Car towed in Memphis? Vehicle storage lot, fees and lookup
Checked Nov 14, 2026 against official sources. We don't have your car: use the official lookup below.
Find your car
Vehicles towed by Memphis Police, the Shelby County Sheriff or Housing and Community Development, including whether a car is on an investigative hold. Open 24 hours.2
Other ways to check:
- Memphis Police non-emergency line · 901-545-2677: General police help if you cannot tell whether your car was towed or stolen.2
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Private-lot tows go to the permitted towing company's own storage lot. The tow company must have written authorization from the property owner or agent for each car. If you think the tow was unauthorized or overpriced, complain in writing to the city Permits Office wrecker coordinator.
Deadline to contest: 20 calendar days from the notice (Tennessee rules). How to request a hearing
Cars towed on the authority of Memphis Police, the Shelby County Sheriff or city Housing and Community Development go to the city Vehicle Storage lot on Klinke Avenue. Private-lot tows and some crash tows go to the permitted towing company's own lot instead.
Memphis vehicle storage lot: addresses and hours
Memphis Police Vehicle Storage Lot
City impound · run by Memphis Police Department
465 Klinke Ave, Memphis, TN 381272
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Payment: cash, credit card
How much it costs to get your car out in Memphis
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Police impound fee at the city Vehicle Storage lot2 | $135 | Police-ordered |
| Storage at the city Vehicle Storage lot2 | $30 / day | Police-ordered |
Private-property tow3DetailsCity wrecker rules say storage at rotation and permitted tow lots starts 24 hours after impound, but the rate was not confirmed. | Not verified | Private lot (apartment, store) |
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
- Proof of ownership
- Current registration, title or lease agreement
- License plate number or VIN
- Valid picture ID such as a driver's license or ID card
- A licensed driver to drive the car off the lot, or arrange a tow out for a fee
- Someone other than the owner needs a notarized statement from the registered owner with the authorized person's name, a copy of the owner's ID, the plate or VIN, and the make and year
- For a rental car, the rental agreement and the matching ID
More detail, including when the car is not in your name: what to bring to the impound lot.
Local rules and how to contest
- Storage at permitted tow company lots begins 24 hours after the car is impounded, and stops once you ask to pick up the car if the company cannot accommodate you.
- You can ask the tow company for an itemized invoice of tow, storage and other fees.
- If a tow company towed without proper authorization or overcharged, file a written complaint with the City of Memphis Permits Office wrecker coordinator (901-636-6735, [email protected]). The office can order a refund or a free release.
- Cars with 3 or more unpaid parking tickets after the 15-day grace period can be impounded until all tickets are paid.
Tennessee rules that apply
Tennessee's MOTION Act of 2025 says a tower may not charge more for a nonconsent tow or storage than the maximum the local Tennessee Highway Patrol district has approved, and caps the release fee at $100. The state does not publish one dollar figure, so limits vary by district, and Nashville sets its own capped private-tow rates. On Highway Patrol tows you can get your belongings out free during business hours, and a tower that breaks the towing rules has no lien on the car.
- Drop fee release: If the car has not left its parking spot, the tower must release it immediately when the owner pays a release fee. That fee is capped at $100 statewide.
- Your belongings: For tows ordered by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the tow company must hand over personal property and cargo to the owner on request, and may not charge for it during normal business hours. You must show photo ID. State law sets no such rule for private-property tows.
- Hearing: No general tow hearing was found in state law. The owner or lienholder can appeal a police finding that a car is abandoned or immobile, and a garagekeeper that refuses to release a car after payment can be sued for costs and attorney's fees.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in Memphis?
Use Memphis Police Vehicle Storage lot phone or call 901-636-8200. Vehicles towed by Memphis Police, the Shelby County Sheriff or Housing and Community Development, including whether a car is on an investigative hold. Open 24 hours..
Where is the Memphis vehicle storage lot?
Memphis Police Vehicle Storage Lot: 465 Klinke Ave, Memphis, TN 38127, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Memphis?
For police-ordered tows the city lists $30 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in Memphis. Where is it?
Private-lot tows go to the permitted towing company's own storage lot. The tow company must have written authorization from the property owner or agent for each car. If you think the tow was unauthorized or overpriced, complain in writing to the city Permits Office wrecker coordinator.
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) (Memphis city, POPESTIMATE2024), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Vehicle Storage and Release, Memphis Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Wrecker Rules and Regulations (March 15, 2024), City of Memphis Permits Office. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Police FAQs, City of Memphis. Checked Nov 14, 2026.