To move a wrecked car from a tow yard to a body shop in Wichita, you need three things: a release from the yard, an OK from your insurance company, and a tow truck to carry it. Storage is billed by the day, so the faster you line those up, the less you pay. This guide gives you the six steps in order.
At Miller’s Towing & Recovery, this second tow is a regular call. A driver gets in a wreck on Kellogg, the car goes to a storage yard that night, and two days later it needs a ride to a shop on West Street or East Kellogg.
Why Your Car Ended Up at a Tow Yard
After a crash in Wichita, police ask if you want a certain tow company. If you do not name one, Wichita Police Department Policy 404 says the next company on the city’s rotation list is called. That company takes the car to its own yard unless you tell the driver somewhere else.
The same thing happens when a driver is hurt and leaves in an ambulance. Nobody is there to pick a body shop, so the car goes to storage. Next time, you can choose your own tow company at the scene and send the car straight to a shop.
6 Steps to Get Your Car From the Tow Yard to a Body Shop
1. Find out where the car is
The officer should have given you a tow slip with the company name. If you do not have it, call the Wichita Police Records Bureau at 316-268-4303. Our guide to finding a towed car in Wichita lists every number to try.
2. Call your insurance company
Open the claim and get a claim number. Then ask four questions:
- Will you pay the storage and the first tow?
- Does an adjuster need to see the car at the yard before it moves?
- Will you pay for a second tow to a body shop?
- Do I have to use one of your shops, or can I pick my own?
Do not skip the adjuster question. Some insurers want to inspect the car where it sits. Others want it moved right away to stop the storage bill.
3. Pick the body shop and warn them
Call the shop before the car shows up. Ask if they have room on the lot, what hours they accept drop offs, and where they want the car left. Many Wichita shops have a key drop for after hours deliveries.
4. Get the release ready
The Wichita Police Records Bureau says state law requires current registration and a valid government photo ID to claim an impounded vehicle. Call the yard and ask:
- What is the total today, and what will it be tomorrow?
- What forms of payment do you take?
- What hours can a tow truck pick up?
- Is there a police hold on the car?
- Do I have to be there in person, or can I authorize a tow company to pick it up?
If there is a hold, the yard cannot release the car until police lift it.
5. Book the tow
Tell the tow company it is a tow yard to a body shop move. Give them the yard’s name and address, the body shop’s name and address, and the condition of the car. We need to know if it rolls, if it steers, and if you have the keys. A car with a bent wheel or a locked steering column takes different equipment.
6. Pay, release, and move
Pay the yard, sign the release, and hand the paperwork to the driver. Take your belongings out before the car leaves. At the shop, get a receipt or a text that shows the car arrived.
What Storage Costs While You Wait
Storage is the part of the bill that keeps growing. Each yard sets its own rate for a tow you agree to. For tows from private property, the Wichita City Council approved a cap of $36 a day for storage, according to KSN. That number gives you a feel for what a day costs.
| Days in storage | Storage at $36 a day |
|---|---|
| 2 days | $72 |
| 5 days | $180 |
| 10 days | $360 |
| 14 days | $504 |
The table is an example, not a quote. Your yard may charge more or less, and the first tow is billed on top of it. Weekends count as days too. A car towed on Friday night can have three days of storage by Monday morning. Read our article on what a tow release costs in Wichita for the other fees to expect.
Who Pays to Move a Car From a Tow Yard to a Body Shop?
It depends on who caused the crash and what coverage you have.
- The other driver was at fault. Their liability insurance should cover the tow, fair storage, and the move to a shop.
- You were at fault. Your collision coverage usually pays, minus your deductible.
- You only have liability. You pay out of pocket.
Insurers pay for storage that is reasonable. If you wait two weeks to move the car without a good reason, they may refuse to cover all of it. Keep every receipt and write down the dates.
What if the Car Is Totaled?
Do not pay for a tow yard to a body shop move if the car is totaled. If the adjuster says the repair costs more than the car is worth, the insurance company normally picks the car up from the yard and takes it to a salvage lot. Your job is to clean it out. Take your belongings, your garage door opener, and your license plate.
If you are not sure yet, ask the adjuster for a decision before you book the tow. Moving a car twice costs twice.
How Miller’s Handles a Tow Yard to a Body Shop Move
We are based at 4309 S Broadway, close to several storage yards along South Broadway. When you call, we ask for both addresses and the condition of the car, then give you a price before we send a truck. For cars that cannot roll, we use a flatbed. You can read how that works on our flatbed towing page.
If the shop is closed when we arrive, we can use its key drop so the car is waiting when they open. For cars that broke down instead of crashed, see our guide to towing a car to a repair shop in Wichita.
Common Questions
Can I drive the car out of the yard myself?
Only if it is safe and legal to drive. A car with a leaking radiator, a broken headlight, or a deployed airbag should be towed.
Can the body shop pick it up?
Some shops arrange towing and add it to the repair bill. Ask the shop. Either way, the yard still needs its fees paid and a release signed.
Can someone else get the car released for me?
Ask the yard what it accepts. Bring the registration, a photo ID, and written permission from the owner if you are picking up for a family member.
How fast can it be moved?
Once the yard is paid and the release is ready, the move itself is a short local tow across town.
Ready to Move Your Car?
Call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754 with the yard and shop addresses. We will take your car from the tow yard to a body shop, a dealer, or your driveway. Learn more about auto recovery in Wichita, see our towing services in Wichita, KS, or use the contact page.