Who is legally responsible for paying vehicle storage fees?
The vehicle owner is ultimately responsible for paying tow yard storage fees, regardless of who caused the accident. While your insurance policy or the at-fault driver's insurance will typically reimburse these costs, you are the contract holder with the towing company. Under Arizona insurance practices, you have a legal 'duty to mitigate damages,' which means you must take active steps to stop storage fees from accumulating. You cannot simply leave the vehicle in a holding yard indefinitely and expect the insurance company to cover the entire bill.
Will insurance cover the full cost of tow yard storage?
Your insurance carrier will only cover storage fees for what they deem a 'reasonable' number of days. If an insurance adjuster takes two weeks to inspect your vehicle at a private tow yard, they may refuse to pay for the final ten days of storage, claiming you failed to mitigate your losses. Policy terms and local laws vary, but insurance companies routinely dispute storage bills that exceed three to five days. This leaves you, the vehicle owner, to pay the remaining balance out of pocket to get your vehicle released.
How to stop storage fees from consuming your vehicle's value
To stop daily storage fees, you must have your vehicle moved to a collision repair facility immediately. You do not have to wait for the insurance company to inspect the car at the tow yard; they can perform their inspection at the body shop. Moving your car to an independent shop stops the daily accrual of tow yard fees and puts the vehicle in a secure location where repair planning and structural assessments can begin.
- Contact an independent collision shop to arrange a flatbed tow from the storage lot.
- Obtain the exact release requirements, administrative fees, and hours of operation from the tow yard.
- Provide written authorization to the tow yard so the independent shop can retrieve the vehicle on your behalf.
- Ensure all personal belongings and license plates are retrieved from the vehicle before it is moved.
If your vehicle is currently sitting in a storage lot in Glendale, Peoria, or West Phoenix, do not let the fees pile up. Contact Liberty Collision Center at (623) 931-2110. We will advocate for you, coordinate the release paperwork, and tow your vehicle to our secure shop to stop the storage fees immediately.
Why choose an independent shop to manage your claim
Insurance-affiliated Direct Repair Program (DRP) shops often prioritize the insurance company's timeline and budget over your safety. As an independent, family-owned shop, we work directly for you, the vehicle owner. We handle the logistical headache of getting your vehicle out of storage, document all structural damage, perform precise ADAS calibrations, and advocate to ensure your vehicle is restored using proper OEM parts.