State guide
Arizona
Arizona has detailed statewide towing statutes, but private-property fee caps are largely set locally by cities, towns, or counties. State law is especially specific about fast police notification for non-consent private-property tows and about owner access, release, and hearing rights after impound.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- How to find a towed car
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Arizona does not set one statewide numeric cap for private-property non-consent towing; instead, cities/towns and counties may set maximum rates, signs must disclose the maximum cost, and statewide law also controls release, billing, and storage-accrual practices.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For a private-property non-consent tow, the tower must notify the jurisdiction’s law-enforcement agency by telephone within one hour before the tow, and law enforcement must enter the tow into ACIC within three business days; owner notice and release rules also apply under state impound statutes and local police procedures.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Arizona Department of Public Safety Tow Service Program
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Arizona
Current Arizona statute requiring prompt law-enforcement notification for non-consent tows and ACIC database entry.
Lets cities and towns regulate maximum private-property towing, transport, impound, and related charges and requires posted signs to list the maximum cost.
Lets counties regulate maximum private-property towing, transport, and impound charges outside cities and towns that have their own regulation.
Sets statewide release and billing rules for towed vehicles, including business-hour access, accepted payment forms, and no storage accrual when release access is unavailable.
Official complaint page for deceptive or unfair business practices, including towing disputes.
Key facts for Arizona
- For a private-property non-consent tow, the tower must notify the law-enforcement agency of the jurisdiction by telephone within one hour before the tow or move.
- Within three business days after receiving notice, law enforcement must enter the tow information into the Arizona crime information center database.
- Cities and towns may regulate maximum private-property towing, transporting, impounding, and related charges within their boundaries.
- Counties may regulate maximum private-property towing, transporting, and impounding charges in county areas outside cities or towns that regulate their own rates.
- Arizona law requires private-property parking signs to state the maximum cost, including storage fees and other charges, and where the vehicle can be found.
- Arizona law requires towing/storage lots to release vehicles between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, open to the public or by appointment.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Arizona
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Police Department Vehicle Impoundment Information Maricopa | Phoenix | 602-262-3111 | Official city impound page with hearing information, owner notice language, and links to release instructions. |
| Tucson Police Department Impound Lobby Pima | Tucson | Not published* | Official Tucson impound instructions page explains release requirements, hearing requests, and city administrative fee. |
| Mesa Police Department Towing Unit Maricopa | Mesa | Not published* | Official impound page says hearings may be requested by writing, in person, or by calling this number. |
| Scottsdale Police Vehicle Impound Unit Maricopa | Scottsdale | 480-312-5000 | Official city page for 30-day impounds, early-release hearings, required documents, and listed towing/storage fees. |
| Surprise Police Department Impounded Vehicle Maricopa | Surprise | Not published* | Official department-services page links to the city’s impounded-vehicle program. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Before paying, ask whether the tow came from a city, town, or county area, because local rate caps may apply under Arizona statutes.
- If you think the tow was unlawful, request a hearing quickly; many official city pages repeat the 10-day deadline from the impound notice.
- Take a photo of the parking-lot sign before moving your vehicle again; Arizona law requires the sign to disclose the maximum cost and where the vehicle can be located.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Arizona's population center, for comparison only):
- AutoReturn | Henderson, NV, Nevada · about 245 miles
- Locate My Vehicle | City of North Las Vegas, Nevada · about 262 miles
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: Locating Your Towed or Recovered Stolen Vehicle, Nevada · about 265 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.A.R.S. § 28-4836
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Arizona page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.