Car towed in Detroit? Impound lots, fees and lookup
Checked Nov 14, 2026 against official sources. We don't have your car: use the official lookup below.
Find your car
FindMyTowedCar.org (Detroit Police)
Detroit Police tows to DPD and police-authorized lots, with status and current recovery costs. Not for tows by unaffiliated private towers.4
Other ways to check:
- Detroit Police Towing and Impound Unit · 313-596-8832: Vehicles at DPD impound lots and fee waivers. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm.2
- DPD Auto-Pound line · 313-596-2882: Detroit Police auto pound contact listed in the city directory.3
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Cars towed by companies that are not police-authorized go to that company's own lot, and DPD says those third-party towers are not regulated by city contract. Fees at police-authorized towers cannot exceed City Council rates. Call DPD at 313-596-8832 if you cannot find your car.
Deadline to contest: 20 calendar days from the notice (Michigan rules). How to request a hearing
Detroit Police tows go either to one of three Police Towing and Impound Unit lots or to the lot of one of five police-authorized towing companies (PATs). Recovered stolen cars, evidence and abandoned cars go to DPD lots, while parking, crash and ownership tows usually go to a PAT lot.
Detroit impound lots: addresses and hours
DPD Grand River Impound Lot
City impound · run by Detroit Police Towing and Impound Unit
10750 Grand River, Detroit, MI23
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday
DPD Mount Elliott Impound Lot and Main Office
City impound · run by Detroit Police Towing and Impound Unit
11631 Mount Elliott, Detroit, MI2
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday
DPD Grinnell Impound Lot
City impound · run by Detroit Police Towing and Impound Unit
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday
Bobby's Towing (Police Authorized Tower)
Police contract lot · run by Bobby's Towing
10401 Lyndon Rd, Detroit, MI2
7D's Towing (Police Authorized Tower)
Police contract lot · run by 7D's Towing
5700 E. Nevada Rd, Detroit, MI2
Troy's Towing (Police Authorized Tower)
Police contract lot · run by Troy's Towing
9615 Grinnell Ave, Detroit, MI2
Wayne's Towing (Police Authorized Tower)
Police contract lot · run by Wayne's Towing
20495 Sherwood St, Detroit, MI2
BBK Towing (Police Authorized Tower)
Police contract lot · run by BBK Towing
1821 Trombly St, Detroit, MI2
How much it costs to get your car out in Detroit
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
Police-authorized tow, light duty (10,000 lb and under)2DetailsDPD listed this rate as taking effect July 1, 2025 (up from $125). The city Tow Rate Commission was reviewing rates for 2027-2029 during 2026. | $225 | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
| Daily storage, light duty2 | $30 / day | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
| Out-of-town retrieval, light or medium duty2 | $6 / mile | Police-ordered |
| Administrative fee2 | $75 | Police-ordered |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (4 fees)
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Police-authorized tow, medium duty (10,001 to 26,000 lb)2 | $425 | Police-ordered · Medium trucks |
| Police-authorized tow, heavy duty (26,001 lb and up)2 | $700 | Police-ordered · Heavy trucks |
| Daily storage, medium duty2 | $40 / day | Police-ordered · Medium trucks |
| Daily storage, heavy duty2 | $50 / day | Police-ordered · Heavy trucks |
Estimate your bill
Got your receipt? Check it for overcharges
Type what the lot charged for each line. We flag anything above a confirmed legal cap.
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Proof of ownership
- Proof of insurance if you will drive the car off the lot
More detail, including when the car is not in your name: what to bring to the impound lot.
Local rules and how to contest
- Towing and storage fees are waived at DPD lots for stolen cars recovered in Detroit and registered to a person. Insurance companies still pay for a release.
- Detroit residents can apply for a hardship waiver (first tow, low income, medical, funeral, eviction and other reasons). Violent crime victims get towing and storage fees waived.
- Waiver applications are available at the three DPD lots during public hours.
- A police-towed car not redeemed within 7 days is deemed abandoned and the owner gets a notice by mail.
- Under Michigan law you can contest a police tow or the fees by filing a petition with the court named on the notice within 20 days after the notice date. You can get the car back first by posting a bond of $40 plus the accrued fees.
- The court must hold the hearing within 30 days of the petition.
- If the owner shows up before the car is towed, it must be released for a reasonable service fee unless it was towed as a hazard, as stolen, as evidence or after a crash.
- The DPD Police Towing and Impound Unit investigates complaints about police towing.
Michigan rules that apply
In Michigan a car towed from private property without consent is handled as an abandoned vehicle. The tow company must tell police before it removes the car, and the Secretary of State mails the owner a notice with a form to request a hearing in district court within 20 days. State law does not cap the tow price, but it lets you challenge whether the towing and storage fees were reasonable.
- Drop fee release: If you get to the car before it is towed away, the tow truck must unhook it and let you drive off after you pay a reasonable service fee and get a receipt. This does not apply to police tows for a hazardous vehicle, suspected theft, evidence, or a crash.
- Your belongings: The lot must let the owner inspect the car and take out personal property during regular business hours, with no fee for the first visit. Later visits can cost up to 25 dollars each.
- Hearing: You can file the petition from the notice with the district court to contest the tow or the reasonableness of the fees. You must file within 20 days after the date of the notice, and you can get the car back during the case by posting a bond or paying the fee and charges to the court. The court schedules the hearing within 30 days.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in Detroit?
Use FindMyTowedCar.org (Detroit Police) (https://www.findmytowedcar.org). Detroit Police tows to DPD and police-authorized lots, with status and current recovery costs. Not for tows by unaffiliated private towers..
Where is the Detroit impound lot?
DPD Grand River Impound Lot: 10750 Grand River, Detroit, MI, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday. DPD Mount Elliott Impound Lot and Main Office: 11631 Mount Elliott, Detroit, MI, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday. DPD Grinnell Impound Lot: 9425 Grinnell, Detroit, MI, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, closed Sunday. Bobby's Towing (Police Authorized Tower): 10401 Lyndon Rd, Detroit, MI. 7D's Towing (Police Authorized Tower): 5700 E. Nevada Rd, Detroit, MI. Troy's Towing (Police Authorized Tower): 9615 Grinnell Ave, Detroit, MI. Wayne's Towing (Police Authorized Tower): 20495 Sherwood St, Detroit, MI. BBK Towing (Police Authorized Tower): 1821 Trombly St, Detroit, MI.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Detroit?
For police-ordered tows the city lists a $225 tow and $30 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in Detroit. Where is it?
Cars towed by companies that are not police-authorized go to that company's own lot, and DPD says those third-party towers are not regulated by city contract. Fees at police-authorized towers cannot exceed City Council rates. Call DPD at 313-596-8832 if you cannot find your car.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city and town population estimates (SUB-EST2024) (Detroit city, POPESTIMATE2024), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Detroit Police Towing and Impound Unit BOPC Presentation (May 28, 2025), Detroit Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Abandoned Vehicle (DPD page with contact directory), City of Detroit. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Mayor, Chief announce major police towing reforms (Dec 13, 2022), City of Detroit. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Michigan Vehicle Code section 257.252a (MCL 257.252a), Michigan Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Michigan Vehicle Code section 257.252d (MCL 257.252d), Michigan Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Michigan Vehicle Code section 257.252f (MCL 257.252f), Michigan Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.