DWI Vehicle Forfeiture and Plate Impoundment Defense in Minnesota
A DWI can put your car and your license plates at risk. The state can take the vehicle. It can also order special plates, often called whiskey plates. Both have short deadlines. And both can affect a car you share with your family. Our lawyers answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (612) 767-9643.
Plate Impoundment & Whiskey Plates
Minnesota can impound your plates after certain DWI arrests. The law is Minnesota Statute 169A.60. This can happen on a first offense with a high alcohol level of 0.16 or more. It also happens if a child was in the car, or if you have a past DWI within the lookback period. This is one piece of Minnesota DWI defense.
What Changed in 2025
In the past, officers took the plates at the roadside. Under the 2025 law, the state uses a permanent sticker system instead. You also get a 14-day temporary permit. Police cannot stop you just because you have whiskey plates. They still need a real reason.
How to Remove Whiskey Plates
Whiskey plates must stay on for at least one year. After a year, you can get regular plates back for about $50 per vehicle. You may be able to remove them sooner by paying $100 per vehicle and joining the interlock program. You can sell the car, but the plates must move with it.
Vehicle Forfeiture
In more serious cases, the state can try to take the car for good. This is called forfeiture. The law is Minnesota Statute 169A.63. It usually applies to second-degree or felony-level DWI cases. In most cases, only the vehicle used is at risk, not every car you own.
How to Get Your Car Back
There is a key option. If you join the ignition interlock program, you can often stop the forfeiture and get the vehicle back. The device may even go in a different car. You must act fast. You have 30 days to ask a court to review the case. You also have to pay towing and storage. Joining interlock is also part of getting your license back.
What if the Car is Not Only Mine?
Many cars are shared with a spouse or family. If you are not the one charged, you may have an innocent owner claim. This can help protect your vehicle. We look at who owns the car and how it was used.
How We help
We work to keep your car and your regular plates. We check whether the stop and arrest were legal. A problem with the DWI case can also defeat the forfeiture. We handle the criminal case and the vehicle case together.
Talk to a Minnesota DWI lawyer
David Lundgren and Adam Johnson have more than 30 years of combined experience. We help drivers across Minnesota. Call (612) 767-9643 any time, day or night, to talk to our attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my car back by joining ignition interlock?
Often, yes. Joining the interlock program can stop a DWI forfeiture and return your vehicle. You must still pay towing and storage. And you must act within the deadline. Call us to start the process right away.
How long do whiskey plates last in Minnesota?
At least one year. After that, you can switch back to regular plates for about $50 per vehicle. You may remove them sooner by paying $100 per vehicle and joining the interlock program. We can explain which option fits your case.
Can the state take a car that is not mine?
Sometimes the car is shared or owned by someone else. If you did not commit the offense, you may have an innocent owner claim. This can help protect the vehicle. We review the title and the facts to build that claim.
Do police need a reason to stop a car with whiskey plates?
Yes. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that whiskey plates alone are not a reason to pull you over. Police still need a real basis for the stop. If they lacked one, we can challenge it.
Do you take calls after hours about a seized car?
Yes. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Forfeiture deadlines are short, so timing matters. Call (612) 767-9643 to talk through your options now.