Dorchester County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot in Dorchester County, South Carolina.
*Estimated fees shown for Dorchester County. Actual fees may vary.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DUI arrest in Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Lot Information Pending
Contact Dorchester County local dispatch for specific towing lot assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
A towing company can't legally charge a single dollar of storage before it formally notifies the registered owner. State law requires the tow operator to apply to the DMV within 10 days of a law-enforcement tow to identify the owner and any lienholders, then send certified mail notification, and storage fees are barred entirely until that notice goes out. Anyone released to find a massive, unexplained storage bill should demand proof of the certified mail date and check it against how long the vehicle actually sat.
There's a separate, shorter grace window too: under state regulation, the daily storage fee doesn't start accruing until exactly 12 hours after the vehicle reaches the storage lot. Retrieving it inside that window, or having a family member do it, avoids the fee entirely.
Dorchester County has no central impound lot. The Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol split the county into zones and dispatch whichever approved contractor is next up for that area — Angry Towed Towing & Recovery, Tri County Towing and Recovery, and Get Wright Towing & Recovery are among the regular providers. To find out which one has a specific vehicle, calling the county's Consolidated Dispatch non-emergency line with the stop's location and time lets dispatchers trace the assigned wrecker.
If the vehicle belongs to someone other than the arrested driver, that registered owner can retrieve it independently with proof of ownership and a valid license. A felony DUI involving serious injury or death introduces a much bigger risk: South Carolina law allows the state to seize and permanently forfeit the vehicle. If that vehicle belongs to a business or a family member who had nothing to do with the offense, filing an "innocent owner claim" within 30 days of the seizure is the only way to stop the loss before it becomes permanent.
Disputes over an unlawful tow or excessive fees don't go through criminal court. Dorchester County's Magistrate Court handles these as small claims, capped at $7,500, through a Claim and Delivery action or a formal complaint filed at either the Summerville or St. George location.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: