Charleston County Vehicle Impound Guide

How to retrieve your impounded vehicle after a DUI arrest in Charleston, SC. Learn about towing fees, hold periods, and required documentation.

Getting Your Car Back After a DUI Arrest in Charleston

Your Vehicle After a DUI Arrest

Under South Carolina law, police must clear the roadway of any vehicle operated by an individual arrested for driving under the influence. This happens unless a sober, legally licensed passenger is present at the scene and capable of taking immediate possession of the keys. The seizure is a standard safety measure. It is not a punitive action, but retrieving the vehicle requires immediate logistical coordination.

Where Is Your Car?

The arresting agency does not keep your vehicle at the police station. Instead, they dispatch a private towing company to transport it to a secure storage lot.

How to Find Your Vehicle

• Check your arrest paperwork — the tow company is listed there. The arresting officer must provide a towing receipt or booking sheet that lists the name and telephone number of the specific tow company.
• Call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency line. If the paperwork is missing or illegible, dispatchers can identify the towing company using your vehicle's license plate or your booking number.
• Reference your booking number. Having this identifier ready accelerates the search process when speaking with administrative staff.

The local Consolidated 9-1-1 Center maintains an online database of police-initiated tows. This system tracks vehicles towed within the municipal limits of Charleston, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant, though it does not cover Folly Beach.

What You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle

Tow operators will not release a vehicle to anyone who walks onto the lot. You must present specific credentials to prove ownership and legal authority to drive.

Required Documents

• Valid driver's license (or a licensed person picking it up for you)
• Vehicle registration or title
• Proof of insurance
• Payment for fees

If You Don't Have a Valid License

South Carolina's implied consent law under § 56-5-2950 creates an immediate hurdle. If you refused the Datamaster DMT breath test at the detention center, or if your sample registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher, the state suspends your driving privileges immediately. The physical license is confiscated.

You cannot drive your car off the impound lot. To retrieve the vehicle under an active suspension, you must bring a licensed driver with you. The tow operator will require:

• Their valid license
• A signed authorization letter from you
• Vehicle title or registration

Costs & Fees in Charleston County

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety regulates rotational towing fees for standard Class A wreckers. Under state guidelines, the maximum allowable flat rate for a standard tow is $272.00, and the maximum daily storage fee is $47.00.

Typical towing fees in South Carolina run $150–$300. Daily storage is usually $25–$50 per day. Fees vary by lot. Call ahead to confirm before you go.

IMPORTANT: Storage fees accumulate every day. Retrieve your vehicle as quickly as possible.

South Carolina law also imposes mandatory hold periods before a vehicle can be released. For a first-offense DUI, the vehicle is subject to a 12-hour mandatory hold. A second offense requires a 24-hour hold, and a third offense triggers a 48-hour hold. Towing companies cannot release the vehicle until this statutory duration expires.

Payment

Call the impound lot in advance to confirm accepted payment methods (cash, credit card, money order). Local municipal ordinances require franchised towing operators to accept major credit cards and cash, but rotational operators in unincorporated areas may have more restrictive policies.

Timeline

Act Immediately

Storage fees start accruing the moment your vehicle is towed. Every day costs more money. If you are detained at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, coordinate with a family member or friend to initiate the retrieval process while you await your bond hearing.

After 30 Days

Do not delay. Under South Carolina law, unclaimed vehicles are subject to lien foreclosure. If a vehicle remains unclaimed for 30 days, the towing operator can initiate a legal process to sell the vehicle at public auction to cover the unpaid towing and storage debt.

If You Can't Afford the Fees

If you lack the immediate funds to pay the towing and storage fees, you must act to prevent the permanent loss of your vehicle.

• Contact a family member or friend to help cover costs
• Ask the impound lot if a payment plan is available (some offer this)
• Consult with your attorney — in some cases fees can be negotiated or challenged

If you believe the towing company overcharged you or initiated an unlawful tow, you have the right to request a formal tow hearing. This action must be filed in the summary court Civil Division located at 4045 Bridge View Dr., Suite B-143, North Charleston, SC 29405. The filing fee is $80.00.

After Retrieval

Do not drive away immediately. Walk around the entire vehicle to inspect for fresh damage that may have occurred during the transit or storage phase.

• Inspect the vehicle immediately before leaving the lot
• Document any damage with photos
• Report any damage to the lot manager in writing before you drive away

If you discover damage, obtain a signed acknowledgment from the lot operator before leaving the premises.