Car towed in Portland? 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
AutoReturn Portland vehicle searchCall 503-575-3144
Search by plate or VIN to find which storage lot has a car towed in Portland23
Other ways to check:
- Portland Police Auto Records · 503-823-0044: Police, Parking Enforcement and private property tows inside Portland city limits. Tells you which company has the car34
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Private property tows in Portland must be done by a tower with a City PPI permit, and the city caps what they can charge. Police Auto Records at 503-823-0044 can tell you which company took the car. PBOT lists permit holders and their main lots, and you can file a complaint with PBOT if the tower broke the rules.
Deadline to contest: 5 business days from the notice (Oregon rules). How to request a hearing
Cars towed by Portland police, Parking Enforcement or Abandoned Autos go to the yard of one of the city's contract tow companies, which you can find through AutoReturn or Police Auto Records at 503-823-0044. Cars towed from private lots go to the yard of a city-permitted private tow company.
Portland impound lots: addresses and hours
How much it costs to get your car out in Portland
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
Class A tow, most passenger vehicles6DetailsCity contract rate effective July 1, 2026. Total of $233 base rate, $24 dispatch fee, $8 fuel surcharge and $54 City service fee. Includes up to 30 minutes on scene. | $319 | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
City service fee6DetailsAlready included in the tow totals above. Tows requested by Parking Enforcement add a $17 parking enforcement fee. | $54 | Police-ordered |
| Storage, Class A6No charge for the first 4 hours. Class B storage is $42 and Class C is $51 per 24 hours. | $33 / day | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
| Gate fee after hours or on holidays6 | $55 | Police-ordered |
| Drop fee, Class A6Plus the $24 dispatch fee. | $100 | Police-ordered |
| Out of district or excessive mileage6 | $7 / mile | Police-ordered |
| Lien filing fee, vehicle worth up to $2,5006$200 if the vehicle is worth more than $2,500. | $85 | Police-ordered |
Private property tow, Class A hookup (maximum)8DetailsIncludes hookup, dollies, 30 minutes on scene, dispatch and photo fee. Effective February 15, 2026. | Up to $202 | Private lot (apartment, store) · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
Private property tow storage (maximum)8DetailsPer 24-hour period after a 4-hour grace period. Vehicles over 20 feet long can be charged $41. | Up to $32 / day | Private lot (apartment, store) |
Private property tow after-hours release or gate fee (maximum)8DetailsOnly after 6 PM or before 8 AM on weekdays, on weekends and on City holidays. Not allowed if the tower is more than 30 minutes late. | Up to $50 | Private lot (apartment, store) |
| Private property tow mileage (maximum)8Up to 8 towed miles. | Up to $6 / mile | Private lot (apartment, store) |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (2 fees)
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
Class B tow, vehicles over 10,000 lb6DetailsTotal of $329 base rate, $24 dispatch fee, $8 fuel surcharge and $54 City service fee. | $415 | Police-ordered · Medium trucks |
Class C tow, vehicles over 20,000 lb (minimum)6DetailsMinimum charge. The base rate is $425 per hour plus dispatch, fuel and City service fees. | $511 | 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
- Valid photo ID with signature, such as a driver's license
- Proof of ownership matching DMV records
- A valid driver's license, or a licensed driver to drive the car away
- For police tows, release documents emailed to [email protected] first
More detail, including when the car is not in your name: what to bring to the impound lot.
Local rules and how to contest
- Contest a city or Port of Portland tow with the City of Portland Hearings Office, online or by form. The request must be received within 10 calendar days of the tow.
- Tow Hearings Office: 1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 3100, Portland, OR 97201. Phone 503-823-7307.
- Late hearing requests must show good cause. Hearings are not available for tows for unpaid parking tickets.
- Cars towed for unpaid tickets (tag warrant) need a release from the Multnomah County Circuit Court Parking Office at 503-988-3235.
- Police tows are subject to a lien if not claimed within 3 days after the first day of storage.
- On a city tow you can get personal belongings out for free during business hours within 15 days of the tow.
- PBOT's towing hardship fund can pay up to $300 to the tower for low-income owners and auto theft victims. Apply within 5 business days of the tow and before you pick up the car. Private property tows do not qualify.
Oregon rules that apply
Oregon does not set statewide tow rates. Cities and counties may set maximum rates for tows from private lots, and Portland does. State law requires a tower to release your car for free if you show up before it is hooked up, and for no more than its posted hookup charge if hookup is complete.
- Drop fee release: If you are there before the hookup is complete, the tower must release the car at no charge. If hookup is complete, it must still release the car and may charge no more than its listed hookup charge.
- Your belongings: You can get emergency items such as medicine, glasses, ID, wallet, clothing and child car seats, plus the license plates, without paying. Only a gate fee may apply at night, on weekends and on holidays.
- Hearing: For a tow ordered by police or another public agency, you can ask that agency for a hearing on whether the tow was valid and the charges reasonable. The request must be in writing within five business days of the notice mailing date. There is no state hearing for private-lot tows.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in Portland?
Use AutoReturn Portland vehicle search (https://www.autoreturn.com/portland-or/find-vehicle/) or call 503-575-3144. Search by plate or VIN to find which storage lot has a car towed in Portland.
Where is the Portland impound lot?
21st Century Towing: 8205 N Congress Ave, Portland, OR 97217. Gerlock Towing: 7821 NE 33rd Drive, Portland, OR 97211. Northwestern Towing & Recovery: 10721 NE Simpson St, Portland, OR 97220. Portland Heavy Towing: 10835 NE Holman St, Portland, OR 97220. Sergeant's Towing: 480 SE Market St, Portland, OR 97214.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Portland?
For police-ordered tows the city lists a $319 tow and $33 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in Portland. Where is it?
Private property tows in Portland must be done by a tower with a City PPI permit, and the city caps what they can charge. Police Auto Records at 503-823-0044 can tell you which company took the car. PBOT lists permit holders and their main lots, and you can file a complaint with PBOT if the tower broke the rules.
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), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Find my towed vehicle, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing Instructions and Info, Portland Police Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing Frequently Asked Questions, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing and private property impounds, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Vehicle Towing & Storage Fees, effective July 1, 2026, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Private property impound permit holders, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- TRN-17.03 Fees for Private Property Impound Towing and Storage in the City of Portland, City of Portland. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Request a Tow Hearing, City of Portland Hearings Office. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Apply for a towing hardship, Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.