How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
In the 24 big cities where we confirmed it, the city tow fee runs $66.82 to $335 (median $202.50), and storage adds a median of $30 a day. Leaving a car a week typically costs several hundred dollars.
Every number below comes from an official city, police or state source. Blank means the city does not publish it. We do not fill gaps with estimates.
Police and city tows in the biggest cities
| City | Tow | Storage | Release fee | 1 week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $185 | $20 / day | - | $325 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $220 | $68 / day | - | $696 |
| Chicago, IL | $250 | $50 / day | - | $600 |
| Houston, TX | $232 | - | $24.26 | - |
| Phoenix, AZ | $66.82 | $25 / day | $150 | $391.82 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $175 | $25 / day | - | $350 |
| San Antonio, TX | - | - | - | - |
| San Diego, CA | $231 | $65 / day | $115 | $801 |
| Dallas, TX | - | $20 / day | $20 | - |
| Jacksonville, FL | $151.65 | $32.49 / day | - | $379.08 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $180 | $22.85 / day | $32 | $371.95 |
| San Jose, CA | $335 | $130 / day | $122 | $1,367 |
| Austin, TX | $275 | $22.85 / day | $25 | $459.95 |
| Charlotte, NC | - | - | - | - |
| Columbus, OH | $125 | - | $30 | - |
| Indianapolis, IN | - | $30 / day | - | - |
| San Francisco, CA | $317 | $82 / day | $385 | $1,276 |
| Seattle, WA | $297 | $22 / 12h | $35 | - |
| Denver, CO | $120 | $20 / day | - | $260 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | - | - | - | - |
| Nashville, TN | $225 | $40 / day | - | $505 |
| Washington, DC | $100 | $20 / day | - | $240 |
| El Paso, TX | - | - | - | - |
| Las Vegas, NV | $235.15 | $53.30 / day | $32.96 | $641.21 |
| Boston, MA | $90 | $15 / day | - | $195 |
| Detroit, MI | $225 | $30 / day | $75 | $510 |
| Louisville, KY | $150 | $30 / day | $10 | $370 |
| Portland, OR | $319 | $33 / day | $54 | $604 |
| Memphis, TN | - | $30 / day | $135 | - |
| Baltimore, MD | $130 | $15 / day | $40 | $275 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $150 | $25 / day | - | $325 |
| Albuquerque, NM | - | - | - | - |
| Fresno, CA | - | - | - | - |
"1 week" = tow + 7 days of storage + release fee, for a car. Cities may add mileage, after-hours or ticket charges. Private-lot tows follow different rules, see the state limits below.
State limits on private-property tows
These states cap what a tow company may charge when a private lot owner (an apartment complex, store or business) has your car towed.
| State | Tow cap (car) | Storage cap |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $250.91 | $48.19 / day |
| Connecticut | $130.63 | $37 / day |
| Delaware | $250 | $50 / day |
| District of Columbia | - | $20 / day |
| Georgia | $228 | $33 / day |
| Hawaii | $75 | $25 / day |
| Illinois | $238.20 | - |
| Louisiana | $152.50 | $34 / day |
| Maryland | $250 | $30 / day |
| Massachusetts | $132 | $35 / day |
| New Mexico | $100 | $20 / day |
| North Dakota | - | $50 / day |
| Ohio | $144 | $22 / day |
| Oklahoma | $108.06 | $23.94 / day |
| Pennsylvania | - | $25 / day |
| Rhode Island | $125 | $35 / day |
| Texas | $272 | $22.85 / day |
| Utah | $211 | $42 / day |
| Virginia | $210 | - |
| Washington | $400.95 | $101.25 / day |
| West Virginia | $102 | $27 / day |
| Wisconsin | $150 | $25 / day |
Work out your own bill
The fee calculator adds up the tow, each storage day and other fees under your state or city rules, and shows your deadline to contest the tow.
Questions
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
In the 24 big cities where we confirmed it, the city tow fee runs $66.82 to $335 (median $202.50), and storage adds a median of $30 a day. Leaving a car a week typically costs several hundred dollars.
Which big city has the most expensive impound?
Of the cities with a published tow and daily storage fee, San Jose is highest at about $1,367 for a week, and Boston is lowest at about $195.
Do impound fees go up every day?
Yes. Storage is charged for each day or part of a day in most places, so getting the car out quickly is the best way to keep the bill down.