Impound Section FAQ
Impound Home
Where are you located?
100 Old Country Rd., Westhampton, NY 11977
Directions are elsewhere on this web site. Please print them out for your records.
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What are your hours?
The Impound Office is open to the public M-F from 8am – 1pm.
If you are towing your vehicle from our facility you & your tow driver need to be here NO LATER THAN 12:30pm.
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When do you hold vehicle auctions?
Vehicle auctions are held periodically throughout the year. While we do not have a set schedule you can find information concerning vehicle auctions elsewhere on this website. Please refer to those links for further information. Please keep in mind dates are posted approximately one month in advance and the vehicles are listed approximately two weeks prior to the auction date.
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How will I know when I can claim my vehicle?
If we have not heard from you via telephone we will send you a certified letter. This letter will contain instructions for claiming your vehicle. Please read it carefully.
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I received a letter from your office. It says I need a P-VIN appointment. What does this mean?
This means DMV must inspect the vehicle and assign a replacement VIN. You will need to complete DMV form MV-899 and mail it to Albany along with the applicable fee. You will receive notification of an appointment to bring your vehicle to West Babylon for inspection. You may pick up your vehicle from the impound yard the day before your appointment at DMV. The vehicle must be towed from the impound yard and to the Babylon inspection site on the day of your appointment.
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What do I need to claim my vehicle?
You will need to provide proof of ownership. This can be either a current & VALID registration or a title. If the registration is suspended or expired it is NOT valid & will not be accepted as proof of ownership. Unless approved by the court, ownership CANNOT be transferred in order to claim the vehicle.
You will also need photo ID. If you plan to drive the vehicle a valid license with photo is required. We also need to see the license of the person who drives you to the impound yard. A Learner’s Permit is NOT a license. If you only have a permit, you still need two (2) licensed drivers present.
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Why do you require 2 licensed drivers?
We require 2 licensed drivers because this is a police facility and everyone operating a motor vehicle to or from this facility must possess a valid license in accordance with the NY State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
If you plan to drive the vehicle from our facility you must also produce a VALID insurance card. We do not require proof of insurance on vehicles being towed.
The exception to this are 509/511 seizures and impounds for VTL sections 511.2 or 511.3, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation. We require proof of insurance whether you drive the vehicle or have it towed.
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All my paperwork is in my vehicle...
This may or may not be true; you should come prepared with the documents we request. Very often the paperwork is not in the vehicle or the paperwork inside the vehicle has expired. If we have located the paperwork inside the vehicle we will advise you of same.
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I took the car off the road & I cannot find my title...
If you plan to drive the vehicle you will need to re-register & insure your vehicle. If you do not plan to drive the vehicle you must go to DMV and request a duplicate title. It will take several weeks to receive the duplicate title; however we will accept the green receipt you receive from DMV in lieu of the title. You must still have photo ID.
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I want someone else to pick up my vehicle for me...
You must send them with all the required documents PLUS a signed, notarized letter from you in which you name the specific person(s) or tow company authorized to claim the vehicle for you.
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The owner of the vehicle is deceased. How do I claim the vehicle?
We understand this is a difficult time for you and do not want to cause additional grief, but we do require some documentation in order to release the vehicle to a non-owner.
In addition to ownership paperwork(to the best of your ability) & photo ID we also need you to provide us with the death certificate, a copy of the will naming the executor/executrix of the estate OR if there is no will, a certificate of voluntary administration from Surrogates Court.
Exceptions to providing a will/certificate of voluntary administration would be a surviving spouse, still legally married, or parents of a deceased child if the child was living at home and/or is not married and/or does not have a will naming someone else as the executor. You will still need to provide ownership information and the death certificate.
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What about my property that was in the vehicle?
All personal property SHOULD have been inventoried by the impounding officer and sent to the Property Section in Yaphank. Their telephone number is: 852-6462. Sometimes this does not happen and you will have to come to the Impound Yard located at 110 Old Country Rd, West Hampton to pick up any personal property.
Vehicles impounded as part of a criminal investigation or a motor vehicle crash that involved serious physical injury or a fatality require a release from the Inv. Officer, Detective, or ADA in order for you to claim any personal property. You or your attorney will have to request this authorization. This information does not apply to Vehicle Seizures; these will be addressed in a separate section.
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What about my license plates?
We also require authorization to release license plates or to issue a plate letter. Plate letters will only be issued for license plates that were VALID at the time of the vehicle impound.
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Will I be charged any fees?
Vehicles impounded for evidentiary purposes usually do not incur fees; however, there may be exceptions so please call our office to confirm if any fees are due. Additionally, once you are notified of the vehicle release, by phone or by mail, you have five (5) business days to pick up the vehicle. After that time storage fees of $30 per business day will begin to accrue. Fees are payable by CASH or BANK CHECK ONLY. Amounts over $500 are payable by Money Order or Bank Check Only. You must bring the EXACT amount due as we cannot make change. There may be exceptions to this policy. Please call to confirm if any fees are due.
Vehicle seizures are the exception and will be addressed in another section.
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What if I do not want to claim the vehicle?
If for any reason you do not wish to claim your vehicle, you may sign the title over to the County. We will then dispose of the vehicle according to the law.
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Impound Section
100 Old Country Rd.
Westhampton, NY 11977
Open to the public Monday - Friday from 8am – 1pm.