Car Impound Lot in Mississauga — How to Get Your Vehicle Back
🚔 Quick Answer
If your car was impounded in Mississauga, it is being held at a licensed tow yard contracted by Peel Regional Police. To get it back you need: a valid vehicle release letter from the police, your driver’s licence, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and payment for all towing and daily storage fees. The process takes 1–3 hours once you have the required documents.
Need your vehicle picked up from the impound lot and delivered to your home or mechanic? Call (647) 601-6377 — we provide towing from any impound yard in Mississauga.
Having your car impounded is one of the most stressful experiences a driver can face. Whether it happened after a traffic stop, a stunt driving charge, an accident, or simply because you parked illegally — the result is the same: your vehicle is gone, you have no transportation, and you have no idea how to get it back or how much it will cost.
In Mississauga, vehicle impoundments are handled by Peel Regional Police. Your car is towed by a police-contracted tow company to a licensed impound lot, where it sits and accumulates daily storage fees until you complete the release process. Every day you delay adds to the bill — which is why understanding the process quickly is so important.
This guide from Mississauga Towing explains exactly how the impound system works in Mississauga: why vehicles get impounded, where the lots are, what documents you need, how much it costs, and how to get your car released as quickly as possible. Once your vehicle is released, we can tow it anywhere you need — home, mechanic, or body shop.
Why Do Cars Get Impounded in Mississauga?
Peel Regional Police can impound your vehicle for a range of reasons under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and the Criminal Code. Here are the most common:
🏎️
Stunt Driving / Racing
Driving 40+ km/h over the posted limit (or 50+ km/h on roads with limits over 80) results in an automatic 14-day impoundment and immediate 30-day licence suspension. This is the most common impound reason in Mississauga.
🍺
Impaired Driving (DUI)
If you fail a breathalyzer or refuse to provide a sample, your vehicle is impounded for 7 days on a first offence. Criminal DUI charges carry longer impound periods and severe licence consequences.
📄
Driving While Suspended
Operating a vehicle while your licence is suspended results in a 7-day impound on the first offence. Second and subsequent offences carry longer impound periods.
🚫
No Insurance / Expired Plates
Driving without valid auto insurance in Ontario is a serious offence. Your vehicle can be impounded on the spot, and you face a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 for a first offence.
🅿️
Illegal Parking / Tow Zones
Vehicles parked in fire routes, handicap spots (without permits), tow-away zones, or blocking driveways can be towed to a municipal impound yard. These are typically shorter holds.
💥
Accident / Evidence Hold
After serious accidents or criminal investigations, police may impound the vehicle as evidence. These holds can last weeks or months depending on the investigation. Read more about accident towing in Mississauga.
How Long Will Your Car Be Impounded? — Mandatory Hold Periods
Ontario law sets mandatory minimum impound periods that cannot be shortened — even by a judge. You simply have to wait them out:
⚠️ Storage Fees Add Up Fast
Daily storage fees at Mississauga impound lots typically range from $35 to $75 per day. A 14-day stunt driving impound can cost $500 to $1,050 in storage alone — on top of the towing fee. Pick up your vehicle the moment the hold period expires to minimize costs.
How to Get Your Car Out of the Impound Lot — Step by Step
Follow this process carefully to release your vehicle from the impound lot in Mississauga as quickly as possible:
Find Out Where Your Vehicle Is
Contact Peel Regional Police non-emergency line at (905) 453-3311 and provide your licence plate number or VIN. They will tell you which impound lot has your vehicle and which division handled the impound.
Wait Out the Mandatory Hold Period
If your vehicle was impounded for a traffic offence (stunt driving, DUI, suspended licence), you must wait until the mandatory hold period expires before starting the release process. There is no way to shorten this period.
Obtain the Vehicle Release Letter
Visit the Peel Regional Police division that handled the impound. Bring your driver’s licence, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. The officer will issue a vehicle release letter authorizing the impound lot to return your car. This letter is required — the lot will not release the vehicle without it.
Go to the Impound Lot With Your Documents
Bring the release letter, your photo ID, vehicle registration, and proof of valid insurance to the impound lot. If you are not the registered owner, you will need a signed authorization letter from the owner plus their ID copy.
Pay the Towing and Storage Fees
The impound lot will present you with an itemized bill showing the initial tow charge and daily storage fees. Payment is required before release. Most lots accept cash, debit, and credit cards.
Drive Away — Or Call for a Tow
If your licence is currently suspended or your vehicle is not driveable, you cannot drive it off the lot yourself. In that case, call (647) 601-6377 — we will flatbed tow your vehicle from the impound lot to your home, mechanic, or wherever you need it.
💡 Pro Tip — Pick Up ASAP
The moment the mandatory hold period expires, you should begin the release process immediately. Every additional day your car sits in the impound lot costs you $35–$75 in storage fees. A 14-day stunt driving hold plus 3 extra days of delay can push your total bill past $1,500.
Documents You Need to Release Your Car From Impound
Missing even one document means an extra trip and another day of storage fees. Make sure you have everything before going to the lot:
📋 Release Checklist
- ☐ Vehicle Release Letter — obtained from Peel Regional Police (the division that impounded your vehicle)
- ☐ Valid Driver’s Licence — must belong to the person picking up the vehicle
- ☐ Vehicle Registration (Ownership) — Ontario vehicle permit showing your name, plate number, and VIN
- ☐ Proof of Valid Insurance — current pink slip or digital insurance card. If your insurance lapsed, you must reinstate it first
- ☐ Payment Method — cash, debit, or credit card for towing + storage fees
- ☐ Authorization Letter — only if someone other than the registered owner is picking up the vehicle (must include owner’s signature and ID copy)
How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Car Out of Impound?
The total cost depends on why your vehicle was impounded and how long it has been held. Here is a realistic breakdown:
These costs can be substantial, especially for longer holds. For full pricing context on Mississauga towing rates, see our towing cost guide.
Need Your Car Picked Up From Impound?
We tow from any impound lot in Mississauga to your home, mechanic, or body shop
Your Rights When Your Vehicle Is Impounded in Ontario
Ontario law gives you important protections — even when your car has been seized by police:
- Right to retrieve personal belongings — you can visit the impound lot during business hours to collect personal items from your vehicle, even during the mandatory hold period. The lot cannot refuse this request.
- Right to an itemized bill — the impound lot must provide a detailed, itemized breakdown of all towing and storage charges before you pay.
- Right to dispute charges — if you believe the fees are unreasonable, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
- Right to choose towing for release — once the vehicle is released, you choose how to transport it. The impound lot cannot force you to use their tow service to leave. Call us at (647) 601-6377 for 24-hour towing.
- Right to contest the impound — for certain offences, you can apply to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an early release of your vehicle, though this is rarely successful for HTA impounds.
For official information on Ontario towing and impound rights, visit ontario.ca — Know Your Rights When Getting a Tow.
5 Mistakes That Cost You More at the Impound Lot
Mistake #1: Delaying the pickup. Every day after the hold expires costs you $35–$75 in storage. Some drivers wait a week after the hold period because they are arranging a ride or gathering documents — that delay alone can add $250–$500 to the bill.
Mistake #2: Forgetting the release letter. Without this document from police, the impound lot will not release your vehicle. A wasted trip means another day of storage fees and another round trip to the police station.
Mistake #3: Letting insurance lapse. If your insurance expired while the car was impounded, you cannot get a release letter until you reinstate it. This process can take 1–3 business days, adding more storage fees.
Mistake #4: Not checking lot business hours. Impound lots have specific operating hours. Showing up outside those hours means yet another wasted day.
Mistake #5: Trying to drive away on a suspended licence. If your licence was suspended as part of the same offence, driving the car off the lot yourself is another offence — and could result in a second impound. Call (647) 601-6377 and let us tow it home for you.
We Tow From Any Impound Lot Across Mississauga
Once your vehicle is released, Mississauga Towing picks it up from any licensed impound yard in the area and delivers it to your preferred destination. View our full service area map.
Whether you need your car towed home, to a mechanic, or to a body shop — we handle it. If your vehicle is not driveable, we use a flatbed tow truck to ensure safe transport. For more on picking your vehicle up after an accident-related impound, read our guide to insurance-approved accident towing.
Related Towing & Roadside Services
Beyond impound lot pickups, Mississauga Towing provides a full range of towing and roadside services:
- Breakdown towing — vehicle not starting after sitting in the impound lot? We tow it to a mechanic
- Battery boost service — cars that sit in impound often have dead batteries from inactivity
- Tire change service — flat tire from sitting? We swap it on the spot
- Car unlocking — lost your keys during the impound process? We can get you in
- Insurance towing — coordinated billing with your insurance for covered tows
- Scrap car removal — if storage fees exceed the vehicle’s value, we remove it for free
Frequently Asked Questions — Impound Lot Mississauga
Where is the impound lot in Mississauga?
Mississauga does not have a single central impound lot. Police-ordered impounds are taken to licensed tow yards contracted by Peel Regional Police. The specific lot depends on which tow company was dispatched. Call Peel Police non-emergency at (905) 453-3311 to find out which lot has your vehicle.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Mississauga?
Total costs depend on the hold period and daily storage rates. A 7-day impound typically costs $545 to $1,025 (tow fee plus storage plus admin fees). A 14-day stunt driving impound can cost $790 to $1,550 or more.
Can I get my car out of impound early?
For mandatory HTA impounds (stunt driving, DUI, suspended licence), no — the hold periods are set by law and cannot be shortened. For parking-related impounds or certain other holds, early release may be possible once you resolve the underlying issue. Contact Peel Police for your specific situation.
What if my licence is suspended and I cannot drive my car home from impound?
You have two options: have a licensed driver come with you to drive the car home, or call a towing company to transport it. Call (647) 601-6377 and we will tow it from the impound lot to any address you choose.
Can I retrieve personal items from my impounded car?
Yes. You have the right to retrieve personal belongings from your vehicle during the impound lot’s business hours, even during the mandatory hold period. Contact the lot directly to arrange a time. Some lots may charge a small access fee.
What happens if I do not pick up my car from impound?
Storage fees continue to accumulate daily. After a certain period (typically 60 days in Ontario), the impound lot may apply for ownership of the vehicle to recover unpaid fees. At that point, your car could be sold at auction or scrapped.
Can someone else pick up my car from the impound lot?
Yes, but they will need a signed authorization letter from the registered owner, a copy of the owner’s government-issued photo ID, the vehicle release letter from police, and the vehicle registration. The person picking up the car also needs their own valid photo ID.
My car has a dead battery after sitting in impound. Can you help?
Absolutely. Vehicles that sit for 7 to 14 days in impound frequently have dead batteries. We can either provide a battery boost at the lot to get the car started, or flatbed tow it to a mechanic. Call (647) 601-6377 to arrange either service.
If the impound fees are more than my car is worth, what should I do?
If the accumulated towing and storage fees exceed the vehicle’s value, you may want to consider abandoning the vehicle and letting the lot dispose of it. Alternatively, contact us about free scrap car removal — we can arrange to pick up the vehicle and scrap it, potentially offsetting some of the costs.
How long does it take to get a vehicle release letter from Peel Police?
If you have all required documents (valid licence, registration, current insurance), the release letter is typically issued the same day at the police division. Allow 30 to 60 minutes for processing. If your insurance has lapsed, you will need to reinstate it first, which can add 1 to 3 business days.
Car Released From Impound? We Pick It Up for You.
Towing from any impound lot to your home, mechanic, or body shop — 24/7.