Smith County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot in Smith County, Tennessee.
*Estimated fees shown for Smith County. Actual fees may vary.
Select a pickup date to
see cost estimate
The First 48 Hours
After a DUI arrest in Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Lot Information Pending
Contact Smith County local dispatch for specific towing lot assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smith County uses a towing rotation, so there is no single impound lot. Harris Towing at 102 Main Street in Carthage, (615) 489-2808, handles most arrests near the county seat, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If Harris does not have your car, the rotation may have sent it to a company in Westmoreland to the north, near Mt. Juliet on the western I-40 edge, or out toward the county line for a Highway Patrol stop. To find it, call the Smith County Sheriff's non-emergency line at (615) 735-2626, not 911. The tow company is written on the vehicle towing report, which is in the arrested person's property or arrest file.
Call the lot before you drive there. Small-town offices close entirely for lunch, often from 11:30 to 12:30, and showing up at 12:05 buys you a wait in the parking lot. Ask directly whether someone will be at the window when you plan to arrive.
Bring cash in small bills. The credit card terminal in a rural tow yard is frequently "down," and cash in twenties is the reliable way through. Expect a base tow of $175 to $250 and storage of $30 to $40 a day.
Your license was almost certainly taken at the arrest, so you can pay to release the car but you cannot drive it off the lot. Bring a second person with a valid license. If you are still in jail, a family member usually needs a notarized authorization letter or power of attorney, and some lots still insist the owner appear in person, so confirm the policy on the phone.
Two situations change everything. If the car was in a serious crash, a vehicular homicide, or held as drug evidence, it is under a seizure hold and no amount of payment releases it until the investigating detective issues a written release order. And on a second DUI or a driving-on-revoked-for-DUI charge, the state can move to forfeit the vehicle, in which case it goes to the Sheriff's secure impound rather than a private lot.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: