Las Vegas’s main lots for impounded vehicles after a Nevada DUI arrest include these locations near the I-15:
- Ewing Brothers at 1200 A Street, Las Vegas, NV 89106; (702) 382-9261;
- Quality Towing at 2024 Losee Rd, North Las Vegas, NV 89030; (702) 649-5711;
- Fast Towing at 4220 Donovan Way, North Las Vegas, NV 89030; (702) 383-3278;
- Around the Clock Towing Service at 600 W Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV 89106; (702) 378-5591; and
- Big Valley Towing at 2132 Commerce Street, Las Vegas, NV 89030; (702) 233-2869.
If you do not know where your vehicle has been towed, call the police department at 311 or do an online search at AutoReturn.com.
Avoiding a Tow after a DUI
After an arrest for driving under the influence in Las Vegas, police officers may allow a non-intoxicated passenger to take the vehicle away. Alternatively, police may permit you to phone family or friends to come by and take possession of the vehicle.
Ultimately though, law enforcement has full discretion over whether to get a vehicle towed to an impoundment lot following a DUI. If the vehicle is obstructing traffic or otherwise jeopardizing public safety, the police’s priority is to have it removed from the area as soon as possible.
Call 311 to locate a towed car.
Choose Your Towing Company
If you are arrested for drunk driving, you can tell the officer which tow truck service and impound lot you prefer to use. Typically, this is whichever service your car insurance company covers.
Las Vegas police will usually comply with this request. If you are too intoxicated to communicate, the police will choose which tow company to call.
Retrieving Your Impounded Vehicle
In Las Vegas, the registered owner is the only person who can retrieve a vehicle following an impound. It does not matter if the registered owner is not the vehicle’s primary driver and is not named on the insurance.
The registered owner must produce a photo ID and proof of legal title, such as
- registration papers or
- the actual title.
The registered owner must pay all storage fees not covered by insurance before the lot will release the vehicle. Impound companies usually accept
- cash,
- credit cards,
- money orders, and
- wire transfers.
On average, impound fees are $30 a day, not including towing fees. Some lots add a one-time “lien fee” (often $50 to $100) if the vehicle is not picked up within the first few days, which is separate from the daily storage rate. Also, some lots charge an “after-hours” or “gate fee” if you try to retrieve your vehicle outside of standard business hours.
NRS 706.4479 protects against “runaway” storage bills by capping how many days a tow yard can charge you if they fail to notify you that they have your car:
- If the police ordered your car towed following a crash, fees are capped at 21 days.
- For all other tows (such as illegal parking), fees are capped at 15 days.
Cars that are never picked up will be auctioned off, usually after 30 days. The impound company will then sue the car owner for any outstanding fees not covered by the auction proceeds.
If Your License Gets Revoked
If you are the registered owner and have your driver’s license revoked following a Las Vegas DUI arrest, you will be unable to drive away the car from the lot. Therefore, you must bring a licensed driver with you to retrieve the vehicle lawfully.
The length of your driver’s license suspension depends on the case, as the following table shows:
| DUI Offense | Length of Nevada Driver’s License Revocation |
| 1st DUI | 185 days. However, it is usually possible to keep driving with an ignition interlock device. |
| 2nd DUI (within 7 years) | 1 year. However, it is usually possible to keep driving with an ignition interlock device. |
| Any felony DUI, including a 3rd DUI (within 7 years) | 3 years. However, it is usually possible to keep driving with an ignition interlock device. |
It may be possible to contest a DUI license revocation at a DMV hearing, which is like a mini-trial entirely separate from the criminal DUI case.
Impound fees can add up quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out exactly which impound lot has my car?
In Las Vegas, the most efficient way to locate a towed vehicle is to visit AutoReturn.com or call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s non-emergency line at 3-1-1. Most DUI-related tows in the city are handled by one of three primary companies:
- Ewing Brothers: (702) 382-9261
- Quality Towing: (702) 649-5711
- Fast Towing: (702) 383-3278
What documents do I need to get my car back?
To retrieve your vehicle in Nevada, you generally must be the registered owner and provide:
- A valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport),
- Proof of ownership (vehicle registration or title),
- Proof of current insurance, and
- Payment for towing and storage fees.
If your license was suspended due to the DUI arrest, you must bring a friend or family member with a valid license to drive the car off the lot.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Nevada?
Costs vary, but you should expect to pay a base towing fee plus daily storage fees. In Las Vegas, storage fees typically average $30 per day. Be aware that additional costs—such as administrative fees, “after-hours” release fees, or lien processing fees—can quickly increase the total bill.
Can someone else pick up the car for me?
Yes, but only if you provide them with a notarized Letter of Authorization or a specific Power of Attorney allowing them to retrieve the vehicle on your behalf. They will still need to provide the vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance, and they must have a valid driver’s license.
What happens if I do not pick up my car?
If a vehicle is left in impound for too long (usually 30 days depending on the lot’s policy), the towing company has the legal right to auction it off to recoup their costs. If the car sells for less than the amount you owe in storage fees, the towing company can sue you for the remaining balance.
Are police required to tow my car after a DUI arrest?
Not necessarily. While it is standard procedure, Nevada officers have the discretion to allow a sober, licensed passenger to drive the vehicle away. In some rare cases, they may allow you to call a friend to pick up the car from the scene if it can be parked safely and legally in the meantime.
Can I challenge the towing fees?
If you believe your car was towed or impounded unlawfully, you can file an Affidavit of Complaint for Unlawful Towing in the local Justice Court. If a judge finds the tow was unjustified, they may order the towing company to waive the fees or reimburse you. A Nevada DUI defense attorney can help determine if the impoundment violated your rights.
Additional Reading
For more in-depth information, refer to these scholarly articles:
- An Evaluation of the General Deterrent Effect of Vehicle Impoundment on Suspended and Revoked Drivers in California – Journal of Safety Research.
- An evaluation of the specific deterrent effects of vehicle impoundment on suspended, revoked, and unlicensed drivers in California – Accident Analysis & Prevention.
- Towing Can Devastate a Poor Family: The Solution Is to Reduce the Fees – Berkeley La Raza Law Journal.
- Safety and Other Impacts of Vehicle Impound Enforcement – Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California at Berkeley.
- To Tow Or Not to Tow: The Deterrence Effect of a Municipal Ordinance – Criminal Law Bulletin.
