GTA Online: How To Retrieve Impounded Cars

Car Impounded? This guide covers all possible methods for getting it out.

Being Impounded

Your vehicle will be impounded if get a wanted level then abandon it or die while the cops have line of sight to it. It will be sent to the Impound Lot in Davis, shown here (click for better view):

You can also find it on the map with your personal vehicle icon or use Quick GPS and select 'Personal Vehicle'. Any damage done to your vehicle prior to being impounded (e.g. popped tires, engine damage) will not be repaired on its way to the impound, so keep that in mind when retrieving it.

Paying Insurance

If you bring out another personal vehicle while one is impounded, the impounded car will be destroyed and you will have to pay insurance fees to retrieve it. This method is the fastest and is good if you're in a hurry or simply couldn't be bothered to go down and pick it up.

Paying Entry Fees

If you do go down to the impound lot, you will have the option to pay a $250 fee to retrieve your vehicle and drive it away. To do so, simply walk up to the gates of the impound and a prompt will appear on your screen, like so:

Paying the fee will avoid any wanted levels and lets you simply drive it out of the lot stress-free. This method is fast, and is good if your car is too damaged to properly escape the cops.

Breaking In

You can also choose to break into the impound lot and steal your car back. You will receive a two-star wanted level as soon as you enter the lot if you haven't paid, and killing any nearby officers that attack you will escalate it to three stars. Getting in, however, is not so simple, as most of the exterior is enclosed with special fencing that cannot be knocked down or climbed over. If another player's vehicle is impounded, it will also be inside the lot where you can take it for a joyride provided that it is unlocked. When leaving, both gates are automatic and will slide open when you drive/walk close enough to them.

Method 1

The first way to break in involves stealing an SUV, Van, or any sufficently tall vehicle, parking it next to the front fence as shown, climbing on top of it and then jumping into the lot.

Once you're in, you will have to quickly kill any nearby officers and make away with your vehicle. Lose your wanted level (this is made trivial by a technique shown later in the guide) and you are home free.

Method 2

The second method involves going around the back of the impound lot to this alley:

Jump over the wall seen in the image. This grants the same wanted level as the first method, so once again make sure to dispatch any nearby cops, then use the escape method shown later in the guide.

Escaping the Police

Once you have retrieved your vehicle, you can easily evade the police by driving into a parking garage next to the lot and going up three or four levels (the police sometimes investiagte the lower levels and will always do so if they see you enter). The entrance, shown below, can be accessed by driving out of the impound gate that faces roughly south, making a right turn and then another at the end of the block.

When driving out, be cautious as you may encounter more police on the way down, and you will regain your wanted level if you hit them.

Enjoy your new Freedom

Once you have successfully retrieved your vehicle, you are now free to do whatever you want.

Enjoy it! Oh, and thank you for reading this guide.

[JohnnyBlade]

You can just jump the wall in the back...shoot the guard and grab your vehicle. I do it all the time.

[Br41nD34dz]

I did find another way to get your car back without paying. You still need to get in there and hop in your car at least and then get back out. After that you can let the cops kill you or lose your wanted level and you should be able to just request it (did this a number of times just because the gates were sluggish to open). Since the car is still in the impound lot the cops won't impound it as it won't move locations is why this method works.

[s-d]

Declasse Rhapsody

[Saul]

what car is that??
also nice guide <33

[SUPER-TANK]

But I pay the bribe anyways, but yeah, my other way cuts down cost and effort

[SUPER-TANK]

I have an even better idea: Go near the lot, make sure your friend's car ain't impounded, and bring the friend nearby. Order the friend to steal the car - No wanted level and you can take the car normally

[Filip]

you can call your asistant to retrieve it for 1000$

[Aeterna Nox]

Cargobob!

[2025 Subaru Crosstrek]

thx, I added you btw

[Optimore]

@ Tryrose It's just the 'Go Fast Hood' and the Spoiler with stock wheels (it comes with whitewalls) with metallic black primary and yellow seconday paint.