Craven County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from J&S Wrecker Service in Craven County, North Carolina.
*Estimated fees shown for Craven County. Actual fees may vary.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DWI arrest in Craven 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 state averages in Craven 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 Craven County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tow company gets your car in Craven County depends entirely on who arrested you. The Sheriff's Office and State Highway Patrol run a zoned rotation system — dispatch calls whichever wrecker is next on the list for that zone, with a target response of 20 to 30 minutes, and you don't get a say in which company shows up. New Bern Police, by contrast, contracts directly with J&S Wrecker Service at 1806 Old Airport Rd for city enforcement tows, which actually makes a New Bern PD tow easier to track down than a county or state one scattered across whichever lot was "next up."
Rates run roughly $150-$300 for the initial tow, $30-$50 a day in storage, $50-$75 for an after-hours release, and $125-plus extra if the car needed winching out of a ditch. A towing-reform bill (HB 1037) aims to stop lots from charging storage for days they're not actually open for retrieval, but it isn't fully enacted yet — in the meantime, many lots still bill through closed weekends.
You'll need your registration or title and a licensed driver present — since your own license is almost certainly revoked after the arrest, someone else has to physically drive the car away; the lot can't legally hand it to an unlicensed person. Cash or certified funds are standard; credit cards aren't guaranteed to be accepted at every lot yet, even though a pending bill would require it.
If you think the tow itself wasn't justified, North Carolina law (G.S. 20-219.11) gives you the right to a hearing, filed with the Craven County Magistrate at 411 Craven St, typically scheduled within 72 hours. Win that argument, and the agency that ordered the tow — not you — can be on the hook for the fees.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: