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IDAHO TOWING LAWS & RULES
Idaho towing and impound laws can be confusing for vehicle owners, property owners and even businesses.
Crossroads Towing & Salvage has served Nampa, Caldwell and Canyon County since 2002. This page explains Idaho towing laws in plain English—from private-property towing and impounds to vehicle-owner notifications, towing charges and unclaimed vehicles.
Our goal is simple: help you understand how the process works, what the law requires and what to expect when a vehicle is towed or impounded in Idaho.
Commercial Private-Property Towing in Idaho
Idaho law allows a business or commercial property to have unauthorized vehicles removed when specific requirements are met.
Commercial properties must have proper towing signs posted in a clearly visible location. The signage must warn that unauthorized vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense and identify the towing company.
The property owner or person in control of the commercial property must also have a written agreement with the towing company. This can be a standing agreement kept on file — a new contract is not required for every individual vehicle that is towed.
Crossroads requires the property manager or an authorized representative to request the tow.
Although patrol towing is legal and commonly practiced in Idaho, Crossroads does not patrol private parking lots looking for vehicles to impound.
We believe the person responsible for the property should decide when a vehicle needs to be removed.
RESIDENTIAL PRIVATE-PROPERTY TOWING IN IDAHO
The rules for removing a vehicle from residential or other non-commercial private property are different from the rules for commercial properties.
If the property is properly posted with towing signs that meet Idaho requirements, an unauthorized vehicle may be removed under the posted-property provisions of Idaho law.
If the property is not posted, an abandoned vehicle generally must meet Idaho’s legal definition of an abandoned vehicle before it can be removed through the private-property impound process.
At Crossroads, we require authorization from the property owner or person legally in control of the property before performing a private-property tow. For residential impounds, we also require documentation identifying the vehicle and authorizing its removal.
Private property and commercial property do not always follow the same towing rules. Property owners should make sure the proper legal requirements are met before requesting an impound.
LAW-ENFORCEMENT & POLICE IMPOUNDS IN IDAHO
When a vehicle is towed from public property as an impound, the tow is generally directed by law enforcement rather than initiated by the towing company.
The law-enforcement officer provides the required tow or impound documentation, and the tow operator signs and retains the appropriate paperwork. That documentation becomes an important part of the vehicle’s impound record and may later be required if the vehicle remains unclaimed and the towing company begins the title or disposal process.
After the vehicle arrives at the impound yard, the towing company has additional responsibilities under Idaho law, including reporting the vehicle through the Idaho Transportation Department’s Tow Portal within the required timeframe.
A police impound and a private-property impound do not begin the same way, but both trigger specific legal requirements after the vehicle is taken into custody.
A towing company does not decide on its own to impound a vehicle from public property. Law enforcement directs the tow.
AFTER A VEHICLE IS IMPOUNDED — THE IDAHO TOW PORTAL
When a vehicle is impounded in Idaho, the towing company has specific reporting requirements that begin shortly after the tow.
The towing company must enter the required vehicle and impound information into the Idaho Transportation Department Tow Portal within one business day. The towing and storage charges must also be reported through the portal and cannot exceed the rates the towing company has filed with the Idaho Transportation Department.
The Tow Portal process helps identify the registered owner, titled owner and any lienholders shown in Idaho motor vehicle records.
The Idaho Transportation Department then sends required notices by mail to the parties identified in those records, notifying them that the vehicle has been impounded and providing information about the tow and charges.
If the vehicle remains unclaimed, additional notification and waiting requirements apply before the towing company can eventually proceed with the appropriate title or junk-certificate process.
The Tow Portal creates a documented process so vehicle owners and lienholders are notified and towing companies follow the required steps before an unclaimed vehicle can change ownership or be disposed of.
An impounded vehicle does not simply become the towing company’s property because someone fails to pick it up. Idaho law requires a specific notification and waiting process.
Towing & Storage Charges
Towing companies in Idaho cannot simply make up impound charges after a vehicle has been towed.
Towing companies are required to provide their towing and storage rates to the Idaho Transportation Department, and those rates are part of the public record.
When an impounded vehicle is entered into the Idaho Tow Portal, the towing company must report the applicable charges. Those charges cannot exceed the rates the company has provided to ITD.
The total amount owed may increase while a vehicle remains in storage, so vehicle owners should contact the towing company as soon as possible after learning that their vehicle has been impounded.
Depending on the circumstances of the tow, charges may include towing, mileage, storage and other legally applicable services.
If you have questions about the charges on an impounded vehicle, ask the towing company for an explanation of the charges and rates that apply to your vehicle.
How Do I Get My Vehicle Out of Impound?
To release an impounded vehicle, the towing company must make sure the vehicle is being released to someone legally authorized to take possession of it.
Vehicle owners should be prepared to provide valid photo identification and proof of ownership or legal authority to retrieve the vehicle. Depending on the situation, additional documentation may be required if someone other than the registered or titled owner is picking up the vehicle.
Any towing, storage and other applicable charges must generally be paid before the vehicle can be released.
If you cannot immediately retrieve your vehicle, contact the towing company as soon as possible. Storage charges can continue to accumulate while the vehicle remains in the impound yard.
Every situation can be a little different. Calling the towing company and asking exactly what documentation you need before arriving can save time and prevent an unnecessary trip.
What Happens If an Impounded Vehicle Is Never Claimed?
If an impounded vehicle is not claimed by its owner, it does not automatically become the property of the towing company.
Idaho law requires specific notification and waiting procedures to be completed before an unclaimed vehicle can move through the title or disposal process. The vehicle is reported through the Idaho Transportation Department Tow Portal, and required notices are sent to the registered owner, titled owner and lienholders identified through motor vehicle records.
If the vehicle remains unclaimed after the required notices and waiting periods have been completed, the towing company may eventually be eligible to pursue the appropriate title or junk-certificate process, depending on the vehicle and circumstances.
These procedures are designed to give owners and other parties with a legal interest in the vehicle notice and an opportunity to claim it before ownership or disposition can change.
Abandoning a vehicle at an impound yard does not immediately end the owner’s interest in the vehicle or allow the towing company to simply sell it. A legal process must be followed.
It also does not erase the debt associated with the vehicle. There is most likely still a balance owed for towing, storage and other applicable charges, even if the vehicle is never claimed.
CAN I GET MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS OUT OF AN IMPOUNDED VEHICLE
Yes. You can claim your personal property without paying the towing and storage bill first.
Crossroads Towing & Salvage will accommodate one-time access to the vehicle during normal business hours so you can remove your personal belongings.
Please plan to collect all personal property you want from the vehicle during that visit. Repeated access to retrieve additional items over a period of days or weeks will not be accommodated.
Personal property does not include vehicle parts or anything installed, mounted, bolted, wired, connected, or otherwise attached to the vehicle. Stereos, speakers, amplifiers, wiring, batteries, aftermarket accessories, and other installed equipment may not be removed from an impounded vehicle, even if the equipment could technically be removed.
You will need to provide proper identification and establish that you are the registered owner or are legally authorized to access the vehicle.
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Hours
Mon | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Tue | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Wed | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Thu | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Fri | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |