Minneapolis Impound Lot
Resources
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 on the vehicle that is impounded
- Current registration, title or lease agreement
- If your tabs are expired over 90 days, we will not let you drive the vehicle off of our lot. You must show us current tabs and the DMV receipt to drive your vehicle off of our lot.
- 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:
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.
Impound fees
Charges | Fee |
---|---|
Standard tow charge | $138 |
Daily storage rate | $18 per day (assessed at midnight) |
Heavy-duty tow | $204.50 plus winch time at $94.50 per half-hour |
Notification letter | $6 |
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.
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Contact us
Minneapolis Impound Lot
Regular operating hours
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Monday – Saturday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday
Snow Emergency hours
Open 24 hours. On Day 3, plowing ends at 8 p.m. and we stay open until 1 a.m. (the next day). We then go back to our regular operating hours.
Holiday hours
We are closed on City holidays that fall on Monday-Friday. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, but is observed on Friday or Monday, the Impound Lot is closed on the Saturday or Sunday, and open on the Friday or Monday.