If you were arrested for what many people call a DUI, one of the first practical questions is simple: what happens to your car?
In Missouri, the offense is called DWI, not DUI. Missouri law says a person commits driving while intoxicated if he or she operates a vehicle while in an intoxicated condition.
That matters because the answer is usually not just about the criminal charge. It is also about towing, impound, how to retrieve the vehicle, and whether you will later have to put an ignition interlock device on any vehicle you drive.
Answer First: In a Missouri DWI case, your car usually is not the thing that disappears forever. The immediate problem is that you usually cannot keep driving it from the scene. In Springfield, if no other safe option exists, police may custody tow the vehicle. Then you may have to deal with tow fees, proof of ownership, and later, depending on the case, ignition interlock rules on vehicles you operate.
Definition: A DWI is Missouri’s term for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. People often search for DUI, but Missouri’s statute uses DWI.
Quick Answer Table
| Situation | What Usually Happens To The Car | What You Need To Know |
| You are arrested and no safe alternative exists | The vehicle may be custody towed | In Springfield, officers may custody tow if no other alternative exists |
| The car is custody towed in Springfield | It goes to Henry’s Towing | Tow fees are paid directly to Henry’s, not SPD |
| You want the car back | You must prove ownership and pay required fees | Springfield lists accepted proof of ownership on its impound page |
| You get driving privileges back later | You may have to install ignition interlock on vehicles you operate | Missouri law requires ignition interlock in some DWI situations |
In Springfield, all vehicles that are custody towed by the Springfield Police Department are towed to Henry’s Towing. Springfield also says tow fees are paid directly to Henry’s, not to the police department.
What Usually Happens To Your Car At The Scene
The short answer is that police usually will not let you keep driving away after a DWI arrest.
In Springfield, the police traffic enforcement policy says the vehicle may be non-custody towed at the owner’s request, and if no other alternative exists, the officer may custody tow the vehicle. That means what happens to your car can depend on whether there is a safe, legal option for someone else to take it instead of police arranging a custody tow.
At the same time, the Missouri Department of Revenue says the arresting officer may take possession of a valid Missouri driver license and issue a 15-day permit, if applicable. That license action is separate from the criminal case and separate from the tow question.
Where Does The Car Go In Springfield?
If the vehicle is custody towed by Springfield police, Springfield says it goes to Henry’s Towing, located in Brookline. Springfield also says that personal property will remain with the vehicle and cannot be released without the vehicle being released.
That means getting your wallet, work items, or other belongings out of the car may not be as simple as showing up and asking for loose property. The vehicle release rules matter.
How Do You Get The Car Back?
In Springfield, the city’s impound page says proof of ownership can include a fully executed vehicle title, a notarized bill of sale, or an application for Missouri title and license. Springfield also says tow fees are paid directly to Henry’s Towing.
So, in practical terms, getting the car back usually means:
- Finding out where the car was taken.
- Bringing the right ownership documents.
- Paying towing and storage charges.
- Making sure the person retrieving the vehicle is allowed to do so.
This is one reason a DWI arrest can become expensive very quickly, even before court finishes with the criminal side of the case.
Does Missouri Automatically Take Your Car Forever After A DWI?
Usually, that is not the first issue people face in a Springfield-area DWI case. The immediate problem is towing, impound, and retrieval. The later vehicle-related problem is often ignition interlock, not permanent loss of the car.
Missouri law says a court may require ignition interlock for a first intoxication-related traffic offense, and shall require it for a second or subsequent intoxication-related traffic offense. The statute says the person shall not operate any motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device for at least six months from the date of license reinstatement.
Missouri law also says that if a person has a suspension or revocation with one or more prior alcohol-related enforcement contacts, the person must file proof with the Director of Revenue that any motor vehicle operated by that person is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device as a condition of reinstatement.
So the better answer is this: your car may be towed right away, and the vehicle you drive later may need ignition interlock before you can legally operate it.
Can You Still Drive After A DWI Arrest In Missouri?
Sometimes, but not automatically for long.
The Missouri Department of Revenue says that if your BAC is .08% or more, an officer will take your license and give you a Notice of Suspension or Revocation. That notice says you will not be eligible to legally drive after 15 days unless you take the right next steps, such as requesting a hearing or, if eligible, seeking a restricted driving option.
If you are later convicted in court of DWI or BAC, the Department of Revenue says a first alcohol conviction brings a 30-day suspension followed by a 60-day Restricted Driving Privilege, and some first offenders may qualify for an immediate 90-day Restricted Driving Privilege if they install an approved ignition interlock device.
That is why getting the car back and being allowed to drive the car are two different problems.
What If You Refuse The Chemical Test?
Refusing the test does not make the vehicle issue disappear.
The Missouri Department of Revenue says that if you refuse to take the alcohol or drug test, your Missouri driving privilege will be revoked for one year. The Department also says you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege, but you must install an ignition interlock device and file an SR-22 form.
In other words, refusing the test can still leave you with a towed car, a revoked license, and extra steps before you can legally drive again.
What People Confuse About This Question
Getting the car back is not the same as getting your license back.
You may be able to retrieve the vehicle from impound before you are legally allowed to drive it yourself. Springfield’s impound process and Missouri’s license process are different systems.
A DWI arrest and the Department of Revenue action are separate.
The Missouri Department of Revenue says the criminal ticket and the administrative suspension or revocation are governed by separate sections of law.
The biggest vehicle issue may come later.
For many people, the hardest long-term vehicle issue is not the tow bill. It is the ignition interlock requirement on vehicles they operate after suspension, revocation, or conviction.
The Bottom Line
If you get arrested for DWI in Missouri, your car usually becomes an immediate logistics problem before it becomes anything else. In Springfield, police may custody tow the vehicle if no safe alternative exists, and custody-towed vehicles go to Henry’s Towing. To get the car back, you usually need proof of ownership and payment of the required charges. After that, the bigger issue may be whether Missouri will require ignition interlock on any vehicle you operate.
If your car was towed after a DWI arrest in Springfield or anywhere in Southwest Missouri, it can help to get legal guidance early. A lawyer can help you sort out the criminal case, the license issue, and the practical steps that come next.