Memphis Police Impound Lot: How to Get Your Car Released

In Memphis, police tows go to the MPD Vehicle Storage lot at 465 Klinke Avenue, Memphis, TN 38127. Call 901-636-8200 to confirm your car is there and not on hold. The lot runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The registered owner brings proof of ownership, a current registration, title or lease, the plate number or VIN, and a valid photo ID. Then pay the fees.

Was my car towed or stolen in Memphis?

You walk back to the curb near Beale Street and the space is empty. Your stomach drops. Before you think theft, make one phone call.

Call the storage lot at 901-636-8200. Give them your plate number, or your VIN if you know it. The lot never closes, so you can call at 2 a.m. after a show and still get an answer about your car.

If the lot has no record of it, call the Memphis Police non-emergency line at 901-545-2677. That's 901-545-COPS. Ask whether your car was reported towed, and report it stolen if it wasn't. If you feel unsafe where you're standing, call 911.

Who sends cars to the Klinke Avenue lot?

Three agencies use the same lot. That matters, because people often call the wrong office first.

• Memphis Police Department. Crash scenes, arrests, and cars left where they can't stay.
• Shelby County Sheriff's Department. Deputies send their tows here too.
• Housing and Community Development (HCD). This one surprises people. It covers cars pulled for code violations.

So even if a deputy towed you out in the county, start with the Klinke Avenue number. One call covers all three.

Why would code enforcement take my car?

The City of Memphis treats a car that won't run, sitting on public or private property, as a code issue. Here's how it works. An inspector writes a violation order for the inoperable car. Then they come back 14 calendar days later.

If the car hasn't been fixed, moved, or put in lawful storage by then, the city can impound it. That car goes to the same storage lot. You get it back by paying the towing and storage fees.

Got a violation notice on a dead car in your driveway? Use those 14 days. A jump may be all it needs. If not, a tow to a shop gets it off the property before the city acts.

What do I need to bring to get my car out?

The lot releases cars to the registered owner. Pack this before you leave home, because a second trip costs you another day.

1. Proof of ownership. A document showing the car is yours.
2. Current registration, title or lease agreement. If the registration is in the glove box, call first and ask how to handle it.
3. Plate number or VIN. Write it down. Your insurance card often shows the VIN.
4. Valid photo ID. A driver's license or a state ID card.
5. Payment. The lot takes cash and credit cards.

MPD lists its impound and daily storage fees on its vehicle storage page. Check it before you go. The page says those fees don't include winching or other extra charges, so a car that was stuck may cost more.

Can someone else pick up my car for me?

Yes, but they need paperwork. Say you're out of town, or working a double shift at the airport. A friend or family member can go for you with a notarized statement from the registered owner.

The statement has to include all of this:

• The name of the person you're sending.
• A clear photocopy of your driver's license or ID card.
• Your plate number or VIN.
• The make and year of the car.

The same notarized statement also lets them grab things out of the car. That helps if your work bag or medicine is inside and you can't get there.

What about a rental car?

Bring the rental agreement. You also need the ID or driver's license that matches the name on that agreement. A friend without their name on the contract won't get it out.

What does it mean if my car is on hold?

If your car was part of a crime, or police are holding it for an investigation, the lot can't release it yet. The Memphis Police Department has to clear it first.

This is why you call 901-636-8200 before you drive out there. Ask one plain question: "Is my car on hold?" If the answer is yes, ask what you need to do to get it cleared. Paying fees won't move a held car.

What if nobody comes for the car?

Cars left at the Klinke Avenue lot can end up sold at auction. MPD's own page says the lot sells vehicles that way. Fees also keep adding up each day the car sits there. If you want the car back, move fast. If you can't afford the fees right away, call the lot and ask what your options are before you let it go.

My car won't start at the lot. Now what?

This happens a lot. The car sat for days. Maybe the crash that got it towed bent a wheel. Maybe you just don't have a licensed driver with you.

The lot's rule is clear. A licensed driver has to drive the car off the lot. If that won't work, MPD says you may arrange to have it towed out for a fee. That's where we come in, after the release, not before.

• Dead battery from sitting. Ask for a jump start once your car is released. If the battery is shot, a jump won't hold, and a tow is the next step.
• Crash damage or a car that won't drive. Book a car tow to your home or your shop.
• No licensed driver with you. A tow gets the car where it needs to go.

Your partner tow company can take a car, SUV, minivan or light pickup out of the lot. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or handle the release. You clear the paperwork and fees with the lot first. Then call us.

How does Sentinel help after release?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you your price before anyone is sent, and that price is locked. Then we keep checking on you by text until your truck shows up. You can read the full Stay-With-You Promise, and see the rest of our Memphis towing page for help on I-40, I-240 and around town.

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

Memphis Impound Lot Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: MPD Vehicle Storage and Release, Memphis Police Department, City of Memphis Code Enforcement.