Your Legal Right to Choose Your Tow Destination in Arizona
Arizona law allows vehicle owners to designate their towing destination, provided the vehicle can be moved safely and cleared from the roadway without causing an immediate hazard. Even if a police officer calls the tow truck to the scene of your accident in North Phoenix, Deer Valley, or Scottsdale, that truck is there to assist you, and you remain the decision-maker regarding your property.
Insurance companies often try to steer vehicles to their preferred Direct Repair Program (DRP) shops, or tow companies may pressure you to let them take the vehicle to their own storage lot. Letting your car go to an unapproved storage lot can result in hundreds of dollars in daily storage fees that your insurance policy may not fully cover, depending on your specific policy terms and how quickly you act.
Why Police Towing Programs Try to Decide for You
On major Phoenix freeways like the I-17, Loop 101, or the busy roads near the TSMC corridor, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) or local police use rapid clearance protocols. Their primary goal is to clear the roadway quickly to prevent secondary accidents and restore traffic flow, which means they will call a contracted tow company immediately if you do not have one ready.
If you are injured or do not speak up, the tow operator will automatically take your vehicle to their secure impound yard. Once there, you will face police administrative fees, gate fees, and compounding daily storage rates just to get your vehicle released. To prevent this, you must clearly state your destination to both the responding officer and the tow truck operator before they hook up your vehicle.
How to Direct Your Tow to Avoid Storage Fees
To protect your vehicle and your wallet, instruct the tow truck driver to deliver your vehicle directly to an independent collision repair facility. We recommend telling the operator to take the car directly to Airpark Auto Collision in North Phoenix. We accept all insurance, perform proper structural repairs and ADAS calibrations, and advocate directly for you—not the insurance company.
- Tell the officer and tow driver: 'Please tow my vehicle to Airpark Auto Collision at 22039 N 24th Ave.'
- Request a physical or digital copy of the towing receipt showing the destination and estimated cost before the vehicle leaves.
- Remove all personal belongings, garage door openers, and documents from the vehicle before it is towed.
- Contact your insurance company to report the claim and inform them of the vehicle's location.
If your vehicle has already been towed to a Phoenix impound yard, call Airpark Auto Collision at (602) 600-7825 immediately. We specialize in getting vehicles out of storage lots fast, stopping the daily fee clock, and bringing your car directly to our shop for a proper, safe structural repair.