’s make and model and your demographic information. Get a minimum of three insurance quotes from local companies.

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What if I am considered a high-risk driver?

Remember that you may be considered a high-risk driver after being caught driving without insurance— especially if it was a severe incident. Some insurers may even deny your quote request entirely.

Or, at the very least, you could face much higher car insurance quotes, because high-risk car insurance is typically more expensive than for average drivers.

Is bare minimum coverage fine for getting my car out of impound?

While there are a number of auto insurance coverage types, if you’re having trouble finding affordable car insurance quotes for your impounded vehicle, remember you don’t need comprehensive or collision coverage. You just need your state’s bare minimum coverage.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the national average for liability auto insurance $555 per year or $46 per month. You can search for your state in this table to see the minimum liability requirements and average rate where you live.

Minimum Insurance Requirements and Average Liability Rates by State

Keep in mind these numbers are average, and your rates may vary based on your ZIP code, the vehicle you drive, your auto insurance company, and more.

What if I need an SR-22 form?

SR-22 auto insurance forms are required for high-risk drivers in many states. If you’re considered a high-risk driver, then you may need to file an SR-22 form with your state’s DMV. An SR-22 form typically costs about $50 for six months and allows you to buy car insurance as a high-risk driver.

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How do I get proof of insurance after making my first insurance down payment?

All you need to recover your car from the impound lot is valid proof of insurance. You can get that valid proof of insurance as soon as you make your first insurance down payment.

Many auto insurance companies let you print off this proof at home. Or, your insurance agent can fax it over. Once you have proof of insurance, you’re almost ready to pick up your car. Keep reading for exactly what documentation you’ll need.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Your Car Out of Impound

Here are the steps you need to follow if you want to get your car out of the impound lot:

Step 1) Check if your vehicle needs to be impounded for a mandatory time before you retrieve it

Step 2) Get the release document for your car signed off

Step 3) Get your ID and proof of ownership papers (i.e., the title for the vehicle)

Step 4) Bring proof of auto insurance or buy new auto insurance

Step 5) Bring enough money to pay for the towing fees, impound fees, and other costs

As we’ve already described. you cannot get your car out of impound if you do not have insurance. If you have not yet bought a car insurance policy, then you need to go shopping.

Recall that we’ve already spent some time discussing the ways you can get the best coverage for your situation.

Temporary auto insurance policies are available, and you can cancel your auto insurance policy after you recover your vehicle if you don’t want to keep it long-term (though if you don’t have coverage, you won’t legally be able to drive your vehicle).

Why are cars impounded?

Why are vehicles impounded? Does failure to have insurance automatically mean a vehicle is impounded? What other reasons, besides lack of insurance, might a vehicle be impounded? Keep reading for more.

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Can my vehicle be impounded for no insurance?

If you’re caught driving uninsured, your vehicle can be impounded.

Police officers have some leeway in deciding whether or not to impound your vehicle after you fail to provide proof of insurance.

Different states have different rules regarding proof of insurance requirements. If you were caught with a minor infraction like a broken taillight then the police officer might allow you to drive directly home, even after you’re caught with no proof of insurance.

If you’re involved in a serious collision or violation, however, and fail to provide proof of insurance, then you will likely face more severe consequences.

Ultimately, it’s up to the law enforcement officer to decide whether or not to impound your vehicle after you’re caught driving without insurance.

What other reasons might my car be impounded?

Besides driving without insurance, your vehicle could be impounded for a number of other reasons.

Theoretically, any time you are breaking the law in your vehicle, if you’re caught, it could result in vehicle impoundment. This includes driving with an expired license, driving with a suspended license, driving a stolen car, excessive speeding, driving under the influence, etc.

As we noted earlier, however, these don’t necessarily mean your vehicle will be impounded, because the police do have some ability to decide whether or not to impound a vehicle or choose some other consequence.

Additionally, things like having your vehicle stolen could mean it is impounded on recovery.

Read more: car stolen without insurance

How to Get a Car Out of Impound Without Insurance: The Bottom Line

In almost every case, you will need to provide proof of insurance to recover your vehicle from an impound lot. This is especially true when your vehicle has been impounded due to a lack of insurance.

If you were pulled over and unable to provide proof of insurance, for example, then your car may be impounded. You will need to purchase auto insurance for that vehicle before recovering it from the impound lot.

The longer you wait to buy auto insurance, the more you’re going to pay in the long run for impound fees.

If you want to recover your car as soon as possible, you need to buy auto insurance for your impounded vehicle before going to retrieve it from the impound lot.

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