Impound Towing Edmonton: Fees, Rules, and How to Get Your Car Back
π Car Impounded? Start Here
If your car was towed by Edmonton Police or Bylaw Enforcement, it is most likely at the Police Seized Vehicle Section (PSVS) at 12230 β 124 Avenue (near 124 Street and Yellowhead Trail). Call 780-496-8668 to confirm your vehicle is there and get the exact fee amount before going. You will need: valid driver’s licence, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and payment for all fees. Hours: MonβFri 7:30 AM β 9:30 PM, SatβSun 10:00 AM β 4:30 PM.
π Need a tow FROM the impound lot? (780) 435-2065
You walked to where you parked your car and it is gone. No broken glass, no note β just an empty space. Your car was probably towed. In Edmonton, vehicles are towed and impounded for a variety of reasons: parking violations, impaired driving seizures, accidents, bylaw enforcement, or private property towing. The police impound in Edmonton processes more than 20,000 vehicles per year. That is roughly 55 vehicles per day arriving at the impound lot in Edmonton β making this far more common than most drivers realize.
This guide walks you through the entire process from the driver’s perspective: how to find out where your car is, what documents you need, what it costs, how long you have before fees become unmanageable, and how to appeal if you believe the tow was unjust. If your vehicle was towed from private property and you believe it was improper, see our guide on private property towing rights.
β Why Was My Car Towed? The Four Main Reasons
π Police Seizure (IRS / Criminal)
Impaired driving (IRS FAIL = 30-day seizure), driving while suspended (30 or 60 days), street racing, or vehicle involved in a crime. These are mandatory seizures with fixed hold periods β the vehicle cannot be released early regardless of payment. Seizure details are on the Notice given to you by the officer.
π ΏοΈ Parking / Bylaw Enforcement
Parked in a fire lane, blocking a hydrant, violating a snow route ban, parked in a tow-away zone, expired registration on a public road, or abandoned vehicle (parked over 72 hours). You will also receive a parking ticket. The vehicle goes to the PSVS lot.
π’ Private Property Towing
Parked in a signed private lot without authorization β condo visitor stall, restaurant lot, strip mall. These tows are NOT taken to the police impound. They go to a private tow yard in Edmonton operated by the towing company contracted by the property owner. See our private parking towing page.
π Accident / Collision
Vehicle undriveable after an accident and police direct the tow. May go to the PSVS if police hold it for investigation, or to the Collision Reporting Centre. If you called your own tow company, the vehicle goes where you directed. See our accident recovery guide.
π How to Find Your Car After It Has Been Towed
If your car is simply gone and you are not sure why, follow these steps in order:
Call the PSVS: 780-496-8668. Give them your licence plate number. They can confirm whether your vehicle is at the police impound lot at 12230 β 124 Avenue. This is the most common destination for police and bylaw tows in Edmonton.
Check for a parking ticket: Look at the ground where your car was. Sometimes a ticket envelope is left at the parking space. This confirms a bylaw tow and the PSVS is almost certainly the destination.
Check the property signage: If you were parked on private property, look for the “Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner’s expense” sign. It should list the towing company name and phone number. Call them directly β your car is at their private yard, not the police lot.
Call EPS non-emergency: 780-423-4567. If the PSVS does not have your vehicle and you are not sure what happened, EPS can check whether your vehicle was reported stolen, involved in an incident, or towed by a different agency.
Consider theft: If no tow record exists, your vehicle may have been stolen. File a police report online or by calling 780-423-4567.
π° Impound Fees: What You Will Pay
Impound fees in Edmonton add up quickly β every day your vehicle sits in the lot costs more. Here are the typical fee components based on publicly available rates from the Edmonton PSVS contract operator:
β οΈ Fees Accumulate Fast
At $50/day in storage plus the initial tow and gate fees, a vehicle left for just 3 days costs approximately $420+. A week: $620+. A 30-day IRS seizure with storage alone costs approximately $1,500+ before towing and gate fees. Pick up your vehicle as soon as it is eligible for release. Call the PSVS at 780-496-8668 to confirm the exact total before going.
π Need a Tow FROM the Impound Lot?
If your vehicle is uninsured, unregistered, or undriveable, it cannot be driven out of the lot β you need a tow.
π How to Get Your Car Back: Step-by-Step
π Retrieval Checklist
β Call first: 780-496-8668 β confirm your vehicle is there and get the exact fee total
β Bring valid driver’s licence β you must be the registered owner or have a signed authorization letter
β Bring vehicle registration β if it is inside the vehicle, staff will escort you to retrieve it
β Bring proof of insurance β the vehicle must be currently insured and registered to be driven out
β Bring payment: cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, or AmEx accepted
β If not the owner: you need a signed letter of authorization from the registered owner plus their licence number
β If uninsured/unregistered: the vehicle cannot be driven out β arrange a tow to private property
PSVS Location: 12230 β 124 Avenue, Edmonton (southeast corner of 124 Street and Yellowhead Trail). Phone: 780-496-8668. Hours: MonβFri 7:30 AM β 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM β 9:30 PM; SatβSun 10:00 AM β 4:30 PM; Stat holidays 10:00 AM β 2:30 PM. Closed Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Hours may change for staffing β call to confirm before going.
βοΈ Can You Appeal or Dispute an Impound?
βοΈ IRS seizures (impaired driving): You have 7 days from the date of the Notice of Administrative Penalty to apply for a review through SafeRoads Alberta. The application fee is $150 for the driver, $50 for an affected person (e.g., the vehicle owner if different from the driver). Even if the seizure is cancelled, you are responsible for tow and storage fees already incurred.
βοΈ Parking/bylaw tows: If you believe the parking ticket or tow was unjust, you can dispute the ticket through the City of Edmonton’s ticket dispute process. However, you still need to pay the tow and storage fees to retrieve your vehicle β the ticket dispute is separate from the impound fees.
βοΈ Private property tows: If you believe you were towed illegally from private property (improper signage, no authorization), Alberta’s 2026 towing consumer protection laws provide recourse. Document the signage (or lack thereof), keep all receipts, and file a complaint.
βοΈ In all cases: Retrieve your vehicle first, then dispute. Storage fees accumulate every day regardless of whether you are appealing. Do not leave your car in the lot while you argue the case β that $50/day does not pause for disputes.
π‘οΈ How to Avoid Getting Your Car Impounded in Edmonton
π‘οΈ Read every parking sign carefully β temporary snow route bans, event-day tow-away zones, and fire lane markings are the most common surprises. The City of Edmonton activates seasonal parking enforcement bans that change overnight.
π‘οΈ Keep registration and insurance current. An expired registration on a vehicle parked on a public road is grounds for a bylaw tow in Edmonton. Renew on time.
π‘οΈ Never drive impaired. An IRS FAIL seizure costs $1,500+ in impound fees alone β before the $1,000 fine, the 90-day licence suspension, the ignition interlock program, and the insurance premium increase. Use our car concierge service instead β it costs a fraction of a single night’s impound fees.
π‘οΈ Do not park in private lots without authorization. Condo visitor stalls, restaurant lots, and strip malls with posted signs will tow without warning. See our private property towing rights guide for what is and is not legal.
π‘οΈ Do not leave a vehicle parked on a public street for over 72 hours. Edmonton bylaw treats this as an abandoned vehicle, which is subject to a ticket and tow. If you need to park long-term, use private property or a storage lot. Need to move a stored vehicle? Our flatbed service handles non-running vehicle relocations.
π§ Related Services and Resources
π§ Private parking towing β our private property enforcement service for lot owners
π§ 24-hour towing β if you need a tow from the impound lot to your home
π§ Flatbed towing β for AWD or damaged vehicles leaving the lot
π§ Battery boost β your car sat in the lot and the battery died
π§ Insurance billing β some insurance policies cover impound-related towing
π§ Contact us β questions about towing from the impound lot
π§ Roadside assistance | All services | Homepage
π Area coverage: Sherwood Park | St. Albert | Spruce Grove | Leduc
π EPS Police Seized Vehicles page β official PSVS information from Edmonton Police. For seizure reviews under the IRS program, visit Alberta.ca Vehicle Seizure Review. For parking ticket disputes, check the insurance and towing guide β some policies cover impound fees. Our towing cost guide covers standard towing rates if you need transport from the lot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Impound Towing in Edmonton
Where is the Edmonton police impound lot?
The police impound in Edmonton (PSVS) is at 12230 β 124 Avenue, on the southeast corner of 124 Street and Yellowhead Trail. Phone: 780-496-8668. Hours: MonβFri 7:30 AM β 9:30 PM (closed 2:00β2:30 PM), SatβSun 10:00 AM β 4:30 PM, stat holidays 10:00 AM β 2:30 PM.
How much does it cost to get my car out of impound?
Typical total for a next-day pickup: $320+ (tow fee ~$120 + one day storage $50 + gate fee $150). Each additional day adds $50+ in storage. A 3-day hold: ~$420+. A 30-day IRS seizure: $1,500+. Call 780-496-8668 to get the exact amount for your vehicle before going.
Can I get my belongings from the car before paying?
Yes. The owner of the vehicle can claim personal property from the vehicle at no additional charge. Contact the PSVS at 780-496-8668 to arrange access. You will need to provide identification. If your vehicle registration or insurance documents are inside the car, staff will escort you to retrieve them before completing the release.
My car was seized for impaired driving β how long is it held?
Under Alberta’s IRS program: first offence (FAIL) = 30-day seizure. Second offence = 30-day seizure. Third offence = 30-day seizure. Driving while suspended = 30 days (first), 60 days (second within 3 years). These are fixed periods β the vehicle cannot be released early. You have 7 days to apply for a review through SafeRoads Alberta ($150 fee).
What if my car was towed from a private parking lot?
Private property tows do not go to the police impound. They go to a private tow yard in Edmonton operated by the towing company contracted by the property owner. The tow company’s name and number should be on the property’s signage. Under Alberta’s 2026 towing laws, proper signage must be posted and consent/notification rules apply. See our private property towing rights guide.
Can someone else pick up my car for me?
Yes β but they need a signed letter of authorization from the registered owner. The letter must include the vehicle make, model, licence plate, VIN, and the owner’s driver’s licence number. The designated person also needs a copy of the vehicle registration, their own valid ID, and proof of insurance if they plan to drive it out.
What if my vehicle is uninsured or unregistered?
Uninsured or unregistered vehicles cannot be driven out of the impound lot. You must arrange for a tow to private property at your own expense. Call us at (780) 435-2065 β we regularly handle tows from the PSVS lot for vehicles that cannot be driven.
What payment methods does the impound lot accept?
The PSVS accepts cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. All fees must be paid in full before vehicle release. Call 780-496-8668 to confirm the exact amount so you can bring the right payment.
What happens if I never pick up my car?
Unclaimed vehicles are eventually disposed of through the EPS vehicle auction process. You remain liable for all accumulated fees. If the fees exceed the vehicle’s value, it may make financial sense to abandon the vehicle β but you should formally contact the PSVS to understand the process and your obligations.
Can I avoid being towed in the first place?
Always read parking signs carefully β especially temporary snow route bans, fire lane markings, and private property signs. Keep your registration and insurance current. Never drive impaired β the seizure alone costs $1,500+ in fees before fines and legal costs. For safe alternatives after drinking, consider our car concierge service.
Need a Tow From the Impound Lot?
Uninsured, unregistered, or undriveable β we tow from the PSVS lot to your home or shop.