Vehicle Impoundment
To help keep roads safe, police have the authority to take a vehicle off the road and impound it in a storage lot.
Reasons your vehicle can be impounded
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Impaired driving
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Driving while unlicensed or improperly licensed
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Driving while suspended or prohibited
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Excessive speeding (more than 40km​ per hour over the posted speed limit)
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Street racing or performing a stunt
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Improperly seated on a motorcycle
Getting your vehicle back
When your impoundment ends, you may go directly to the impound lot to collect your vehicle. You will still need your required ID and Notice of Impoundment and to pay towing and storage fees to the impound lot.
Find out more about the Vehicle Impoundment Program.
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Fees & Charges
The owner of the vehicle is legally responsible for paying all towing and impoundment costs, regardless of who was driving at the time of impoundment. The Superintendent sets the fees, costs, charges and surcharges in respect of the transportation, towing, care, storage, disposition and other related activities respecting the impoundment of the motor vehicle in the Lien on Impounded Motor Vehicle Regulation.
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This Includes but is not limited to:
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Tow Fees
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Dollie Fees
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Daily Storage Fees
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Fuel Surcharge
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Administration Fees
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Abandoned Vehicles​
RoadSafetyBC may direct ICBC to refuse the issuance of a driver’s license to an individual until any outstanding debt owed to an impound lot operator for an impounded vehicle has been paid.
This policy encourages vehicle owners to settle their impoundment-related debts. It also supports impound lot operators recover the costs associated with towing and storing vehicles on behalf of the province. The owner may consider early disposal to avoid impound fees.
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What is a day?
​Vehicles must be impounded for the full duration of the impoundment period calculated using 24-hour days. Partial days, such as the date the vehicle is towed to the impound lot, do not count towards the impoundment period.
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