If your car gets impounded, insurance may not be the first thing on your mind. But once you start figuring out how to get the car back, it is a fair question to ask whether the impound could also affect your rate.
In most cases, the fact that your car was impounded is not what matters most to the insurance company. The reason it happened is usually more important.
A car that was towed over a parking issue is one thing. A car impounded after an accident, a traffic violation, or driving without insurance is another.
Here’s what that can mean for your insurance in Oklahoma.
Does an Impound Raise Your Car Insurance Rate?
Not necessarily.
Insurance companies look at several factors when setting rates. The Oklahoma Insurance Department lists driving history, accidents, claims, vehicle type, location, and other rating information among the factors insurers may consider. Oklahoma insurers can use the previous three years of driving-record history when determining premiums.
So if your car was impounded after a parking issue and nothing happened to your driving or insurance record, the tow itself may have little connection to your rate.
The situation can be different if the impound was connected to an at-fault accident, a traffic violation, or a lapse in insurance.
The reason for the impound is usually more important to your insurer than the fact that the vehicle was towed.
What If Your Car Was Impounded for No Insurance?
If the vehicle was impounded while it was uninsured, you may need active coverage before putting it back on the road.
For law-enforcement impounds in Oklahoma, Service Oklahoma lists a valid insurance verification form or insurance policy showing the vehicle’s VIN as acceptable proof of insurance. An affidavit of non-use can also be used in certain situations, but the vehicle cannot be driven from the facility when that option is used.
See Oklahoma’s impounded vehicle requirements
That gives you two separate questions to answer:
Are you trying to get the vehicle back?
And:
Are you planning to drive it away?
If the vehicle will be driven on public roads again, make sure the required insurance is active first.
Can You Buy Car Insurance After Your Car Is Impounded?
Yes. Having a vehicle in an impound lot does not automatically prevent you from buying car insurance.
When getting a quote, have the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model, driver information, and prior insurance information available. If the car is financed, you may also need your lienholder information.
Be accurate about what happened.
If your old policy expired, tell the insurance company there was a lapse. If an accident or traffic violation was involved, provide the correct information when asked about your driving history.
Different insurers have different underwriting requirements, so one company declining a policy does not necessarily mean another company will make the same decision.
If you need coverage before putting the vehicle back on the road, Cheapest Auto Insurance can help you compare available options for your situation.
Can a Lapse in Insurance Affect Your Rate?
Yes, it can.
If your policy ended before the car was impounded, the gap in coverage may become relevant when you apply for another policy.
That does not mean your new rate is higher simply because the car went to an impound lot. Your prior insurance history, driving record, vehicle, coverage choices, and other factors can affect the quote you receive.
This is also why it helps to compare equivalent policies rather than looking only at the price.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department recommends getting quotes from multiple companies and making sure the coverage being compared is the same.
A cheaper quote may not be a better deal if it has lower limits or different coverage.
What Insurance Do You Need for an Impounded Car?
An impound does not create a special type of car insurance.
If you are putting the vehicle back on the road, you need a policy that fits the vehicle and how it will be used. For many drivers, that begins with liability insurance.
If the vehicle is financed, your lender may also require comprehensive and collision coverage. These coverages are commonly included in what drivers refer to as full coverage insurance, so check your lender’s requirements before choosing coverage.
What If You Don’t Have a Driver’s License?
Getting the vehicle insured and being legally allowed to drive it are two different things.
Oklahoma’s wrecker-service guidance allows several forms of identification when retrieving an impounded vehicle, including an Oklahoma identification card and other government-issued photo identification.
But retrieving the vehicle does not give someone without a valid license permission to drive it.
If you do not currently have a driver’s license, another eligible driver may need to operate the vehicle or it may need to be transported.
What Should You Check Before Buying Insurance?
If you need insurance quickly because your vehicle is in impound, it is easy to rush through the quote.
Take a moment to check a few important details before purchasing the policy.
Make sure the VIN is correct. Oklahoma’s impound-release guidance specifically requires insurance documentation that identifies the vehicle by VIN.
Check the policy effective date so you know when coverage begins.
Make sure the correct drivers are included and the insurance company understands who will regularly operate the vehicle.
Finally, check the coverage itself. If you asked for comprehensive and collision, verify that they are actually included. If the car is financed, confirm that the policy meets your lender’s requirements.
Getting an insurance card quickly does not help if the policy information is wrong.
Do You Need Insurance to Get a Car Out of Impound in Oklahoma?
For a law-enforcement impound, Oklahoma generally requires proof of insurance or an accepted affidavit of non-use as part of the release documentation. If an affidavit of non-use is provided, the vehicle cannot be driven from the facility.
You may also need proof of ownership, identification, registration, payment of towing and storage charges, and a law-enforcement release if a hold was placed on the vehicle.
Because the circumstances can vary, contact the wrecker or impound facility before buying coverage or going to pick up the car.
Find out exactly what is needed for your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does getting your car impounded go on your insurance record?
The impound itself is not the same as an accident, insurance claim, or traffic violation. However, the incident that caused the impound could involve something that affects your driving or insurance history.
Does getting your car impounded make your insurance more expensive?
Not automatically. A traffic violation, accident, claim, lapse in coverage, or other factor associated with the impound may affect your rate. A tow unrelated to those issues may have little connection to your insurance premium.
Can I insure my car while it is still in impound?
Yes. A vehicle being in an impound lot does not automatically prevent you from purchasing insurance. Make sure the insurer has the correct VIN, vehicle information, drivers, and coverage selections.
Can I get my car out of impound without insurance in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma allows an affidavit of non-use as an alternative in certain impound-release situations. A vehicle released using an affidavit of non-use cannot be driven from the facility.
What to Do After Your Car Is Impounded
Start by finding out why the car was impounded and what the facility requires to release it.
If you need new insurance, gather the VIN and driver information and make sure the policy is active before you plan to drive the vehicle.
And if you are worried about your rate, focus on what caused the impound. An accident, traffic violation, claim, or lapse in coverage may matter to your insurer. The fact that the vehicle spent time in an impound lot does not automatically mean your insurance will change.