Mohave County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot in Mohave County, Arizona.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DUI arrest in Mohave County, your vehicle is likely towed to an impound lot. Storage fees accumulate daily, making time your biggest enemy.
Retrieval Timeline
- 1
Vehicle Towed
Usually within 30 minutes of your arrest.
- 2
Lot Notification
Fees and admin processing start immediately upon arrival.
- 3
Daily Accrual
Fees start at $25.0/day in Mohave County.
- 4
Final Notice
After 30 days, the lot may begin the auction process.
Required Documents
- Valid Photo ID (License or State ID)
- Vehicle Registration or Title
- Current Proof of Insurance
- Full Payment (Cash/Credit)
- Release Authorization (if not owner)
Owner Not Present?
If the registered owner is in custody, you will need a notarized power of attorney or specific written authorization and a copy of their ID to retrieve the vehicle.
Lot Details & Map
Current storage facility information for Mohave County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Lot Information Pending
Contact Mohave County local dispatch for specific towing lot assignments.
The Impound “Poverty Trap”
Many people can't afford to get their car out immediately, but waiting only makes it worse.
Here's the vicious cycle:
Can't afford the first 3 days of storage + admin fees
Wait a week to save money → fees double
Can't get to work without car → lose income
Wait 2 weeks → fees triple or quadruple
After 30 days → Car may be auctioned by the lot
What You Can Do
- • Borrow money from family/friends (pay them back later, cheaper than daily fees)
- • Use a credit card (even with interest, cheaper than impound fees)
- • Sell non-essential items quickly
- • Ask your employer for an advance
- • Check if your auto insurance covers towing/storage (some policies do)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Mohave County?
A full 30-day hold typically totals $700 to $1,200, combining the $150 agency administrative fee with towing ($150-$250), storage ($15-$25/day), and a possible after-hours gate fee.
Which agency do I pay to release an impounded vehicle in Mohave County?
Whichever police department or the Sheriff's Office made the arrest — each has its own release location and hours, and the Sheriff's Office, Kingman PD, Lake Havasu City PD, and Bullhead City PD all operate independently.
Why are Bullhead City impound hours so restrictive?
Bullhead City PD only processes releases Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment, and is closed Fridays entirely — a Thursday-night arrest there can mean the vehicle sits impounded until Monday.
Can my spouse retrieve my impounded car in Mohave County if we have different last names?
Often yes, under Arizona's community-property provision, but bring a marriage certificate — agencies enforce the registered-owner rule strictly and may otherwise require supervisor approval.
Going straight to the tow yard without agency paperwork in hand is the single most common mistake in Mohave County. Every one of the county's police departments requires the registered owner to pay an administrative fee and get a Vehicle Release Form from them first; showing up at the tow yard without it just gets you turned away.
Which Agency, Which Rules
The Mohave County Sheriff's Office (600 W. Beale St., Kingman) handles releases for arrests made in unincorporated areas, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., though arriving after 3:30 p.m. risks the transaction not finishing before close. Kingman Police Department (2730 E. Andy Devine Ave.) generally runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but closes its records window for lunch, noon to 1 p.m. Lake Havasu City PD (2360 McCulloch Blvd N) runs standard weekday hours and specifically schedules post-storage hearings for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bullhead City PD (1255 Marina Blvd) has the tightest hours in the county: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only, appointment required, closed Fridays entirely — a Thursday-night arrest there can mean the car sits until Monday, a mandatory four days of storage.
All four charge the same $150 statutory administrative fee. Most take cash, cashier's check, or money order; personal checks are rejected everywhere, and card payments (where accepted) often carry a surcharge around 2.5%.
The Geography Problem
If you're arrested in Lake Havasu City or Bullhead City but transported to Kingman for booking, you're released 35 to 60 miles from your own car. Completing the full loop, agency fee, then tow yard, in one trip can take 6 to 8 hours once you account for transport between cities, and if you're released mid-afternoon it's often physically impossible to finish before the offices close at 5 p.m., leaving you stranded for another night.
What It Costs
Towing runs $150 to $250 depending on vehicle size and distance, storage $15 to $25 a day, and a gate fee of $50 to $100 if a yard agrees to open after hours (rare). A full 30-day hold typically totals $700 to $1,200 combined with the $150 agency fee. If the vehicle is older and worth less than the accumulating fees, signing the title over to the tow company waives the storage bill, though the $150 agency fee is a separate municipal debt that can still go to collections.
Early Release
A spouse can retrieve the vehicle under Arizona's community-property provision even if they're not on the title, but if the last names on ID don't match, bring a marriage certificate — agencies enforce the registered-owner rule strictly and may require a supervisor's sign-off without one.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: