Washington County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from Malone's Wrecker Service (THP Rotation Contractor) in Washington County, Tennessee.
*Estimated fees shown for Washington County. Actual fees may vary.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DUI arrest in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Malone's Wrecker Service (THP Rotation Contractor)
Accepted Payments
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington County has no central impound lot. The Sheriff's Office, Johnson City police, and the Highway Patrol all pull from a rotating list of private towing companies, so unless you asked for a specific company at the scene, dispatch called whoever was next. Your car could be at any of several private yards across the county.
If Johnson City police made the arrest and the car was not seized for forfeiture, call JCPD Police Records at 423-434-6160, option 2, to find out which company has it. That office only runs 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday. A late Friday or weekend arrest can leave you unable to even confirm the location until Monday, while storage fees keep adding up at the private lot.
State law limits what a tow yard can charge. Under Tennessee Code 55-23-103, a company cannot bill storage past 21 days without your written consent unless law enforcement placed a hold on the vehicle, and it cannot charge storage for any day the lot was closed and would not release the car. If the yard is closed Sunday, there is no Sunday storage fee.
There is a bigger problem if this is not your first DUI. If you have a prior DUI conviction, or you were driving on a license already revoked for a DUI, the car is not just towed, it is seized for civil asset forfeiture and control passes to the Department of Safety Legal Division. The East Tennessee office is at 322 Nancy Lynn Lane, Suite 8, Knoxville, phone 865-594-6519. Getting the car back then means filing formal legal petitions, and it can sit for a long time while the forfeiture case plays out.
Your personal things taken from the car by the officer, cash, keys, a phone, go to the Johnson City evidence custodian at 601 East Main Street. Call 423-434-6160, option 7, for non-evidence property. That office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM only.
To pick up the car you need a valid driver's license, the vehicle registration, and proof of active insurance.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help: