Car towed in Washington? 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
Vehicles towed by DPW or the police to a DPW impoundment lot. Staff tell you which lot has the car.45
Other ways to check:
- DC 311 or DC DMV · 311 or (202) 737-4404: Tells you which DC impoundment lot holds a towed or booted vehicle.2
- MPD Evidence Control Division · (202) 645-0130: Vehicles impounded by the Metropolitan Police Department, such as cars held as evidence.7
Towed from a private lot (apartment, store)? Cars towed from private property by a private company go to that company's own storage lot, not the DPW lot. Tow trucks must show the company name, phone, address, storage fee and hours, and the company must give you the DLCP Owner's Bill of Rights for Towed Vehicles. You can check a company's license in the DLCP SCOUT system and file a complaint with DLCP if you were overcharged.
Cars towed or booted by the DC Department of Public Works or relocated for the Metropolitan Police Department usually go to the DPW Blue Plains Impoundment and Storage Facility in Southwest DC, though some go to the DPW lot on Bryant Street NE. Cars towed from private lots by private tow companies go to that company's own licensed storage lot.
Washington impound lots: addresses and hours
Blue Plains Impoundment and Storage Facility
City impound · run by DC Department of Public Works
5001 Shepherd Parkway SW, Washington, DC235
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Payment: debit card, credit card (Visa and Mastercard only)
Bryant Street Impoundment and Storage Facility
City impound · run by DC Department of Public Works
2115 Bryant St NE, Washington, DC25
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Washington snow emergency towing
Snow Emergency (Snow Emergency Routes). The Mayor declares a snow emergency and announces when it starts. It stays in effect until the District announces it has been lifted on TV, radio and snow.dc.gov.910
Is it in effect? Check the city page
- Snow Emergency Routes have red and white signs, usually higher on the pole than other signs.
- The routes are generally the District's rush hour streets.
- The impound lot is open weekdays 8 am to 6 pm and is closed on weekends, holidays and when DC government is closed.
- Fees can be paid at the lot by debit or credit card, or online through DC DMV.
- Older tickets not yet in the adjudication system may also have to be paid before release.
Where the car goes: Cars ticketed and towed by DPW for a snow emergency violation go to the DPW Impound Lot at 5001 Shepherd Parkway SW. Some cars may also be towed by private towing companies.
How to find it: Call the Towed Vehicle Locator office at (202) 541-6083 or check dpw.dc.gov/page/booting-and-impoundment.
Snow-ban fees can differ from the regular tow fees below. The city resets them some winters, so check its page.
How much it costs to get your car out in Washington
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Towed vehicle2 | $100 | Police-ordered |
| Oversized tow2 | $275 | Police-ordered |
| Towed vehicle storage after the first 24 hours2Charged only if you do not get the car within 24 hours of the tow. | $20 / day | Police-ordered |
| Booted vehicle2 | $75 | All tows |
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
- Fee payment receipt
- Vehicle registration
- Valid driver's license
- A notarized statement from the owner if you are not the 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
- DPW can tow a car once it is ticketed for any parking violation, and DPW or MPD can tow a car parked so it creates a traffic or safety hazard.
- Since December 15, 2025, DC adds a 2.5 percent service fee to debit and credit card payments online, in the app and in person.
- A car is boot-eligible with two or more unpaid parking or photo enforcement tickets more than 60 days old. Booted cars can then be towed.
- You must pay all outstanding tickets and fees for every vehicle in your name, including past vehicles, before the car is released.
- To fight a ticket, request adjudication with DC DMV within 60 days of the ticket.
- Once you pay storage fees, pick the car up that same day or another $20 per day is added, and that extra storage must be paid in person at DC DMV Adjudication Services.
- Before paying, you may take only cash, a checkbook, your driver's license, perishable items, medicine and tools you need for work out of the car.
- Impounded vehicles left unclaimed 28 days after notice are sold at online auction or scrapped.
- Every tow business, tow truck and storage lot in DC must be licensed by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Complaints go to DLCP at 202-671-4500.
District of Columbia rules that apply
DC licenses every tow company, tow lot, and tow truck through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Cars towed by the city go to the DPW impound lot, where DC charges a set $100 tow fee and $20 per day storage after the first 24 hours. Tow companies must give you the DC Owner's Bill of Rights for Towed Vehicles before and after a tow.
- Drop fee release: Not confirmed yet.
- Your belongings: Not confirmed yet.
- Hearing: Not confirmed yet.
Think the tow was wrong?
Questions
How do I find my towed car in Washington?
Use DPW Towing Control Dispatch Center or call (202) 541-6083. Vehicles towed by DPW or the police to a DPW impoundment lot. Staff tell you which lot has the car..
Where is the Washington impound lot?
Blue Plains Impoundment and Storage Facility: 5001 Shepherd Parkway SW, Washington, DC, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm. Bryant Street Impoundment and Storage Facility: 2115 Bryant St NE, Washington, DC, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Washington?
For police-ordered tows the city lists a $100 tow and $20 per day of storage. Other fees may apply.
My car was towed from a private lot in Washington. Where is it?
Cars towed from private property by a private company go to that company's own storage lot, not the DPW lot. Tow trucks must show the company name, phone, address, storage fee and hours, and the company must give you the DLCP Owner's Bill of Rights for Towed Vehicles. You can check a company's license in the DLCP SCOUT system and file a complaint with DLCP if you were overcharged.
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.
- Booted/Towed Vehicle Fees, DC Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Booted or Towed Vehicles, DC Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Locate a Towed Vehicle, DC Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Booting and Impoundment, DC Department of Public Works. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing, DC Department of Public Works. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Who Do I Call?, Metropolitan Police Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Your Towing Rights: What Drivers Need to Know Before and After a Tow, DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Parking During a Snow Emergency, District of Columbia Snow Team. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- DC Government to Operate in Modified Posture on Monday, January 26, District of Columbia Snow Team. Checked Nov 14, 2026.