Licking County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot in Licking County, Ohio.
*Estimated fees shown for Licking County. Actual fees may vary.
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What comes next after a Ohio DUI arrest
SR-22 insurance
A DUI in Ohio often means an SR-22 must be filed before your license is reinstated.
Ohio SR-22 guideDUI classes
Courts and the DMV usually require an approved alcohol education program in Ohio.
DUI school guideIgnition interlock
Depending on your offense, Ohio may require an interlock device to drive again.
Interlock guideThe First 48 Hours
After a OVI arrest in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Lot Information Pending
Contact Licking County local dispatch for specific towing lot assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Newark Police impound lot at 1195 E Main Street doesn't process payments or paperwork — that all happens first at Newark PD headquarters, 39 South 4th Street, where the Impound Clerk collects fees and issues a release authorization before anyone heads to the actual lot. Driving straight to the lot address is the single most common mistake defendants make.
Release hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed weekends and holidays. Arrive after 3 p.m. on a weekday and there's a real risk the paperwork won't clear before the 4 p.m. cutoff. Get towed Friday night, and the car sits until Monday, racking up storage for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before anyone can even start the release process. The office also tends to go quiet around lunch, so showing up right at 8 a.m. beats rolling the dice on a midday visit.
Storage runs $25 a day, the base tow fee is $240 (state rules allow more for heavier vehicles), and there's a separate $50 immobilization/administrative fee. Cash, money order, and debit or credit all work, though cards carry a processing fee.
The Title Catch-22
Release requires a valid photo ID and the actual vehicle title or memorandum title — not just registration, which is what most people keep in the glove box instead. If the title is locked inside the impounded car, retrieving it means requesting a supervised civil standby just to get into the cabin. And if the arresting officer already took the driver's license as part of an Administrative License Suspension, that's not valid ID anymore either — a passport or state ID card is needed to satisfy the clerk.
If the suspension itself is what triggered the tow, or the car is under a repeat-offender immobilization hold, police have no authority to release it on their own, no matter how ready someone is to pay. A separate vehicle release order from the Licking County Municipal Court has to be in hand first.
A Statutory Escape Hatch Most People Don't Know About
Ohio's towing-fee rules include one genuinely useful protection: if the owner reaches the scene while the tow truck is still hooking up the car but hasn't left yet, the law requires the operator to offer release for half the standard rate. Catching the truck before it pulls away can save hundreds of dollars and skip the impound lot entirely.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: