Madison County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot in Madison County, Tennessee.
*Estimated fees shown for Madison County. Actual fees may vary.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DUI arrest in Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Lot Information Pending
Contact Madison County local dispatch for specific towing lot assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison County has no central police impound. Jackson and the county both use a rotation of private towing contractors, so your car went to whichever vendor was next up when you were arrested. The arresting officer fills out a Vehicle Tow-In Report naming the company, and a copy is in your booking paperwork. If you lost it, call the non-emergency line for the agency that arrested you, Jackson Police at 731-425-8400 or the Madison County Sheriff at 731-423-6000, with the VIN or plate number.
Do not rush to the lot. Any vehicle towed after a DUI arrest is held for a mandatory 12 hours. The operator cannot open the gate before that clock runs out no matter what paperwork you bring, so there is no point paying fees or showing up early.
Expect a base tow around $225, storage of $45 to $55 a day, and an administrative fee somewhere between $35 and $150. One protection to know: state law bars a lot from charging storage for any day it was closed and the car could not be picked up, such as a weekend or holiday, unless there is a law enforcement hold. Check the itemized receipt.
To take the car you need proof of ownership, current registration, active insurance, and a licensed driver, since your own license was likely seized at the arrest. If the car is registered to someone else who cannot come in person, the lot needs a notarized authorization letter.
The serious risk is on a second DUI. Under state law, a second or subsequent DUI within a continuous five-year period makes the vehicle subject to seizure and permanent civil forfeiture. At that point the car is no longer just impounded; it becomes property the state or the Sheriff's forfeiture program is trying to keep. You cannot fix that at the tow lot counter. The registered owner has to hire a lawyer and file a formal contest to the forfeiture warrant, a civil case that runs separately from the criminal DUI.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help:
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