When someone is stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while driving in North Carolina, one of the first concerns is usually what happens to the vehicle. In many cases, the immigration arrest involves more than just the detention of the person. It can also result in the temporary or permanent loss of the car.

Although there is no solution that guarantees the vehicle will not be towed, there are preventative measures that can help a family member or trusted person recover it if the owner cannot do so personally.

What usually happens to a vehicle after an ICE arrest 

When ICE stops someone who is driving, the federal agency does not take possession of the vehicle or arrange for its release to family members. In practice, the car may remain impounded. parked on a public road or next to a highwayIn many cases, the local police intervene and order a tow truck to remove it.

The vehicle usually ends up in a private impound lot, where daily towing and storage charges begin to accrue. These costs can quickly escalate, and if no one manages to retrieve the car in time, some people end up losing it altogether.

ICE generally does not intervene to help release the vehicle, even when the driver explains that they have family or friends who could take care of the vehicle.

Related:  Where can I locate someone detained by ICE in North Carolina?

Can a family member or friend pick up the car? 

Whether someone else can retrieve the vehicle depends on the impound lot, but in many cases, informal authorization isn't enough. Tow yards typically require documentation proving that the person is legally authorized to act on behalf of the car's owner.

A simple signed document, even if it states that someone "authorizes" another person to remove the vehicle, may not be accepted. That's why lawyers and community organizations often recommend prepare ahead a document with greater legal weight.

A preventative tool: limited power for the vehicle 

One of the most solid options is a limited power (Limited Power of Attorney), signed and notarized in advance. This document allows a trusted person to act on behalf of the vehicle owner solely to retrieve the vehicle from impound, sign release documents, and pay associated costs.

This type of power of attorney does not prevent immigration detention nor does it guarantee that the vehicle will not be towed. However, it can make it easier for a family member or friend to retrieve the car once it is impounded, something that is often impossible without this type of document.

Below you will find a downloadable template for a vehicle power of attorney. You can download, print, and fill it out by hand. It is written in English to ensure that anyone at a towing depot can understand the contents. If you do not understand English, we recommend that you ask someone you trust for help completing it. It is recommended that you carefully read the instructions before completing and signing it in front of a notary.

What is important to keep in mind 

A limited power of attorney must be prepared before any vehicle is impounded and notarized for greater validity. It does not replace the vehicle title nor does it authorize the sale or transfer of ownership. Furthermore, each impound lot has its own rules and decides whether or not to accept the document, although many do.

It is also important that this type of power be granted only to a person of absolute trust, as it gives them the authority to act on behalf of the vehicle owner within the established limits.

You may be interested>>  “Ready Now”: the mobile application that allows immigrant families to protect themselves in immigration emergencies

>>> For information on cars towed or impounded in North Carolina in 2026, we suggest contacting the agency that made the arrest directly to ask which impound lot the vehicle was taken to.

Links of interest: NCDMV offices y ICE office in Charlotte

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What happens to your car if ICE stops you while you're driving?

by Nicolas Baintrub, Enlace Latino NC
January 23, 2026

Enlace Latino NCJanuary 23, 2026 When a person is stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while driving in North Carolina, one of the first concerns is usually what happens to the vehicle. In many cases, immigration arrest involves more than just detaining the person. It can also result in the temporary or permanent loss of the car. Although there is no solution that guarantees the vehicle will not be towed, there are preventative measures that can help a family member or trusted person recover it if the owner cannot do so personally. What usually happens to a vehicle after an ICE arrest When ICE detains a person who is driving, the federal agency does not take possession of the vehicle or coordinate its delivery to family members. In practice, the car can be parked on a public road or next to a highway . In many cases, the local police intervene and order a crane to tow it away. The vehicle usually ends up in a private impound lot, where daily charges for towing and storage begin to accumulate. These costs can escalate rapidly, and if no one manages to retrieve the car in time, some people end up losing it altogether. ICE generally does not intervene to help release the vehicle, even when the driver explains that they have family or friends who could take care of the vehicle. Related: Where to locate a person detained by ICE in North Carolina? Can a family member or friend pick up the car? The possibility of another person retrieving the vehicle depends on the impound lot, but in many cases an informal authorization is not enough. Tow yards typically require documents proving that the person is legally authorized to act on behalf of the car owner. A simple signed document, even if it says that someone "authorizes" another person to remove the vehicle, may not be accepted. That's why lawyers and community organizations often recommend preparing a document with greater legal weight in advance . A preventative tool: limited power for the vehicle One of the strongest options is a Limited Power of Attorney, signed and notarized in advance. This document allows a trusted person to act on behalf of the vehicle owner solely to retrieve the vehicle from a storage facility, sign release documents, and pay associated costs. This type of power does not prevent immigration detention nor does it guarantee that the vehicle will not be towed. However, it can make it easier for a family member or friend to retrieve the car once it is already in the impound lot, something that is often not possible without this type of document. Below you will find a downloadable model of a limited power vehicle. You can download it, print it, and fill it out by hand. It is written in English to ensure that anyone at a crane depot understands the content. If you do not understand English, we recommend that you ask someone you trust for help to complete it. It is recommended to read the instructions carefully before completing and signing it before a notary. What is important to keep in mind The limited power of attorney must be prepared before any arrest and be notarized to have greater validity. It does not replace the vehicle title nor authorize the sale or transfer of ownership. Furthermore, each deposit has its own rules and decides whether or not to accept the document, although many do accept it. It is also important that this type of power be granted only to a person of absolute trust, as it gives them the authority to act on behalf of the vehicle owner within the established limits. You may be interested in>>“Ready Now”: the mobile application that allows immigrant families to protect themselves in immigration emergencies >>> For information on cars towed or impounded in North Carolina in 2026, we suggest contacting the agency that made the arrest directly to ask which impound lot the vehicle was taken to. Useful links: NCDMV offices and ICE office in Charlotte This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-pasa-con-tu-auto-si-ice-te-detiene-mientras-conduces/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-pasa-con-tu-auto-si-ice-te-detiene-mientras-conduces/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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