Car towed in San Francisco? Impound 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
AutoReturn San Francisco vehicle search
Cars towed by SFMTA or SFPD from San Francisco streets and held at the City and County of San Francisco Impound2
Other ways to check:
- City and County of San Francisco Impound phone line · 415-865-8200: SFMTA and SFPD tows in San Francisco. Have your plate, vehicle description, tow date and location ready25
- SFPD non-emergency line · 415-553-0123: Report a stolen car if the impound cannot find it. Private property owners and tow companies must report private tows to SFPD256
- SFPD STOP unit · 415-678-3625: Releases and hearings for SFPD-ordered tows, including arrest, unlicensed driver and investigation tows25
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Cars towed from private lots go to the tow company's own yard, which must be within 10 miles unless police allow farther. The property owner must tell SFPD within 1 hour and the tow company within 30 minutes, so call SFPD at 415-553-0123 to find out which company has your car. Under state law you can reclaim the car 24/7 and pay by cash or major credit card.
Deadline to contest: 10 calendar days from the notice (California rules). How to request a hearing
Cars towed from San Francisco streets by SFMTA or SFPD go to the City and County of San Francisco Impound at 450 7th Street, run for the city by TEGSCO, LLC (AutoReturn). Some oversized vehicles go straight to a secondary lot in Daly City, so call 415-865-8200 to confirm where your car is.
San Francisco impound lot: addresses and hours
City and County of San Francisco Impound
City impound · run by TEGSCO, LLC (AutoReturn)
450 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 9410325
Hours: 24 hours a day, including holidays
Payment: cash, ATM card, most major credit cards
How much it costs to get your car out in San Francisco
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| SFMTA tow fee23Low-income owners pay $111. People experiencing homelessness can get a one-time waiver. | $317 | Police-ordered |
| SFMTA administrative fee23First-time tows pay $335. Low-income owners and people experiencing homelessness pay $0. | $385 | Police-ordered |
Storage, each day after the first23DetailsFirst four hours free. The first day after that is $69. Low-income owners can get up to 15 days waived and people experiencing homelessness up to 30 days. | $82 / day | Police-ordered |
| Dolly fee, if needed2 | $56 | Police-ordered |
SFPD administrative fee for arrest tows5DetailsCharged by SFPD for tows after an arrest under Vehicle Code 22651(h), 22651(p) and 22655.5. Separate from impound tow and storage fees. | $194 | Police-ordered |
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
- You must be the registered owner, or bring a Hold Harmless form if you send someone for you
- Valid ID that matches the name on any card used to pay
- For SFPD tows, a vehicle release from SFPD 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 an SFMTA tow by scheduling a phone or video hearing, or by filing in writing, within 30 days of the tow. The hearing date itself can be later.
- If you cannot pay to get the car out, you can get a hearing within 2 business days of the tow. Call the SFMTA Tow Hearing Coordinator at 415-646-2020.
- In-person and 48-hour tow hearings are held at the SFMTA Customer Service Center, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM.
- Financial hardship is not a reason to cancel tow fees. The hearing only decides whether the tow was legal.
- For SFPD-ordered tows, request a hearing within 10 days by calling 415-678-3625 (Monday to Friday 9 AM to 3 PM) or by mail to SFPD Traffic Company, 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158.
- Low-income, unhoused and first-time tow discounts are applied when you pay if you bring proof. If you paid full price, you can ask SFMTA for a refund within 30 days.
- Fees cannot be waived if the car was towed in the commission of a crime.
California rules that apply
California has no single statewide dollar cap. A private-property tow and its storage can't cost more than the local police agency's contract rate or the tower's CHP-approved rate, whichever is higher, and charging more can make the tower liable for four times the amount. Every storage lot has to take cash and credit cards, hand back your belongings for free during business hours, and post a state-written Towing and Storage Fees and Access Notice. For police-ordered tows you can ask for a post-storage hearing within 10 days of the notice date.
- Drop fee release: If you get back to your car before it has left the property, the tow company has to release it on the spot, and refusing is a misdemeanor. If the car was already hooked up or lifted, they can charge up to half their regular towing charge. Then you need to move the car right away.
- Your belongings: Before paying anything, you can get your personal belongings out free during normal business hours, which are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except state holidays. The lot has no lien on items inside the car. For police-towed cars, the lot can charge a gate fee to return items after hours, capped at half its hourly tow rate.
- Hearing: If police or another public agency had your car stored, you can ask for a post-storage hearing in person, in writing or by phone within 10 days of the date printed on the storage notice. The agency has to hold it within 48 hours of your request, not counting weekends and holidays, and it pays the tow and storage if it can't show good grounds. The law doesn't say business days, so count calendar days to be safe. Private-property tows get no agency hearing. Your remedy there is a lawsuit, usually in small claims court.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in San Francisco?
Use AutoReturn San Francisco vehicle search (https://www.autoreturn.com/san-francisco-ca/find-vehicle/). Cars towed by SFMTA or SFPD from San Francisco streets and held at the City and County of San Francisco Impound.
Where is the San Francisco impound lot?
City and County of San Francisco Impound: 450 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, 24 hours a day, including holidays.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in San Francisco?
For police-ordered tows the city lists a $317 tow and $82 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in San Francisco. Where is it?
Cars towed from private lots go to the tow company's own yard, which must be within 10 miles unless police allow farther. The property owner must tell SFPD within 1 hour and the tow company within 30 minutes, so call SFPD at 415-553-0123 to find out which company has your car. Under state law you can reclaim the car 24/7 and pay by cash or major credit card.
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.
- Towed Vehicles, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Waivers for people experiencing homelessness or low-income and reduction for first time tow, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Contest a Tow, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towed Vehicle Information, San Francisco Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Vehicle Towing Rights (FAQs), San Francisco Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.