Impounded Vehicles

If the customer is the business owner but the vehicle title or current vehicle registration contains the business name, ALL the following must be provided:

• Vehicle title or current vehicle registration containing the business name; AND
• The Active Articles of Incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State naming the owner of the business and matching the name of the properly identified customer.

If the business owner designee is retrieving the vehicle and the business name is listed on the vehicle title or current vehicle registration, ALL the following must be provided:

• Vehicle title or current vehicle registration containing the business name; AND
• Notarized Authorization of Release(PDF, 116KB) form from the business owner or general manager giving permission to the designee to retrieve the impounded vehicle. The designee on this Form must be the same name as the identified customer.

Vehicle owners who wish to authorize a person to obtain a vehicle must provide the following:

• The vehicle title or current vehicle registration containing the vehicle owners name; AND
• A current insurance card or policy containing the same name as the identified customer (for vehicles impounded for parking infractions only); OR 
• A Notarized Authorization of Release form(PDF, 116KB) giving permission to the designee to retrieve the impounded vehicle. The owner’s name on this form must be the same name listed on the vehicle title or current vehicle registration. The designee on this form must be the same name as the identified customer.

   

  
  
  
  

Lienholders and/or repossession must provide:

• Vehicle title; AND
• One of the following:
  • Notarized Hold Harmless Letter(PDF, 153KB) (designed to only be used for lienholders); OR
  • Notarized Affidavit of Repossession from the BMV containing the make, model, year, and VIN of the vehicle; OR
  • Writ of Replevin containing the make, model, year, and VIN of the vehicle. 

If the vehicle was impounded ONLY for a parking infraction, a current rental agreement from the rental car agency displaying the same name of the properly identified customer and the vehicle license plate and/or VIN number.

If the vehicle was impounded for any other reason than a parking infraction, the owner (rental agency) must provide BOTH of the following:

• Vehicle title or current vehicle registration; AND

• Notarized Authorization of Release form(PDF, 116KB) from the rental agency giving permission to the designee to retrieve the impounded vehicle. The rental agency’s name on this form must be the same name listed on the vehicle title or current vehicle registration. The designee on this form must be the same name as the identified customer.

Tow truck company on behalf of an insurance company: must provide ALL of the following:

• A Notarized Authorization of Release(PDF, 116KB) from a verified vehicle owner giving the insurance company permission to retrieve the vehicle on their behalf. The owner’s name on this form must be the same name listed on the vehicle title or current vehicle registration.

• A Notarized Authorization of Release(PDF, 116KB) or Notarized Hold Harmless Form(PDF, 153KB) from the insurance company giving the tow company permission to retrieve the vehicle on their behalf. The insurance company named on this form must be the same insurance company named on the Notarized Authorization of Release from the verified vehicle owner; AND
  • The tow truck driver must provide a valid driver’s license and employee verification from the tow company giving permission to the driver to retrieve the vehicle.
  • Tow companies are the only entity that can pay for impound fees by check IF they have applied for and been authorized to write a check to the City of Columbus.

     

An acceptable General Power of Attorney must be signed and notarized giving the identified person the authority to act on behalf of the vehicle owner. 

An Executor or Named Beneficiary of a deceased vehicle owner must provide the following:

• Vehicle title reflecting the  identified customer’s name; OR
• Vehicle title displaying “title on death” that names the deceased vehicle owner and the  identified customer as the vehicle owner upon death; AND
• Certified copy of the death certificate matching the name of the deceased vehicle owner.

In the case where the Executor of the Estate presents a will, trust or other legal documentation claiming ownership of the impounded vehicle, a member of management will make copies of all documents and send to the City Attorney’s Office for review and legal advisement on releasing the vehicle. 

To inquire about obtaining probate documents, contact Franklin County Probate Court at 614-525-3894.

An out of state vehicle owner must provide one of the following:

• A current vehicle registration; OR
• A signed title that includes the date of purchase, previous vehicle owner’s signature and the signature of identified customer, if applicable as proof of vehicle purchase. The purchase of the impounded vehicle must have occurred within the last 45 days for the title to be accepted.  The VIN on the title must match the VIN on the impounded vehicle.

In the case where the identified customer presents a Power of Attorney, court order, the named Executor of a will, trust of legal documentation claiming ownership / right-to-release of the impounded vehicle, a member of management will make copies of all documents and send to the City Attorney’s Office for review and legal advisement on releasing the vehicle.