I need to get a car out of an impound lot that was supposed to be legally mine. If I pay all towing fees, can I change the title into my name? The towing company is asking for a release certificate from court. Can property that is legally mine still be held?

I need to get a car out of an impound lot that was supposed to be legally mine. If I pay all towing fees, can I change the title into my name? The towing company is asking for a release certificate from court. Can property that is legally mine still be held?


No, the owner has to sign the title over to you. You can't just pay the fees and change the title.

Who is the owner? If the title is NOT in your name it is NOT legally your car and I'll be surprised if impound will turn it over to you.

There really isn't enough information in your question. What do you mean when you say that the car was supposed to be legally yours but then say that it is legally yours? Are you saying that someone passed away and left you the vehicle? Did you or were you in the process of purchasing the vehicle before it was impounded? Why was the vehicle impounded to begin with?

The person whose name is on the title needs to sign the title in order for it to be transferred. Unless of course, said person is deceased. You will then need proof that the vehicle is legally yours(a will indicating this; you being the only living heir; etc.) and a copy of the death certificate showing that the transferor is deceased.

If the impound is selling it at auction for unpaid storage fees, you normally get a impound or salvage title to the vechile.

If you are merely paying the bill, the original owner on the title is the one who stills owns it till they sign it over to you

No, the owner has to sign the title over to you. You can't just pay the fees and change the title.

Who is the owner? If the title is NOT in your name it is NOT legally your car and I'll be surprised if impound will turn it over to you.

The title will be signed over to me this week. I will pay all impound fees for the current owner ( a living family member). However, the impound lot is requesting a court document that will release his car. The car was impounded because it was being driven by an unlicensed driver.

There really isn't enough information in your question. What do you mean when you say that the car was supposed to be legally yours but then say that it is legally yours? Are you saying that someone passed away and left you the vehicle? Did you or were you in the process of purchasing the vehicle before it was impounded? Why was the vehicle impounded to begin with?

The person whose name is on the title needs to sign the title in order for it to be transferred. Unless of course, said person is deceased. You will then need proof that the vehicle is legally yours(a will indicating this; you being the only living heir; etc.) and a copy of the death certificate showing that the transferor is deceased.

The car was promised to me and then impounded for being driven by an unlicensed driver. The owner & I will still change the title and I will pay the fees, but I am concerned that a towing company can hold a car that will soon be mine without a court release paper under a previous owners' name. I start a new job tomorrow and I need that car!

The car was promised to me and then impounded for being driven by an unlicensed driver. The owner & I will still change the title and I will pay the fees, but I am concerned that a towing company can hold a car that will soon be mine without a court release paper under a previous owners' name. I start a new job tomorrow and I need that car!



The towing company cannot legally release the car to anyone but the titled owner. What will/should/could happen does not matter to them.

If the title is in the name of the current owner then that person should go down to the impound yard, you go along with the money in your hand, you pay, he proves it's his car, it's over.

You cannot get a car that is not at that moment titled in your name. The impound company does not care why you need the car. They only know it is not legally yours.

You can go to the tax office and have the car put into your name, then go to the impound and get it out. It automatically goes into your name once you transfer it.

This is from 2008 - I assume the OP has it all figured out by now.

Car was impounded the registered owner is deceased.. can his wife get the car providing death certificate?