Greene County Vehicle Impound Guide

Sandy's Towing and Recovery, the dominant impound operator for Fairborn and Beavercreek arrests at 847 N. Broad St. in Fairborn, doesn't let anyone walk in with cash and paper documents anymore. A pandemic-era "Continuity Procedure" calcified into permanent policy: the owner has to go to Sandy's website first, upload scans or photos of a valid ID, the vehicle title, and the registration (each file capped at 8 MB), digitally sign a consent form, and pay through PayPal — all before showing up. Arrive without finishing that online process first, and the window staff will turn the car away. A printed copy of the receipt or confirmation email still has to come along to actually collect the vehicle. Arrests in Xenia and the southern part of the county more often route to Moorman's Towing & Body Shop on S. Miami Ave instead, a full-service operator that works directly with the Sheriff's Office and Xenia PD.

Only the Titled Owner Can Walk Out With the Car

Ohio law releases an impounded vehicle only to its titled owner — not whoever was driving it, even with keys in hand and cash ready to pay. If the car belongs to a spouse, parent, or friend, and that person can't show up in person, they need a notarized statement or a Vehicle Power of Attorney naming someone else to collect it, plus a copy of the title and registration and that designee's own photo ID. For an out-of-state owner, an online notarization service can generate the needed document quickly without requiring an in-person visit.

A rental car carries its own wrinkle: the towing company requires a signed Hold Harmless agreement before release. And if the arresting agency flags the vehicle as evidence in a more serious case, like vehicular assault, the lot is legally barred from releasing it until police issue a formal written release order.

The Costs Compound Fast

A four-hour grace period waives storage entirely, but that's essentially never usable for an OVI arrest since the owner is typically still being processed through the jail. Once the window closes, a $145 base tow fee and a $10 administrative fee hit immediately, and a $25 daily storage charge gets added every midnight after that.

The 10-Day Abandonment Clock

A vehicle left unclaimed becomes legally "abandoned" after just 10 days under Ohio law, at which point the towing company can pursue a salvage title and sell it for scrap to recover their costs. For anyone facing extended jail time or serious financial strain, getting the car out fast matters more than almost anything else on the list — scrap values shift, and towing companies move quickly once that window closes.