Everything You Need to Know About Arizona Towing Laws

Knowing your rights as a car owner is important if you ever find your vehicle towed. Towing laws are aplenty and vary from city to town depending on where you live in Arizona, including maximum towing rates and rules about parking on private property.

If your car has been towed and you don’t know what to do about it, Jerry, the car insurance expert app, has put together a guide to Arizona’s towing laws.

When can police tow a vehicle in Arizona?

Arizona police may tow your vehicle for reasons ranging from possessing an invalid driver’s license to blocking a highway. In general, police tow your vehicle for safety reasons, in order to keep fellow residents and drivers safe on the road.

You’ll find the official rules of when police can tow your vehicle under Section 28-3511 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. It’s a lengthy law with several clauses that may be hard to understand. Lucky for you, we’ve broken it down for you in simpler terms.

These are the main reasons your vehicle may be towed by law enforcement:

• You are driving without a license
  
• You are driving with a suspended license
  
• You have been arrested for Extreme DUI or Aggravated DUI
  
• You are under 21 years old and have consumed alcohol
  
• You do not have an ignition interlock device (also known as a “breathalyzer”) installed in your vehicle as appointed by the court
  
• You are transporting an illegal resident
  
• You are blocking a main road or highway
  
• Your vehicle is for sale with a destroyed vehicle identification number (VIN)

On the other hand, your car may not be towed if all of the following apply:

• Your vehicle is registered
  
• You are with another person who holds a valid driver’s license and is not under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
  
• The other person with you notifies the police officer that you will drive home or to another place of safety

How to get your car out of an impound lot in Arizona

First things first, you should know that impound lots are required to return your vehicle on the day of your request—as long as you provide proper documentation. These are the documents you’ll need:

• Your valid driver’s license
  
• Proof of vehicle registration
  
• Proof of insurance

You can then proceed to get your vehicle back by following these four steps:

• Contact the law enforcement agency that impounded your vehicle.
  
• Provide valid paperwork.
  
• Pay the necessary fees.
  
• Arrive at the impoundment facility.

Pretty easy, right? The only tough part is the number of fees you’ll have to pay to get your car back. The storage of your vehicle doesn’t only require storage space but also labor from the towing company’s employees. Here’s what your fee breakdown may look like:

• Towing fees (e.g. your vehicle weight, equipment used, etc.)
  
• Storage fees
  
• Administrative fees
  
• Lien fees, if applicable
  
• After-hours fees, if applicable

Learn More: My car got towed. Now what?

When can private property owners tow a vehicle in Arizona?

In Arizona, it is legal to park on private properties—as long as there is no “No Parking” sign. Private property ranges from homes and businesses to landlord properties like apartments, which means private property owners may also have individual rules.

While each city and municipality can set their own regulations, the state of Arizona has these general laws for parking on private property:

• The maximum rate for towing, transporting, or impounding a vehicle from private property is set by each city or town
  
• Parking areas on private property must have visible signs that are readable from any part of the area. The signs must include parking restrictions (i.e. appropriate location and/or hours), a warning to violators, and the maximum fine for the violation. (ARS Section 9-499.05)
  
• If you do not have a storage contract, you may not park your car on private property for more than 15 days or it can be towed.
  
• A vehicle is considered abandoned if it has been left unattended for at least 72 hours and may be towed.

When can your car be towed from a parking lot in Arizona?

Don’t get it twisted, parking lots still have rules! In Arizona, your car can be towed from a parking lot if:

• Your vehicle is obstructing the regular flow of traffic
  
• Your vehicle is stolen or taken without permission from the owner
  
• Your vehicle is on a private parking lot for more than 15 days that isn’t covered by a storage contract
  
• Your vehicle is on a private parking lot and you have violated its rules

What are my rights if my car is towed in Arizona?

Your car may be towed, but all is not lost! Take a deep breath and remember that you still have rights. Towing companies can sometimes be predatory with their services, but they are also subject to laws set by both the state and the city or town.

If your car is towed in Arizona, you are entitled to the following:

• As long as you have the proper documentation, the towing company must release your vehicle at your request.
  
• You may access your vehicle and retrieve your belongings without paying a fee to the towing company or impound lot.
  
• Towing companies must provide you with a written statement of fees before requesting a payment.
  
• Your vehicle must be towed to the nearest available lot unless law enforcement says otherwise.
  
• Towing companies may not charge a fee if they are absent during work hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

How to save on car insurance in Arizona

If your car has been towed, your car insurance rates have likely gone up too. Since your driving record now includes a new violation, your insurance company will take note, consider you a higher-risk driver, and raise your premium. But don’t panic—there’s a way to get you down to your previous rate or lower.

What’s the secret? Simply download the Jerry app from the App Store, the #1-rated insurance app designed to save drivers hundreds. All it takes is 45 seconds to sign up and you’ll see a list of quotes from over 55 insurance providers, including Progressive and GEICO. Tap your favorite Arizona car insurance policy, and Jerry will switch you over in a snap.

Jerry even reminds you to renew your policy every six months to make sure you’re always getting the cheapest rate! The result is an average annual savings of over $800 on car insurance!

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Christelle Agustin

Christelle Agustin is an insurance writer specializing in car insurance, home insurance, and car review content. Christelle’s love of language has driven her to pursue all types of writing. As part of the Jerry team, Christelle has written more than 100 articles covering insurance and maintenance topics, as well as specific reviews of make and model specs.

Jessica Barrett

Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.