Your rights
My car was towed: how do I find it and get it back?
Short answer
Call the police non-emergency number first, or the phone number on the tow sign if you parked on private property. Bring photo ID, proof you own the car and a way to pay. Many places cap the fees: in Texas, a private-property tow of a car costs at most $272, and in Colorado $250.91.
Quick guide
Where is your car? Find out who towed it
1. Where was the car when it went missing?
It points to the part of this page that fits, in the page's own words. Nothing you choose is saved or sent. Not legal advice.
Key points
- Find it
- Street or public lot: call the police non-emergency number or the city tow line. Private lot: call the number on the tow-away sign. Chicago has an online search for city tows.
- Bring
- Photo ID, proof you own it (title, current registration or a recent bill of sale), often proof of insurance, the keys, and a way to pay. Many lots must take credit cards.
- Fee caps
- A private-property tow of a car is capped at $272 in Texas, $250.91 in Colorado, $228 in Georgia, $211 in Utah and $210 in Virginia; $125 in New York City, with 3 days of storage.
- Catch it first
- If you get there before the car leaves the lot, many states make the tower release it for a drop fee: at most $135 in Texas, $97.70 in Colorado, $62.50 in New York City.
If your car is gone, it was most likely towed by the city or police, or by a company hired by the owner of a private lot. Before you report it stolen, call the police non-emergency number or look for the tow sign where you parked. Each state and many cities set their own rules: how the tower must tell the police, what you need to get the car back, and how much it can charge.
Below: how to find the car, what to bring, the drop fee if you catch the tow in time, the towing and storage fee caps by state and city, deadlines before an unclaimed car is sold, and where to complain about an illegal tow.
How to find your towed car
Start with where the car was. On a street or a public lot, the city or the police probably ordered the tow. In a private lot, a store or an apartment complex, the owner probably called a towing company. Either way, the tower usually has to tell the police: Florida and California require notice to the police within 30 minutes after the tow, and Maryland and the Chicago-area counties within 1 hour.
- Look around where you parked. A sign at a private lot's entrance usually names the towing company and its phone number. In Texas, you find your car by calling the telephone number posted on the tow-away sign.
- Call the police non-emergency number. They can say whether a tow was reported. Chicago's advice: before you report your vehicle as stolen, call 311; the car may have been relocated rather than towed to a pound.
- Use the city's lookup, if it has one. Chicago lists the location of a vehicle towed by the city in an online search, with a 24-hour line at 312.744.4444. Minneapolis has a vehicle search for its impound lot. In Washington, DC, call Towing Control Dispatch at (202) 541-6083. The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing points drivers to a towed vehicle search.
- Call the lot before you go. Ask what it holds, the total due, the hours, which payments it takes and what papers to bring.
If the car was stolen, not towed, file a police report with the police where it was parked.
Towed from a private lot or a driveway
A towing company hired by a property owner may remove a car parked without permission, but only under the state's rules, which usually require signs at the entrance and a report to the police. New York City's consumer agency says: look for a posted sign with the name and number of the company that towed your car. In Georgia, the maximum rates apply only if the property has posted notice that unauthorized vehicles will be towed.
- Florida: the tower must notify the police within 30 minutes, and store the car within 10 miles of where it was removed in a county of 500,000 people or more; the car must be released within 1 hour after you ask (Fla. Stat. § 715.07).
- Philadelphia: a car on a private lot must be ticketed by the police before it is towed, and the sign must list the rates and where and when to get the car (Phila. Code § 9-605(11)).
- Colorado: apart from the listed reasons, such as blocking access or a fire lane, a residential tow needs a notice on the windshield 24 hours before the car is towed.
Repossessed, not towed?
If you are behind on a car loan or lease, the lender may have had the car repossessed. A repossession is not a tow from a parking spot, and different rules apply. Call the lender to ask, and see car repossession for your rights to get the car and your belongings back.
Getting your car back: what to bring and how to pay
Lots ask for proof of who you are and that the car is yours. Chicago says all persons claiming a vehicle must present valid photo identification, plus proof of ownership: a valid title, a current registration card or a bill of sale that is not more than 30 days old. Texas asks for a photo ID and proof of ownership. Phoenix requires a valid driver's license, current vehicle registration and proof of mandatory auto insurance. Colorado lists registration, insurance, the VIN, the keys and the tow location.
- Pay by card. New York City's licensed tow companies must accept a credit card. In Texas, a driver must accept cash, credit cards and debit cards for a drop charge. Philadelphia's licensed towers take cash, credit or debit cards, and Illinois relocation towers must take major credit cards without additional fees. California storage facilities must accept valid credit cards. Utah caps a card fee at 3%, and DC adds a 2.5% fee on card payments since December 15, 2025.NYC DCWP · TDLR · Phila. Code · ICC · Cal. Veh. Code · UDOT · DC DMV
- Release within an hour. In Texas you can claim the car within one hour of your request, around the clock if the lot accepts cars 24 hours a day; otherwise between 8:00 a.m. and midnight Monday to Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. Florida and Utah also require release within 1 hour after you ask.TDLR · Fla. Stat. § 715.07 · UDOT
- Opening hours. In California a storage facility must be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays. In New Jersey, storage offices must be open between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. at least five days a week, and a company that refuses to release during normal hours can't charge an after-hours fee. Chicago's Central Auto Pound is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Cal. Veh. Code · N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31.8 · City of Chicago
- Your belongings. In Colorado, getting personal property out after a residential tow costs nothing; ask for it within 30 days of the tow company's notice. Utah lets you take out life-essential items, such as medication, medical equipment and child seats, even before the fees are paid.Colorado PUC rule 6512(d) · UDOT
- Can't pay it all? After a tow from residential property in Colorado, the car is released if you pay 15% of the total balance, not to exceed $60, with the rest payable later.Colorado PUC
Checklist
Getting your car back: what to bring
Tick what you have; each item points to the part of this page that explains it.
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Caught the tow truck in time? The drop fee
If you reach the car before it leaves the lot, many states make the tower let it go for a smaller fee, often called a drop fee.
- Texas: the maximum drop fee statewide is $135 for a car weighing 10,000 lbs or less.
- Colorado: $97.70 at most, and none at all after a tow from residential property, since August 10, 2022.
- Utah: $105.50 at most. Georgia: an operator fee of $130 at most, if the car was hooked but has not left the property and you remove it immediately.
- New York City: $62.50. Seattle: an uncompleted tow costs at most $76.72 per 15-minute period.
- Florida: a reasonable service fee of not more than one-half of the posted rate for the tow. New Jersey: only a decoupling fee, and no other fees. Illinois (Chicago-area relocation tows): if you are there before the car is towed and offer to remove it, the company must let you do so immediately.
Towing and storage fee caps by state
Some states set a maximum for a tow from private property, others leave it to cities and counties, and some only require the rates to be posted. These are the limits an official source states for a car. Each was read on November 1, 2026; a state that could not be checked from an official page says so. Local caps can be lower: Texas notes that lower rates may be set by local municipal or county rule.
| State | Private-property tow (car) | Storage | Other limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Alaska | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Arizona | Not checked statewide | Phoenix police impounds: $25 a day (see the city table) | — | City of Phoenix |
| Arkansas | Not checked for this page | Not checked | The state points drivers to a towed-vehicle search | Department of Labor and Licensing |
| California | No single state amount. Private-property tow and storage charges can't be more than the rates set by local law enforcement | Same: the local rate | An owner can sue for up to 4 times the towing and storage fees | San Diego Police: Cal. Veh. Code § 22658 |
| Colorado | $250.91 (10,000 lbs. or less) | $48.19 per 24 hours | Drop $97.70 (none after a residential tow); after-hours release $106.06 | PUC rules 6511(a)(I), 6511(b)(I), 6511(d)(I) and 6511(e), effective March 15, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Delaware | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| District of Columbia | City tow $100 (private tows not checked) | $20 a day if not picked up within 24 hours | Boot $75; 2.5% fee on card payments | DC DMV |
| Florida | No state dollar cap: towers file their rates locally, and counties and cities may regulate them | No state cap | Caught before removal: no more than one-half of the posted towing rate | Fla. Stat. § 715.07 |
| Georgia | $228 (10,000 pounds or less) | $33 a day; the first 24 hours free | Drop (operator) fee $130; after-hours $65; notification fees $91 in total | DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5, issued 04/11/2024 |
| Hawaii | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Idaho | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Illinois | No dollar cap in the state guide (Chicago-area relocation tows) | None if claimed within 24 hours | No surcharge for paying by credit card | Illinois Commerce Commission |
| Indiana | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Iowa | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Kansas | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Kentucky | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Louisiana | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Maine | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Maryland | $250 where no local fee is set; otherwise up to twice the local impound fee | $30 a day where no local fee is set | No notice charge if you get the car within 48 hours | Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04 |
| Massachusetts | Not checked for this page (the state's rate page could not be read from here) | Not checked | — | — |
| Michigan | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Minnesota | Not checked statewide | Minneapolis city impound: $18 a day (see the city table) | — | City of Minneapolis |
| Mississippi | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Missouri | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Montana | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Nebraska | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Nevada | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| New Hampshire | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| New Jersey | No state dollar cap. A fee is presumed unreasonable if more than 25 percent above the tower's own rate with consent, or more than 50 percent above other towers'; town ordinance rates are the ceiling | Same tests | Caught before removal: only a decoupling fee | N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31.5 |
| New Mexico | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| New York | Not checked statewide | New York City: see the city table | — | NYC DCWP |
| North Carolina | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| North Dakota | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Ohio | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Oklahoma | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Oregon | Not checked statewide | Portland: see the city table | — | City of Portland |
| Pennsylvania | Not checked statewide | Philadelphia: see the city table | — | City of Philadelphia |
| Rhode Island | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| South Carolina | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| South Dakota | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Tennessee | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Texas | $272 (up to 10,000 lbs) | $22.85 a day at a storage facility (2023 adjustment) | Drop $135; impoundment $20; notification $50 | TDLR (no effective date shown); cities and counties may set lower caps |
| Utah | $211 (10,000 lbs. or less) | $42 a day outside, $47 inside | Drop $105.50; administrative $44; after-hours $75; card fee 3% | UDOT 2026 Non-Consent Towing Fee Schedule |
| Vermont | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Virginia | $210 hookup and initial tow of a passenger car | No charge for 24 hours or less | Night, weekend or holiday fee up to $30, at most two; localities may set their own limits | Va. Code § 46.2-1233.1 |
| Washington | Not checked statewide | Seattle: see the city table | — | City of Seattle |
| West Virginia | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
| Wisconsin | Not checked for this page (the state rule site could not be read from here) | Not checked | — | — |
| Wyoming | Not checked for this page | Not checked | — | — |
Calculator
Is the tow bill over the cap?
1. Where was the car towed?
2. Which charge?
Pick the place and the charge, then type what you were charged.
Uses only the numbers on this page, each from its official source. Nothing you type leaves your device. Not legal advice.
Big-city towing fees: caps and city tow charges
Several big cities cap private tows themselves, and cities that tow cars charge their own fees.
| City | Tow | Storage | Other | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City (private lot or driveway) | $125, including 3 days of storage | $15 a day from day 4 | Drop fee $62.50; must take a credit card | NYC DCWP |
| Philadelphia (private lot) | $175 (under 11,000 pounds) | $25 per 24 hours | No other fees; a car reported stolen: $105 at most | Phila. Code § 9-605(11)(b) (city summary revised September 20, 2018) |
| Seattle (private property) | $306.88 for the first hour, then $219 an hour | $42.98 per 12 hours | After-hours release $100; city impound fee $15 | Seattle Mun. Code 6.214.220, effective April 20, 2026 |
| Portland, Oregon (private property) | $202 (Class A hookup) | $32 per 24 hours, after a 4-hour grace period | After-hours release $50 | Portland rule TRN-17.03, effective February 15, 2026 |
| Chicago (city tows) | $250 (under 8,000 pounds) | $50 a day, $1,500 at most | Pay by cash, card or USPS money order; no personal checks | City of Chicago |
| Washington, DC (city tows) | $100 ($275 oversized) | $20 a day if not picked up within 24 hours | Boot $75 | DC DMV |
| Minneapolis (city impound lot) | $222 | $18 a day | Notification letter $6 | City of Minneapolis |
| Phoenix (police impounds) | Not stated | $25 a day at most | Administrative fee $150 | City of Phoenix |
| Seattle (police impounds) | $297 north zone, $263 south zone | $22 or $19 per 12 hours; none for the first 12 hours | City administrative fee $35 | City of Seattle, January 1 to December 31, 2026 |
Notices, deadlines and unclaimed cars
Storage adds up every day, and an unclaimed car can be sold. What the official sources say:
- Chicago: the pound keeps a vehicle for 21 days before it is eligible for auction or destruction; you may ask for a 15-day extension.
- Colorado: between 2-10 days after the tow, the company must notify the owners and lienholders; since August 10, 2022, no storage builds up after the first 24 hours until that notice is done; if a car towed from residential property is not paid for and picked up within 30 days, the tow company takes possession.
- Georgia: after 30 days, the state's abandoned-vehicle process applies.
- Texas: a storage facility may charge up to $50 for notifying you, but not if you reclaim the car within 24 hours or before the notice is sent.
- Maryland: no notice charge if you get the car within 48 hours of its arrival at the lot.
Think the tow was illegal or overcharged?
Get an itemized receipt, photograph the signs (or the lack of them) where you parked, and keep every paper. New York City's licensed towers must give you an Authorization to Tow form and a receipt. Then use the channel for your place:
- Texas: file a complaint online with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A complaint is not a substitute for requesting a tow hearing; you may do both.TDLR
- Colorado: complain to the Public Utilities Commission; if it finds a violation, the tower may be asked to release the car at no charge or refund money already paid.Colorado PUC
- Chicago: you are entitled to a post-tow hearing to contest the tow and the towing or storage fees.City of Chicago
- New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle: complain to the city's consumer agency (DCWP in New York City), to 3-1-1 in Philadelphia, or to Seattle Consumer Protection at 206-386-1267.NYC DCWP · City of Philadelphia · City of Seattle
- New Jersey, Utah and Illinois: New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846; Utah's towing complaint form; in the Chicago-area counties, the form on the back of the relocation towing invoice, sent to the Illinois Commerce Commission.NJ Division of Consumer Affairs · UDOT · ICC
- California: an owner whose car was towed against the rules can sue the tower for up to 4 times the towing and storage fees.San Diego Police: Cal. Veh. Code § 22658
To get money back from a tow company, small claims court is often the place to sue. Unpaid parking tickets can also end in a boot or a tow; see parking tickets by city.
Can a property owner tow a car from their lot?
Usually yes, through a licensed tower and only after following the posting and notice rules. The sign rules differ:
- Florida: light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high, with the words tow-away zone in letters at least 4 inches high, 3 to 6 feet above ground.
- Philadelphia and New Jersey: a sign no smaller than 36 inches by 36 inches at the entrance.
- Illinois (Chicago-area relocation tows): signs at least 24 by 36 inches. California: at least 17 by 22 inches, with letters at least 1 inch high.
- Georgia: posted notice that unauthorized vehicles will be towed; residential property with 4 or fewer units is exempt from posting.
Common questions about towed cars
How do I find out where my car was towed?
Call the police non-emergency number, or the number on the tow sign if you parked on private property. Some cities have an online search, such as Chicago for city tows. In Texas, you call the telephone number posted on the tow-away sign.
How much does it cost to get a towed car back?
It depends on where. Private-property tow caps for a car include $272 in Texas, $250.91 in Colorado, $228 in Georgia and $125 in New York City (with 3 days of storage), plus daily storage. City tows: $250 plus $50 a day in Chicago, $100 plus $20 a day in Washington, DC.
What do I need to get my car out of the tow yard?
Photo ID, proof of ownership (title, current registration, or a recent bill of sale), often proof of insurance, the keys and a way to pay. Call the lot first to check.
Can a tow company refuse my credit card?
In many places, no: New York City's licensed tow companies must accept a credit card, Texas drivers must accept cards for a drop charge, and California storage facilities must accept valid credit cards.
Can I stop a tow if I get there in time?
Often, yes, for a drop fee: at most $135 in Texas, $97.70 in Colorado and $62.50 in New York City; in Florida, no more than one-half of the posted towing rate.
Can I remove someone's car from my property?
Not by yourself: use a licensed towing company and follow your state's rules, which usually require posted signs and notice to the police within 30 minutes (Florida, California) or 1 hour (Maryland, Chicago-area counties).
What if I think the tow was illegal?
Keep the receipt and photos of the signs, then complain to the agency for your place (TDLR in Texas, the PUC in Colorado, DCWP in New York City), ask for a tow hearing where there is one, or sue in small claims court.
Official sources
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission: towing rates (PUC rules 6511 and 6512), effective March 15, 2026 puc.colorado.gov
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission: residential towing puc.colorado.gov
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission: towing (documents, complaints) puc.colorado.gov
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: towing, storage and booting consumer information tdlr.texas.gov
- Utah Department of Transportation: 2026 Non-Consent Towing Fee Schedule (PDF) connect.udot.utah.gov
- Utah Department of Transportation: towing complaints and consumer rights connect.udot.utah.gov
- Georgia Department of Public Safety: Statewide Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5, nonconsensual towing (issued 04/11/2024) dps.georgia.gov
- Code of Virginia § 46.2-1233.1: limitations on charges for towing and storage law.lis.virginia.gov
- Maryland Code, Transportation § 21-10A-04: towing from parking lots mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Florida Statutes § 715.07 (2026): vehicles parked on private property; towing leg.state.fl.us
- San Diego Police Department: towing, know your rights (California Vehicle Code §§ 22658, 22651.07) sandiego.gov
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31, private property and nonconsensual towing (PDF) njconsumeraffairs.gov
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: what you should know about getting towed (PDF, revised 10/07/24) njconsumeraffairs.gov
- Illinois Commerce Commission: relocation towing consumer guide (PDF) icc.illinois.gov
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection: towing tips and maximum rates nyc.gov
- City of Chicago: relocated and towed vehicle information (fees, payment, lookup) chicago.gov
- City of Chicago, Streets and Sanitation: common towing questions chicago.gov
- City of Philadelphia: summary of the towing provisions of the Philadelphia Code § 9-605 (revised September 20, 2018) (PDF) phila.gov
- City of Seattle: maximum towing fees, private property impounds (effective April 20, 2026) seattle.gov
- City of Seattle: maximum towing fees, police-authorized impounds (2026) seattle.gov
- City of Portland: TRN-17.03, fees for private property impound towing (effective February 15, 2026) portland.gov
- DC Department of Motor Vehicles: booted and towed vehicle fees dmv.dc.gov
- DC Department of Motor Vehicles: locate a towed vehicle dmv.dc.gov
- City of Minneapolis: impound lot (fees, vehicle search, what to bring) minneapolismn.gov
- City of Phoenix Police: vehicle impounds under A.R.S. 28-3511 phoenix.gov
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: towed vehicle search labor.arkansas.gov
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.