The fees to get a towed car back from an impound lot vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the circumstances of when and why you were towed. Different types of fees you might need to pay to retrieve an impounded vehicle in Oregon include:

Towing fees

Daily storage fees

Administrative fees

Transfer charge fees

After-hours fees, lien charges, and auction fees (when applicable)

What to do if you’re the vehicle owner: If your vehicle has been towed, contact the police or local traffic enforcement agency right away for information on how to retrieve your car. The City of Portland has a

website for drivers

whose cars have been towed to help them locate the lot it was taken to.

You should be able to get your car back during the impound lot’s normal business hours by providing:

Your driver’s license

Proof of current registration

Proof of insurance

If you’re not the vehicle owner or can’t get to the lot: Someone else can claim the vehicle with the documents above and a letter of authorization from the registered owner.

Don’t waste any time to retrieve your motor vehicle from the lot where it’s been towed to! After 30 days, any unclaimed vehicles will either

go to auction or be disposed of

MORE: My car got towed. Now what?

Police towing laws in Oregon

Oregon State law enforcement can tow a vehicle under the following circumstances:

Suspended license: The owner’s

license has been suspended

, canceled, or revoked

Uninsured vehicle: The driver does not have proof of insurance

Arrested driver: The driver is arrested or taken into police custody

Parking violation: The vehicle is obstructing traffic or parked illegally

Emergency: The vehicle is blocking the path of an emergency vehicle

Abandoned vehicle: The vehicle has been abandoned for more than 24 hours

This is by no means an all-inclusive list. If you need more information, read

ORS Chapter 98

MORE:

How police catch uninsured drivers

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Private property owner towing laws in Oregon

Under ORS 98.830, private property or business owners can tow a vehicle if it is illegally parked or abandoned on their property for more than 24 hours.

Private property owner limitations: A property owner can’t just tow a car as soon as that 24-hour period elapses. There are a few steps that private poverty owners are legally required to take first:

Affix a plainly visible sign to the vehicle stating that it will be towed if not moved.

Leave the sign in place for at least 72 hours.

Fill out and sign a form that includes a description of the vehicle, the location where the vehicle was towed to, and a statement that they have complied with the above two requirements

You may be entitled to restitution if your vehicle is towed by a property owner or towing business who has failed to comply with any of these requirements.

Parking lot towing laws in Oregon

If you’re parked in a private parking facility (like for a business, restaurant, or retail store), then your vehicle can be towed if it is:

Blocking an entrance or exit

Parked in a fire lane or a disabled parking space

Blocking a fire hydrant

Parked in a spot that is specifically labeled for a single purpose, like for an individual, unit number, etc

Parked in a business lot that prohibits public parking for non-business purposes

This can all vary widely according to where you are, so pay attention to signage. Some cities are far more relaxed, while other cities (looking at you,

Portland

) are like an all-out barroom brawl when it comes to parking lots.

MORE:

How to buy a police-impounded car

Rights of vehicle owners under Oregon towing laws

Keep in mind: The

Oregon Department of Justice

provides resources to help car owners know their vehicle towing rights and to get assistance if they feel they’ve been wronged.

No matter why your car was towed and who might have towed it, it’s important to know that you have certain rights:

The right to know where your vehicle was towed

The right to retrieve your personal property from the vehicle, even if you aren’t able to pay for the vehicle itself to be released

The right to claim your vehicle for free if the hookup is not complete, or for a fee assessed by the towing service if the hookup is complete but the car has not been moved

The right to sue the towing company if the vehicle was damaged during removal

The right to sufficient notice before your vehicle is towed from private property

An impound lot is allowed to charge a “gate fee” for you to enter and collect your belongings, but they can’t force you to pay the entire fee. Additionally, you have the right to get transportation aid to pick up your vehicle if you need it.

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