Car towed in Houston? Lookup and fees

Checked Nov 14, 2026 against official sources. We don't have your car: use the official lookup below.

Find your car

HPD sends owners here to find which storage lot has a towed car and the pending storage fees. Search by license plate or VIN.2 3

Other ways to check:

HPD tow line · 713-308-8580: Phone line HPD lists for locating a towed vehicle. Have the VIN or plate ready.2
HPD Auto Dealers Detail · 832-394-4800: HPD unit that regulates tow companies and storage lots and takes complaints. Office hours 8 AM to 4 PM. The 24/7 line is 832-394-4869.1

Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Cars towed from apartments and other private lots go to a state-licensed storage lot. The city caps the light-duty private tow at 232 dollars for 2026. The storage lot must report the tow to Houston police within two hours, so FindMyTowedCar or the HPD tow line at 713-308-8580 can usually say where the car is.

Deadline to contest: 14 business days from the tow (Texas rules). How to request a hearing

Houston has no single city impound lot. Police-ordered tows go to state-licensed private storage lots, often ones that hold a Police Private Storage Lot agreement with HPD, and the driver may ask the officer for a lot of their choice.

Houston storage lots: addresses and hours

Houston does not publish one list of impound lots. Towed cars here go to private storage lots. Use FindMyTowedCar to find which one, then call it for hours and payment.

How much it costs to get your car out in Houston

Fee	Amount	Applies to
Police-ordered (non-consent) tow, first 20 miles2 5 Details Effective January 1, 2026. Applies to abandoned cars, cars blocking a moving lane, crashes and police incidents.	$232	Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups
Police-ordered tow, each mile over 202	$4.64 / mile	Police-ordered
City administrative fee for releasing a vehicle from a storage lot4 7 Details Set by City Code Sec. 8-123(e). The storage lot collects it and sends it to HPD. Amount as of January 1, 2026.	$24.26	Police-ordered
Private-property tow, light duty5 Details Capped at the lesser of the state TDLR maximum or the city non-consent rate, which is 232 dollars in 2026.	Up to $232	Private lot (apartment, store) · Cars, SUVs, pickups

Trucks and heavy vehicles (1 fees)

Fee	Amount	Applies to
Police-ordered heavy duty tow5 Details Two-hour minimum. Effective January 1, 2026.	$354 / hour	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

Houston lots do not publish one list. Most ask for a photo ID, proof of ownership (registration or title) and proof of insurance. Texas rules mention: Valid photo ID issued by Texas, another state, the federal government, or a foreign government, One proof of ownership or right to the car: certificate of title, insurance card naming you, registration renewal card with tax collector receipt, a match to state DMV owner records, a notarized power of attorney, a court order, a current lease or rental agreement, or the TDLR VSF 13 (personal) or VSF 12 (commercial) removal form, Payment of the tow and storage charges.

More detail, including when the car is not in your name: what to bring to the impound lot.

Local rules and how to contest

To contest a tow, file a written hearing request with a Harris County Justice of the Peace court in Precinct 2, 3, 6 or 8 before the 14th day after the tow, not counting weekends and legal holidays. The filing fee is 54 dollars.
You can ask the officer to have your car towed to a Police Private Storage Lot, where storage fees are regulated and posted. A lot of your own choosing may charge fees that are not regulated.
Police Private Storage Lots must release a car within one hour of a request with proof of ownership, 24 hours a day, and must accept cash, electronic checks, debit and credit cards.
Texas storage lots may charge up to 22.85 dollars a day for a vehicle 25 feet or shorter, a 22.85 dollar impound fee and a one-time 50 dollar notice fee.
Complaints about a tow company or storage lot go to HPD Auto Dealers Detail at 832-394-4800 or [email protected].
Tow trucks may not solicit your business at a police scene. Tell the officer if one does.

Texas rules that apply

Texas sets statewide maximums for private-property tows, drop fees, and storage lot charges, and TDLR licenses tow companies and storage lots. You have a right to a tow hearing in justice court, but you must ask for it within 14 business days of the tow. Police-ordered tow rates are set by each city or county, not the state.

Drop fee release: If you get back before your car is fully hooked up, the tower must let it go for free. If it is fully hooked up but still on the lot, you can pay a drop fee of up to $135 for a car and keep it. The driver must tell you that you can pay the drop fee and must take cash, credit, or debit.
Your belongings: Once you show you own the car or have the right to it, the lot must let you take your personal belongings out, with no fee. You can also get into the glove box or console for papers that prove who you are or that you own the car.
Hearing: You can ask a justice of the peace court in the county the car was towed from for a hearing on whether the tow was legal and whether you were overcharged. File a written request before the 14th day after the tow, not counting weekends and legal holidays. The hearing must be held within 21 calendar days after the court gets your request. If the tower or lot never gave you the hearing-rights notice, the deadline does not apply.

Full Texas towing law guide

Think the tow was wrong?

Questions

How do I find my towed car in Houston?

Use FindMyTowedCar (https://www.findmytowedcar.com). HPD sends owners here to find which storage lot has a towed car and the pending storage fees. Search by license plate or VIN..

How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Houston?

For police-ordered tows the city lists a $232 tow. Other fees may apply.

My car was towed from a private lot in Houston. Where is it?

Cars towed from apartments and other private lots go to a state-licensed storage lot. The city caps the light-duty private tow at 232 dollars for 2026. The storage lot must report the tow to Houston police within two hours, so FindMyTowedCar or the HPD tow line at 713-308-8580 can usually say where the car is.

Sources

Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

HPD Auto Dealers Detail, Houston Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
HPD Auto Dealers Detail Towed Vehicles FAQ, Houston Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
Motorist Bill of Rights and Guidelines, Houston Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
2026 Police Private Storage Lot Agreement with Exhibits, Houston Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
City of Houston 2026 Non-Consent Tow Rates letter (Houston Code Sec. 8-123), City of Houston Administration and Regulatory Affairs. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
ARA Non-Consent Tow Rates, City of Houston Administration and Regulatory Affairs. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
City of Houston City-Wide Fee Schedule (Houston Code Sec. 8-123(e)), City of Houston Finance. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
Harris County Justice Courts: Information about Tow Hearings, Harris County Justice Courts. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
TDLR VSF Fees and Other Charges, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
Texas Occupations Code ch. 2303 (Vehicle Storage Facilities) (Tex. Occ. Code § 2303.1511), Texas Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city and town population estimates (SUB-EST2024), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.