Vehicle pick-up by you or a relative

We can release a vehicle 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:

1. Pay the fees.
2. Show the requested information.
3. Have a licensed driver to drive the vehicle from the lot.
   • You may also have the vehicle towed from the lot.

Information you need for vehicle release 

• Proof of insurance in your name on the vehicle that is impounded
• Current registration, title or lease agreement*
• License plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Picture ID such as a driver's license or Minnesota ID card

*Expired tabs

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.

Vehicle pick-up by someone else with notarized statement

• We can release a vehicle to a person with a different last name than the registered owner of the vehicle.
• They must have a notarized statement from the registered owner to pick up the vehicle.

The notarized statement must have

• 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)
• Make and year of the vehicle

You can send us these statements by either:

• Email
• Fax
• In-person

Send us the notarized statement

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

Impound vehicle fees

Parking tickets

We will also issue any parking citations when we release a towed vehicle.

You may pay parking ticket fines by either:

• Mail in the envelope provided
• The Hennepin County Violations Bureau

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:
  • An accident
  • Stolen
  • Involved in a crime
• Violating snow emergency rules
• Blocking City street work, such as
  • Street sweeping
  • Seal coating
  • Street maintenance crews or vehicles
• If it's abandoned
• If it poses a danger to public safety

How to avoid a tow

To lower the chances of your car being towed, be sure to follow:

• Street parking rules
• Permanent and temporary street signs
• Parking meter rates, rules and restrictions
• Snow-related parking rules

If you have five or more unpaid parking citations

We will not release your vehicle until you:

• Pay all fines.
• Show a letter from the Hennepin County Violations Bureau confirming you've paid all fines.

If you have any citations in collections

We will not release your vehicle until you:

• Pay the fines at the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
• Show a letter from the Hennepin County Violations Bureau confirming you've paid all fines.*

*Bring the receipts to the Hennepin County Violations Bureau to get a letter that confirms you paid all fines.

Resources

Visit the resources to pay fines, get a confirmation letter and more.

Minnesota Department of Revenue

Hennepin County Violations Bureau

Repossessed vehicles

We'll release impounded vehicles to repossessors who:

• Present an Affidavit of Repossession
• Pay the towing and storage fees

We cannot hold vehicles for repossessors

If the registered owner comes in first and meets the requirements for release, they'll be allowed to take the vehicle.

Snow emergency hours

• We're open 24 hours during a snow emergency.
• 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.

Learn more about snow emergencies

Holiday hours

We are closed on City holidays that fall on Monday-Friday.

Holidays on Saturday or Sunday

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.

See list of City Holidays