Finding out your car was towed is bad enough. Showing up at the storage lot without the right paperwork and having to leave empty-handed makes it worse. Here is a short checklist so you only make the trip once.
Key Takeaways
- Call first. Spartanburg County has no single impound lot, so find out which company has your car and when it is open.
- Bring photo ID, proof the car is yours, and a way to pay.
- Ask for an itemized receipt and know what each line is for.
- Look the car over and take photos before you drive away.
How do you get your car out of an impound lot in Spartanburg County? Call the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office to find out which wrecker company towed it, then call that company’s lot to confirm its hours and how it takes payment. Bring photo ID, proof the car is yours and a way to pay, ask for an itemized receipt, and look the car over before you drive away.
Step one is the phone call
Before you drive anywhere, you need to know which lot has your car. Spartanburg County does not run one central impound yard, so your car is wherever the towing company that took it stores its vehicles. Our guide to where the Spartanburg County impound lot actually is explains how to get that answer from the Sheriff’s Office, and our post on finding your towed car in Woodruff covers what to do if the tow came from a private lot.
Once you know the company, call the lot and ask three things. What are your hours, how do you take payment, and what do I need to bring to get the car out? Storage lots set their own hours and payment methods, and many are not staffed around the clock. The ordinance requires lots to post an on-call number for releasing vehicles, so an after-hours trip is sometimes possible.
What to bring
- A valid photo ID. Lots will not release a car to someone who cannot show who they are.
- Proof the car is yours. Your registration or insurance card works. If you have the title, bring that too.
- A way to pay. Ask on the phone whether the lot takes cards, or whether it is cash only.
- Your keys. If you do not have them, tell the lot when you call so there are no surprises.
- A ride. The lot may not be near where your car was parked, so plan how you get there.
If you cannot get your registration or ID together, ask the lot what else it accepts before you make the trip.
What to ask for on the bill
Do not accept a single number with no explanation. The county ordinance requires the storage lot to give you a receipt that breaks down every charge, so ask for the itemized version. Then check it line by line.
- The tow charge. What was it, and does it match what you were told?
- Storage. How many days are you being billed for? Fees do not start until 12 hours after the car arrives, and after that they are charged per day.
- Any other fees. If a line has a name you do not recognize, ask what it covers.
The fee rules are laid out in our impound lot guide, so you can compare the bill to what the ordinance says.
Before you drive away
Walk around the car before you sign anything. Look for new dents, scrapes, or damage under the front and rear bumpers, and take photos with the date on your phone. Check that your belongings are still in the car and that nothing is missing. Get a copy of the receipt and the paperwork, and keep them.
If something looks wrong on the bill or on the car, write down what you see and take photos before you leave. That record is what you will need if you dispute a charge later.
Need a tow after you get it back?
Sometimes the car will not start after sitting, or the tow caused damage that needs a shop. Call us at (864) 756-8255 or request a quote, and we will get it where it needs to go. Our 24-hour emergency towing and flatbed towing cover Woodruff and the surrounding area.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone else pick up my car for me?
Lots set their own rules, so ask on the phone what a friend or family member would need to bring before you send them. Do not assume your ID alone will be enough for someone else.
What if I do not have my registration with me?
Call the lot and ask what else it will accept. Do not drive over without knowing, because lots will not release a car without proof it belongs to you.
Can I pay by card at a tow lot?
It depends on the lot. Some take cards and some are cash only, which is why the phone call matters. Ask before you go.
How soon should I go get my car?
As soon as you can. Storage fees do not start until 12 hours after the car arrives, and after that they build up per day, so the first half-day is the cheapest window you will have.
