Notice: The following information pertains only to vehicles towed by contracted towing operators by order of the Asheville Police Department. If your vehicle was towed from a private lot, please check for posted towing company information to recover your vehicle.
Locating a towed vehicle
Owners may search for vehicles towed by the Asheville Police Department at https://search.autoreturn.com/ or by calling 888-217-9731, which can be reached twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Using a license plate or VIN, you will be provided with information on where the vehicle is stored, where it was towed from, and why it was towed.
If your vehicle is not found in the system, please contact private towing companies for vehicles towed from private property without police involvement.
Notice: If you believe your vehicle has been stolen, please contact the Asheville Police Department Communications at 828-252-1110.
Some vehicles may be identified as “on hold.” This means the police department is temporarily holding your vehicle. The Asheville Police Department will need to authorize the release of your vehicle. For information or questions about a held vehicle, call 828-259-5870 or 828-252-1110.
Required information to pick up a vehicle
In addition to paying the towing and storage fees, you may need the following to retrieve your vehicle:
- Proof of your identity, such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID
- Proof of vehicle ownership, such as registration, title, or bill of sale
- Proof of insurance
With proper identification, owners may retrieve personal property stored in a vehicle regardless of whether the vehicle’s tow, repair, or storage fees have been paid. This includes items stored in the vehicle which are easily removed.
Storage lots
Storage lots contracted for the Asheville Police Department must be available for vehicle retrieval from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The following are the maximum allowed fees that can be charged by towing companies for tows contracted by the Asheville Police Department.
Additional charges may be added for other needed equipment or services as long as the equipment/charges are necessary and are not excessive for the situation. The tow company must provide an itemized bill to the vehicle owner upon retrieval of the vehicle.
Storage lot fees |
|
|---|---|
Service |
Maximum fee |
| Standard tow charge | $165.00 |
| Storage fee | $30.00 per day |
| After-hours release | $50.00 |
| Dolly | $50.00 |
| 4-Wheel Drive (if required) | $165.00 |
| Crash wrap | $10.00 per window |
| Inside storage per 24-hour period | $35.00 |
| Winching | $40.00 per 15 minutes |
| Overturned vehicle or rollover | $250.00 |
| Extra labor | $25.00 per 15 minutes |
Towing issues
Notice: To report an issue with service from a tow company, please reach out to Autura. You may file reports online at https://www.autoreturn.com/
Notice: To report an issue with a police officer or tow initiation, please contact the Asheville Police Department (APD) at 828-252-1110.
Requesting a probable cause hearing
The request for a hearing must be filed, in writing, by the vehicle’s owner, with the magistrate’s office in the county where the vehicle was towed. The magistrate will set a hearing within seventy-two (72) hours of receiving the written hearing request.
Contact Information
The Asheville Police Department Communications
828-252-1110
For information or questions about a held vehicle, call 828-259-5870 or 828-252-1110.