Impounded in Fort Wayne? Here's Where to Start

If your car is gone in Fort Wayne, start with the Find My Vehicle search on the Fort Wayne Police Department's Vehicle Releases page. Not listed? Call the FWPD Police Desk at 260-427-1222. A crash tow can be picked up at 2416 Cass Street. A police impound needs a release from the Police Desk at 1 East Main Street first. A private lot tow is held by the company that took it.

Which kind of tow was it?

This is the question that saves you a wasted trip. Fort Wayne has three common paths, and each one starts in a different place.

• A crash tow. Your car was towed only because of a crash. You go straight to the lot at 2416 Cass Street.
• A police impound. An officer impounded the car. You need a release from the Police Desk before the lot will hand it over.
• A private lot tow. A store, apartment or office lot had it towed. The tow company that took it holds it, at its own yard.

A repossession is a fourth path. In that case, the lender is the one to call.

Not sure which one happened? Don't guess. The search and the Police Desk can tell you.

How do I look up a towed car in Fort Wayne?

Go to the FWPD Vehicle Releases page and open the Find My Vehicle search. Have this ready:

• Your license plate number
• The make, model and color
• The street and nearest cross street where you parked
• When you last saw the car

If the car doesn't show up, call the Police Desk at 260-427-1222. That's the non-emergency line. Only call 911 for a real emergency.

Why private lot tows show up too

Here's the part most people miss. Under Indiana Code 24-14-4-5, every law enforcement agency in Allen County makes tow companies report private property tows. They report repossession tows the same way, through one web portal. So a tow from a grocery store lot or an apartment lot in New Haven should be on record. Repo tows can even list the lender as the contact.

If it's not in the search at all, report it to police. It may have been stolen.

Where is the Fort Wayne impound lot?

The city's Vehicle Releases page sends both crash tows and police impounds to one lot: 2416 Cass Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.

The difference is what you need before you go:

Type of tow	First stop	Then
Crash only	2416 Cass Street	Show your papers and pick it up
Police impound	Police Desk, 1 East Main Street (or call 260-427-1222)	Take the release to 2416 Cass Street
Private lot	The tow company that took it	Follow that company's steps

Fees, storage costs and lot hours aren't posted on the city page. Call before you go so the trip counts.

What if a trooper or deputy had it towed?

FWPD covers the City of Fort Wayne. Outside city limits, or on I-69 and I-469, another agency may have worked the scene. The city lot may not have your car in that case.

Ask the agency that was there. A state trooper means the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne District at 260-432-8661, at 5811 Ellison Road. A sheriff's deputy means the Allen County Sheriff's Office, non-emergency 260-449-3000.

What do I need to get my car back?

For both crash tows and impounds, FWPD lists the same papers.

To claim the car

• Proof you own it: a valid title, valid registration or a bill of sale
• A valid government-issued photo ID

To drive it off the lot

• A driver with a valid driver's license
• Valid registration
• Proof of insurance

Missing one of those last three? You may still get the car released. You just can't drive it away. That's when a tow off the lot makes sense.

What gets in the way of a release?

A few things slow people down. Know them before you head to Main Street.

• City holidays. The Police Desk doesn't do impound releases on Fort Wayne city holidays. Plan around long weekends.
• A license taken in an arrest. FWPD calls this a common exception. Call the Police Desk first and ask what to bring.
• Someone else picking up. The registered owner must write a notarized letter. It must give the year, make, model and VIN.
• An owner who has died. The person handling it should call 260-427-1222 for steps.

My car sat in the lot. Now it won't start.

That happens a lot here. Fort Wayne International averages about 124 nights a year at or below freezing, per NOAA. A battery that sat in a cold lot for days may just click. A jump start right at the lot may be all you need.

If a crash left the car unsafe, or nobody with a license can drive it, a car tow can take it from Cass Street to your home or a shop.

Does Sentinel handle impounds in Fort Wayne?

No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds, private property tows or repos. We can't get your car released or pay the lot. Only FWPD, the agency that towed it, or the tow company holding it can do that. Our part starts once the car is yours again.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise. For I-69, I-469 and weather tips, see our Fort Wayne towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Fort Wayne Impound Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: FWPD Vehicle Releases, FWPD PPI / Repo Tow Reporting, FWPD FAQ, Allen County Sheriff's Office, ISP Fort Wayne District, NOAA NCEI climate normals.