Clarendon County Vehicle Impound Guide

Your Vehicle After a DUI Arrest

South Carolina ranks fifth nationally for drunk driving fatalities per capita, which drives aggressive traffic enforcement by state and local agencies. If you are arrested for driving under the influence in Clarendon County, your vehicle will not remain on the side of the road. Officers will order it towed immediately.

Law enforcement officers cannot leave an unsecured vehicle blocking traffic or sitting on public property. The towing process is initiated during the roadside investigation. Once the officer decides to make an arrest, they dispatch a wrecker service to seize the vehicle. It is taken to a private impound lot, where storage fees begin accumulating immediately.

Where Is Your Car?

No single centralized government impound lot exists in this jurisdiction. Instead, the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) utilizes a rotating list of authorized private towing operators. The specific company that towed your vehicle depends entirely on which operator was next on the SCHP Troop 1 wrecker rotation list at the exact time of your arrest.

To locate your vehicle, you must identify the private towing company that performed the impound. The arresting officer should provide you with towing paperwork during the booking process. If you did not receive this paperwork or lost it during your release from the detention center, you must contact the dispatch office to trace the vehicle.

How to Find Your Vehicle

• Check your arrest paperwork — the tow company name and location are listed on the towing sheet.
• Call the sheriff's office non-emergency dispatch line at 803-435-4414.
• Reference your booking details, full name, and vehicle license plate number so dispatchers can check the rotation log.

What You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle

Towing operators are heavily regulated, but they will not release a vehicle without proper documentation. You must present specific proofs of identity, ownership, and financial responsibility before they allow you onto the lot.

Required Documents

• Valid Driver's License: You must present a physical, valid license. If your license was suspended due to an implied consent violation under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2953, you cannot drive the vehicle off the lot. You must bring a licensed driver with you.
• Proof of Ownership: You must show the physical vehicle title or the current registration card. The name on the document must match your photo identification.
• Proof of Insurance: You must present a valid auto insurance card showing active coverage for the impounded vehicle.
• Payment for Fees: You must pay all outstanding towing and storage fees before the vehicle is released.

If You Don't Have a Valid License

• You must bring a licensed friend or family member to drive the vehicle off the lot.
• The licensed driver must present their valid physical driver's license.
• If you cannot physically go to the impound lot, you must provide the person retrieving the vehicle with the original title or registration, your photo ID, and a signed, notarized letter of authorization explicitly permitting them to claim the vehicle. Private operators will reject any third-party retrieval attempts that lack notarized authorization.

Costs & Fees

Towing and storage costs are regulated under South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) guidelines, but they accumulate rapidly. Standard flat-rate towing fees range from $150 to $300. Daily storage rates range from $25 to $50 per day.

You must also watch out for "Special Operations" billing tiers under S.C. Regulations 38-600. If your vehicle was in a ditch, required uprighting, or needed specialized recovery equipment, the operator can bypass standard flat rates and bill hourly. These hourly rates are high: up to $271 per hour for a skid steer, $305 per hour for a backhoe, or $864 per hour for an air bag recovery unit. The investigating officer must confirm on-scene that these special operations were necessary to justify the hourly charges.

Payment

Call the private impound lot before you travel to retrieve the vehicle. Confirm their accepted payment methods. Many operators accept cash, credit cards, or money orders, but some charge processing fees for credit cards or require exact change for cash payments.

Timeline

Act Immediately

Storage fees accrue every 24 hours. The clock starts the moment the wrecker hooks up your vehicle. Delaying retrieval by even one day increases your overall financial liability.

After 30 Days

If a vehicle remains unclaimed for 30 days, South Carolina law allows the towing operator to initiate a lien sale. The operator can sell the vehicle at public auction to recover the unpaid towing and storage costs. You will lose the vehicle permanently if it is sold at auction.

If You Can't Afford the Fees

If you cannot pay the immediate balance, contact a family member or friend to secure the necessary funds. Delaying only makes the balance larger.

Some private operators may discuss payment options, though they are not legally mandated to do so.

If you believe the towing company overcharged you or violated S.C. Regulations 38-600, you can challenge the fees. Disputes involving amounts up to $7,500 must be filed in the local Magistrate Court, located at 102 South Mill St, Manning, SC 29102.

After Retrieval

• Inspect the exterior and interior of your vehicle before signing the release paperwork or driving off the lot.
• Take clear, time-stamped photographs of all sides of the vehicle, the tires, and the interior.
• If you discover new damage that was not present prior to the tow, report it immediately to the lot manager in writing. Do not leave the property until you have documented the damage with the operator.