How to Retrieve an Impounded Vehicle?
2 Answers
The traffic management department of the public security organ shall, within three days from the date of concluding the on-site accident investigation, entrust a qualified appraisal institution to conduct inspection and appraisal. The traffic management department of the public security organ shall agree with the inspection and appraisal institution on the time limit for completing the inspection and appraisal, which shall not exceed twenty days. Within five days from the date when the inspection and appraisal conclusions are determined, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall notify the parties to collect the impounded accident vehicle.
I've had personal experience with vehicle impoundment. If your car was impounded due to traffic violations like speeding or drunk driving, you'll need to first settle the ticket at the traffic police station, pay the fine, and obtain the vehicle release form before retrieving your car from the impound lot. Remember to bring your ID card, driver's license, and vehicle registration certificate. If the impoundment resulted from an accident, wait until the liability determination is issued and let the insurance company handle the process. Some impound lots charge parking fees—technically, these shouldn't apply for law enforcement impounds, but many places still charge them in practice, so it's wise to call ahead and clarify the costs. If you're missing any documents, consider authorizing a family member or friend to handle it for you with a power of attorney to save multiple trips.