Car Got Towed in Salt Lake City?
Here's Exactly What to Do

Step 1: Confirm It Was Actually Towed (Not Stolen)

First — don't panic. Your car being gone doesn't automatically mean it was towed. Before you do anything else, rule out theft:

• Did you park in a tow zone, expired meter, or private lot without permission?
• Was there a "No Parking" or "Tow-Away Zone" sign nearby?
• Was your registration expired or did you have outstanding parking tickets?

If none of those apply, call 911 to file a stolen vehicle report before searching impound lots.

If towing seems likely, call the SLC Non-Emergency Police line at (801) 799-3000 — they can tell you immediately if your vehicle was towed and why.

Step 2: Find Out Which Impound Lot Has Your Car

Salt Lake City uses several different towing companies and impound lots. Your car could be at any of them depending on where it was towed from and which company responded.

The fastest ways to locate your vehicle:

1. Utah Impound Vehicle Search — The state maintains an online database at impound.utah.gov. Enter your license plate or VIN. Updated frequently.
2. Call SLC Urban Services: (801) 535-6628. They coordinate city-authorized towing and can tell you the lot address.
3. Call the Non-Emergency Police Line: (801) 799-3000. Officers can look up tow records in their dispatch system.

Step 3: Know Your Utah Consumer Rights Before You Pay

Utah law protects you when your car is towed. Under the Utah Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing (Utah Code § 72-9-603), towing companies operating in Salt Lake City must:

• ✅ Provide a written invoice before you pay — itemizing every charge
• ✅ Accept major credit cards — they cannot force cash-only payment
• ✅ Allow you to retrieve personal belongings from your vehicle at no charge, even if you can't pay the tow fee yet
• ✅ Notify the local police within 30 minutes of towing your vehicle
• ✅ Post fee schedules publicly — you have the right to see their rate card before agreeing to anything
• ✅ Release your vehicle within one business day after you pay all fees

If a towing company violates any of these rights, you can file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-721-7233.

Step 4: What You'll Need to Bring

Before heading to the impound lot, gather these documents. Missing any of them will slow the process significantly.

Step 5: Understand What You'll Owe

Salt Lake City towing fees are regulated but can still add up quickly — especially if your car sits in the lot for multiple days.

Pro tip: The longer your car sits in impound, the more you owe. Every day costs $35–$55. Get there as fast as possible.

Step 6: If Your Car Was Wrongfully Towed

If you believe your car was towed illegally or without proper authorization, you have options:

1. Photograph everything — the location, any nearby signs, your parking receipt if you have one
2. Get the tow company's name, address, and tow date/time in writing before paying
3. Pay under protest — state clearly that you are paying under protest and intend to dispute the charges. This preserves your right to seek a refund.
4. File a complaint:
   • Utah Division of Consumer Protection: 1-800-721-7233 or consumerprotection.utah.gov
   • Salt Lake City Mayor's Office: (801) 535-7704
   • Utah Towing Alliance: utahtowingalliance.com
5. Small claims court — For wrongful tows, you can sue in Utah Small Claims Court for amounts up to $11,000. No attorney required.

How to Avoid Getting Towed in Salt Lake City

Prevention is always cheaper than an impound fee. Here's what SLC drivers need to know:

• Watch for "No Parking" time windows — SLC has many streets with street cleaning hours or rush-hour restrictions that aren't always obvious
• Private lots are strictly enforced — Apartment complexes, strip malls, and churches near downtown frequently tow. Look for posted signs at all lot entries.
• Keep your registration current — expired tags are one of the most common tow triggers in your area, especially with parking enforcement
• Downtown SLC parking garages are usually your safest bet — use the ParkSLC app to find available spots
• During Jazz games and events — towing enforcement near the Delta Center intensifies. Verified parking only.
• Snow emergency routes — when a snow emergency is declared, cars on designated routes are towed immediately. Sign up for city alerts at slc.gov.

Need a Tow Truck (Not Impound Help)?

If your car broke down and you need a tow truck to come to you — not impound help — we can connect you with verified SLC towing companies right now.

Useful Links for SLC Drivers

• Utah Impound Vehicle Search — impound.utah.gov
• SLC Impounded & Relocated Vehicle Info — slc.gov
• Utah DMV Impound Information — dmv.utah.gov
• Utah Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing — UDOT
• Utah Division of Consumer Protection