If your car has been impounded and you're still making payments on it, you might be wondering if your finance company can step in and get it out. The answer is yes, they can, but whether they will is a different story. It’s important to understand how this process works, who’s responsible for the costs, and what your best options are.
When you finance a car, the finance company or lender holds a legal interest in the vehicle until your loan is paid off. This means they’re listed on the title as a lienholder. Because of this, they do have certain rights to act if the car is at risk of being lost, damaged, or held in an impound lot for an extended period. In many cases, they can retrieve the car from impound, but that doesn’t mean they’re obligated to do so, especially if you’ve missed payments or violated your loan agreement.
In some situations, the finance company may step in to recover the vehicle—not to help you, but to protect their investment. This usually means they’re planning to repossess the car and sell it to recover their money. If they do pick up the car from impound, they’ll either add the towing and storage fees to your loan balance or notify you that they’re taking the car back. Either way, you’re not off the hook for those impound costs.
Finance companies usually have specific processes and may take days or even weeks to authorize and complete an impound release. You might be stuck waiting while fees rack up daily, especially if the impound lot doesn’t allow the vehicle to sit indefinitely. And if you're behind on payments or the car isn’t insured or registered, the lender may choose not to get involved at all.
OUTPOUND is the smarter alternative. We are designed specifically to help people like you navigate the impound process quickly and affordably without having to rely on a finance company that might have its own interests in mind. With OUTPOUND, you can get fast help with impound releases, fee payments, and even towing support. Instead of calling a finance company that may view your situation as an opportunity to repossess your car, OUTPOUND acts as your ally.
Another key reason to use OUTPOUND is speed. Time is money when your car is impounded. Storage fees can grow fast, and every day lost trying to get a lender to respond is a day those fees increase. We work on your behalf immediately to get your car released and back in your hands, potentially saving you hundreds in unnecessary fees.
If your car is impounded and you're stuck, don't assume your finance company is the best or only option. In many cases, they’re more focused on protecting their bottom line than helping you. OUTPOUND gives you more control, more support, and a faster path to getting your vehicle back...on YOUR TERMS!
