Apache County Vehicle Impound Guide

An 80-mile tow from Sanders to Winslow adds over $300 to the bill in mileage alone, on top of everything else. In Apache County, distance is the single biggest cost driver in getting a car back after a DUI arrest.

No Central Impound Lot

There is no single "Apache County impound lot." Which yard gets your vehicle depends on the exact milepost of the arrest and whichever contractor was next on that district's rotation list. St. Johns and Springerville arrests typically go to Navapache Towing or Springerville Auto Wreckers. Chinle and Many Farms arrests, often made by cross-commissioned Navajo Police, go to Speedway Towing or B&C Garage & Towing. Sanders and the I-40 corridor go to Tri-R Towing or Parker Towing, sometimes as far as Winslow.

Getting the Paperwork First

Before any tow yard will release the vehicle, you need a Vehicle Release Form and have to pay a $150 administrative fee directly to whichever agency made the arrest, in person. Going straight to the tow yard first just gets you turned away, and if the police station is in St. Johns while the car is in Springerville or Show Low, that's two separate trips before you even reach the vehicle.

What It Costs

Base towing runs $200 to $250 before mileage, which adds up fast over the county's long distances; daily storage runs $25 to $35. Most rural yards here are effectively cash-only, refusing certain cards outright or charging a real surcharge for the ones they do take. Bring at least $500 in cash to cover the tow, mileage, storage, and the separate $150 admin fee together, since ATMs in places like Sanders or Many Farms aren't reliable.

Getting In

Yards require proof of ownership, meaning the title or current registration, which is often sitting inside the impounded car itself; some yards charge a gate fee just to let you retrieve it. Printing a duplicate registration from AZMVDNow.gov before you go avoids that trap. If your own license is suspended from the arrest, you legally can't drive the vehicle off the lot; bring a licensed driver along, since the yard checks both people's identification.

The 30-Day Hold and Early Release

Arizona requires impoundment for a suspended or absent license, underage drinking and driving, or extreme/aggravated DUI. Early release is possible if the registered owner wasn't the driver, provided they hold a valid license and current registration, but you have to request a Post Storage Hearing within 10 days of the impound notice or you waive the right to contest it entirely. For an ACSO impound, call (928) 337-4321 to schedule that hearing, typically conducted by phone given the distances involved.