Car towed in Seattle? 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
Lincoln Towing Seattle impound vehicle search
Police-authorized impounds from Seattle streets. Search by plate or VIN26
Other ways to check:
- Lincoln Towing · 206-364-2000: Police-authorized impounds from Seattle streets, including release and hearing requests28
- Seattle Police non-emergency line · 206-625-5011: Private property tows when you cannot find the tow company from posted signs or the property owner2
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? For private lot tows, check the posted signs for the tow company's phone number or ask the property owner. If you still cannot find the car, call Seattle Police non-emergency at 206-625-5011. The city caps private impound fees and you can file a complaint with the city.
Deadline to contest: 10 calendar days from the notice (Washington rules). How to request a hearing
Cars towed from Seattle streets or for police reasons go to one of four Lincoln Towing lots, the city's contract impound company, two in north Seattle and two in south Seattle. Call Lincoln Towing at 206-364-2000 or search seattleimpound.com to find the car.
Seattle impound lots: addresses and hours
Lincoln Towing, Pasadena Place NE
Police contract lot · run by Lincoln Towing
Lincoln Towing, Aurora Ave N
Police contract lot · run by Lincoln Towing
Lincoln Towing, 3460 First Ave S
Police contract lot · run by Lincoln Towing
Lincoln Towing, 8425 First Ave S
Police contract lot · run by Lincoln Towing
How much it costs to get your car out in Seattle
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
Class A impound, north zone3DetailsPassenger cars and pickups. Includes dolly and first half hour of winch. Zone is set by where the car was picked up. Rates run January 1 to December 31, 2026. | $297 | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
| Class A impound, south zone3Passenger cars and pickups. Includes dolly and first half hour of winch. | $263 | Police-ordered · Cars, SUVs, pickups |
Storage, 20 feet or under, north zone lot3DetailsCharged $22 per 12-hour period after the first 12 free hours. Zone is set by the lot where the car is stored. | $22 / 12 hours | Police-ordered |
| Storage, 20 feet or under, south zone lot3Charged $19 per 12-hour period after the first 12 free hours. | $19 / 12 hours | Police-ordered |
| City administrative fee3$67 for driving while license suspended and scofflaw impounds. No sales tax on this fee. | $35 | Police-ordered |
| Mileage3 | $11 / mile | Police-ordered |
| Dolly fee3Already included in the Class A impound fee. | $66 | Police-ordered |
Private property tow, first hour (maximum)4DetailsAfter the first hour, up to $54.75 per 15 minutes. Extra labor fees such as dolly, winch or hookup are not allowed. Effective April 20, 2026. | Up to $306.88 | Private lot (apartment, store) |
| Private property tow storage (maximum)4Charged up to $42.98 per 12-hour period. | Up to $42.98 / 12 hours | Private lot (apartment, store) |
| Private property tow after-hours release (maximum)4 | Up to $100 | Private lot (apartment, store) |
| City of Seattle impound fee on private tows4Must be listed separately on the receipt. Not taxed. | $15 | Private lot (apartment, store) |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (2 fees)
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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 photo ID such as a driver's license
- A licensed driver to drive the car away
- If someone else picks it up, a notarized statement from the registered owner
More detail, including when the car is not in your name: what to bring to the impound lot.
Local rules and how to contest
- Impound hearings are held by Seattle Municipal Court. You have 10 days from the impound to request one.
- If the car is still impounded, tell the tow yard you want a hearing and fill out their form. The yard gives you the hearing date and time.
- If you already got the car out, ask for an Impound Hearing Request form at pickup and mail or return it to Seattle Municipal Court within 10 days of the tow.
- If you cannot afford to get the car out, request a hearing with a court magistrate, who may reduce ticket fines or set up a payment plan.
- For non-ticketed police impounds such as stolen car recoveries or evidence holds, use the Registered Tow Truck Operator Impounded Vehicle Hearing Request from the tow company.
- A ticket hearing is separate from the impound hearing.
- To keep belongings from being sold with an unclaimed car, remove them within 20 days of impound. Lincoln Towing will store them for 30 days if you sign its Personal Belongings Storage Request form.
- Driving while license suspended impounds are $139.50 per impound plus $17 per 12 hours of storage.
Washington rules that apply
Washington tow companies must register with the Department of Licensing, file their rates there, and may not charge more than those filed rates. For private-property impounds with a standard Class A, D or E truck, state law caps the filed hourly tow rate and daily storage at 135 percent of the State Patrol impound rates in effect when the tower filed. The State Patrol rates from October 15, 2026 are $297 an hour and $75 a day, so the cap can be no higher than $400.95 an hour and $101.25 a day. You can ask the district or municipal court for a hearing on the tow within 10 days.
- Drop fee release: State law does not set a drop fee or require release at the scene. Seattle caps an uncompleted tow fee at $76.72 per 15 minutes.
- Your belongings: Personal belongings must be kept intact for 20 days and returned on request during business hours with ID, without charge. You can also sign a form to have the tower store them free for 30 days.
- Hearing: You can contest the tow or the charges in district or municipal court. The written request must reach the court within 10 days of getting the hearing notice and more than five days before the auction, and you pay a filing fee. If the tow is found invalid, the person who ordered it pays the fees and you can recover the filing fee and damages for loss of use.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in Seattle?
Use Lincoln Towing Seattle impound vehicle search (http://seattleimpound.com/). Police-authorized impounds from Seattle streets. Search by plate or VIN.
Where is the Seattle impound lot?
Lincoln Towing, Pasadena Place NE: 3919 Pasadena Place NE, Seattle, WA 98103. Lincoln Towing, Aurora Ave N: 12220 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133. Lincoln Towing, 3460 First Ave S: 3460 First Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134. Lincoln Towing, 8425 First Ave S: 8425 First Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Seattle?
For police-ordered tows the city lists a $297 tow and $22 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in Seattle. Where is it?
For private lot tows, check the posted signs for the tow company's phone number or ask the property owner. If you still cannot find the car, call Seattle Police non-emergency at 206-625-5011. The city caps private impound fees and you can file a complaint with the city.
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 a Towed Car, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Max Towing Fees: Police-Authorized Impounds, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Max Towing Fees: Private Property Impounds, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Redeeming Your Vehicle, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- My Car Got Towed, Seattle Municipal Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing Complaints: Police-Authorized Tows, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Impounded Vehicle Notice, Seattle Department of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- City of Seattle Contract #5091 North and South Impound Tow Zones, City of Seattle. Checked Nov 14, 2026.