Details

Last Updated on October 22, 2012

The DMV is required to send a "Notice of Impound" to the last known registered owner. If the impounded vehicle has been sold, the former owner needs to respond to the impound notification by sending a copy of the sales or trade contract with the impound letter to the DMV, so the new owner can be properly notified. If the former owner doesn't have anything to verify the vehicle was sold, he should send an explanation to the DMV, providing the name of the purchaser, the date of sale, and a copy of the impound letter. The letter also needs to be signed by the former owner. The letter should be sent to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Miscellaneous Services Unit
PO Box 30412
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130

Private Impounds

In the case of private impounds (removal of vehicles from private property), Utah law Section 72-9-603 requires the towing company to make two notifications of a tow.

1. Notification To Law Enforcement

The tower is required, immediately upon arrival at the storage facility, to notify the enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the area of the tow. The agency must be told:

• the location of the vehicle;
• the date, time, and location from which the vehicle was removed;
• reasons for the removal of the vehicle;
• the person who requested the removal of the vehicle; and
• the vehicle's description, including its identification number and license number.

2. Notification To the Registered Owner

Within two business days of the tow, the towing company is required to send a certified letter to the last known address of the registered owner of the vehicle, as listed on the DMV files. If the tower has actual knowledge of the owner's current address, the letter must be sent there. The letter must notify the vehicle owner of the:

• location of the vehicle;
• date, time, location from which the vehicle was removed;
• reasons for the removal of the vehicle;
• person who requested the removal of the vehicle;
• vehicle's description, including its VIN and license number; and
• costs and procedures to retrieve the vehicle.