Can someone other than the owner pick up the vehicle?

Often yes, with a signed authorization and ID, but rules vary by state and by the agency that ordered the tow. Check your local requirements.

A vehicle release process for impound yards that doesn’t jam the phone

Updated October 22, 2026 · For towing and impound yards

Most of an impound yard’s phone calls are the same three questions: is my car there, what do I need to bring, and how much is it. A clear release process answers them once, cuts the calls, and keeps the gate moving.

This guide sets out the steps from first call to the car leaving the gate, and the checks that stop a vehicle being released to the wrong person.

Know what a release needs

Requirements depend on your state, city and the agency that ordered the tow, so write down your own list and keep it current. Commonly it includes:

Proof of ownership, such as title or registration.
A valid photo ID matching the owner, or a signed authorization for someone else.
A police or agency release, for police holds.
Proof of insurance, where your jurisdiction requires it to drive the vehicle away.
Payment of towing and storage fees.

Track each release through clear steps

Holding a release at “docs pending” until everything is in keeps vehicles from being released early. If a release is cancelled (the owner abandons the car, or a lienholder claims it instead), mark it cancelled rather than deleting it, so the history stays.

Docs pending: the claimant has called; you’ve told them what to bring.
Scheduled: documents checked, fee confirmed, pickup time set.
Released: vehicle out the gate, record closed.

Schedule pickups

Walk-ups at closing time create queues and mistakes. Give claimants a pickup time once their documents and payment are ready, and have the vehicle staged near the gate before they arrive. If your gate uses codes, issue a one-time code for the pickup.

Clear holds before you promise anything

A vehicle on an investigative or police hold can’t be released until the hold is cleared. Mark held vehicles clearly so nobody at the desk quotes a pickup time for one, and record who can clear the hold.

At the gate

Check ID against the release record.
Walk the claimant to the vehicle and note its condition together.
Get a signature for the release.
Mark the vehicle released the same moment it leaves.

Common questions

Can someone other than the owner pick up the vehicle?: Often yes, with a signed authorization and ID, but rules vary by state and by the agency that ordered the tow. Check your local requirements.