Police must impound vehicles driven by:
The impoundment period depends on the offence and may increase for owners with previous impoundments.
The Notice of Impoundment
If police impound a vehicle you are driving they will give you a Notice of Impoundment. If it's not your vehicle, police will send the owner a copy, too.
If it's for a non-alcohol related violation, the impoundment will begin immediately and last at least seven days.
RoadSafetyBC will review your driving record and may increase the impoundment period.
Impoundment periods
30-day impoundment (mandatory)
Vehicle impoundment costs and getting your vehicle back
A vehicle's owner pays the towing and impoundment costs.
If the vehicle was stolen, police will release it once the owner has filed a stolen vehicle report. The owner must still pay the towing and storage costs.
The owner of a vehicle impounded while operated by another driver can try to recover the costs from the driver in provincial court.
The locations of each Zone can be found here.
Towing Distance |
Gross Vehicle Weight: Not >3000 kg |
Gross Vehicle Weight: >3000 kg but <6300 kg |
Gross Vehicle Weight: >6300 kg but <9073 kg |
Gross Vehicle Weight: >9073 kg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Less than 6km | $79.78 | $84.25 | $133.56 | $177.64 |
More than 6km | $79.78 + $2.41/ km over 6 km | $84.25 + $3.02/ km over 6 km | $133.56 + $3.41/ km over 6 km | $177.64 + $7.26/ km over 6 km |
New Rate Categories (effective March 1st, 2024):
Service Category |
Rate (Payable in 30-minute increments) |
|||
Not >3000 kg |
>3000 kg but <6300 kg |
>6300 kg but <9073 kg |
>9073 kg |
|
Standby |
$75.58/hour |
$84.25/hour |
$133.56 / hour |
$177.64/hour |
Recovery (of a vehicle) |
$75.58/hour |
$84.25/hour |
$133.56 / hour |
$177.64/hour |
Loading and Securing (of vehicle) |
$75.58/hour |
$84.25/hour |
$133.56 / hour |
$177.64/hour |
Additional services |
$75.58/hour |
$84.25/hour |
$133.56 / hour |
$177.64/hour |
Clean up (from towed vehicle) |
$75.58/hour |
$84.25/hour |
$133.56 / hour |
$177.64/hour |
Claimed Vehicles: $55.05
Unclaimed Vehicle: $70.09
To get a vehicle released, the owner must go to the impoundment lot after the impoundment period ends. The owner must show a valid driver's licence and pay all costs before the vehicle will be released.
To get a vehicle released, the driver must:
Note: If your Notice of Impoundment says your impoundment ends on a weekend or holiday, complete the Request for Vehicle Release form on the last business day before the weekend. If the impound lot is open, then you may pick it up on the release date.
If police impounded your vehicle because you drove it unlicensed, it can be released when you get a new driver's licence or you can authorize someone else to collect it for you. See Below for more information.
If police impounded your vehicle because someone else was driving it without a licence, it can be released when they have a new driver’s licence.
To get a new licence, go to an ICBC driver licensing office. (This does not apply to drivers who were prohibited from driving.)
For further information, contact ICBC.
If you’re the vehicle owner but can't collect it from the impound lot, you can name someone else to do it for you.
If you're the owner of a vehicle that was stolen and then impounded you can get it released early by filing a police report. You're still responsible for paying the towing and storage costs.
If a vehicle is not claimed after the impoundment period has ended the impoundment lot can apply to dispose of it.
If the vehicle's owner owes fees to the impoundment lot operator, they may not get a driver's licence or insurance until their debt has been paid.
Early release of an impounded vehicle
An impounded vehicle can be released early for compassionate or economic reasons. For example:
The person applying for the early release of an impounded vehicle must have a valid licence.
A vehicle impounded because the driver was not licensed may be released once the driver is licensed.
There are fees for the early release of an impounded vehicle.
Apply for a review of a vehicle impoundment decision
Drivers and owners of impounded vehicles can request reviews of impoundments that are over seven days long.
You can request an impoundment review for these reasons:
You did not give the driver consent to use the impounded vehicle.
You live with the owner or driver of the impounded vehicle and you need it on compassionate grounds such as economic hardship. You must hold a valid driver's licence and apply within 15 days of the impoundment.
Police believe the impounded vehicle was stolen. The owner of the vehicle will have to pay the towing and storage costs.
An impounded vehicle can be released if its driver has been issued a new driver’s licence. A driver who was prohibited from driving when the vehicle was impounded cannot apply.
An impounded vehicle may be released if:
Only the driver of the vehicle who received the driving prohibition can apply for the review. If the prohibition review succeeds, towing and impound fees will be refunded.
Go to any ICBC driver licensing office for the review form. ICBC will submit your review application to RoadSafetyBC and a review will be scheduled.
A RoadSafetyBC adjudicator will review your application and make a decision. You'll receive the decision by mail.
If the adjudicator lifts your impoundment, RoadSafetyBC will let you know. They'll also fax the impoundment lot and order it to release the vehicle.
The registered owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying the towing and storage fees.
For more information about impoundment reviews, contact RoadSafetyBC's Appeal Registry.
Refuse to issue a driver's licence for impoundment debts
RoadSafetyBC may direct ICBC not to issue a person a driver’s licence until they’ve paid their debt to an impound lot operator for an impounded vehicle.
This encourages owners to settle their vehicle impoundment debts. It also allows lot operators to recover the cost of impounding vehicles for the province.
For more information about driver licensing and impoundment debts, contact RoadSafetyBC.
Impound lot operator information
Impound Lot Operators must use specific documents to:
These documents, along with detailed information for Impound Lot Operators and those wishing to join the program, are available on our ILO Information page.