Towing in Austin by the numbers

Only numbers printed in public records and official sources. Each one links to its source and shows the date we last checked it. If a number isn't in an official source, it isn't here.

This website and the documents it makes are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Austin's tow and boot maximums

$272
City maximum for a private-property tow of a vehicle under 10,000 lbs., effective December 22, 2025 (lowered from $275).
Source: City of Austin Ordinance No. 20251211-068; checked October 7, 2026
$275
City maximum for a police-ordered (nonconsent) tow of a vehicle under 10,000 lbs. in fiscal year 2026-27.
Source: City of Austin FY2026-27 fee schedule (Ordinance No. 20260812-006); checked October 13, 2026
$25
City administrative fee listed with the police-ordered tow charges.
Source: City of Austin FY2026-27 fee schedule (Ordinance No. 20260812-006); checked October 13, 2026
$100
City maximum fee to remove a boot (vehicle immobilization fee).
Source: City of Austin FY2026-27 fee schedule (Ordinance No. 20260812-006); checked October 13, 2026
$54
Filing fee for a tow hearing in a Travis County justice court.
Source: Travis County Justice of the Peace 2026 Civil Fee Schedule; checked October 13, 2026
5
Justice courts in Travis County that hear tow hearings; the request can be filed in any of them (list below).
Source: Travis County Justice of the Peace 2026 Civil Fee Schedule; JP1 Civil Suits page; checked October 13, 2026

Police tows and City boots

12,329
Austin police impounds through AutoReturn, the City's tow-management vendor, in 2018.
Source: Austin Police Department, Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
$30
Collected from the tow company for each police impound and sent to the City's general fund (20% of the then $150 tow fee).
Source: Austin Police Department, Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
5,012
Vehicles with unpaid parking tickets and an active City boot order, as of April 30, 2025.
Source: City of Austin memo, Strategy to Increase Collections on Unpaid Parking Violations (May 15, 2025); checked October 14, 2026

Austin's police tow rate over time

Rate set	Amount	Source
January 26, 1989	$55	APD Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
July 18, 1996	$65	APD Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
March 18, 2001	$95	APD Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
June 19, 2006	$150	APD Tow Fee Study (May 22, 2019); checked October 14, 2026
Fiscal year 2026-27 (vehicle under 10,000 lbs.)	$275	City of Austin FY2026-27 fee schedule; checked October 13, 2026

The tow hearing (Texas law)

14
Days to ask a justice court for a tow hearing: the written request must reach the court before the 14th day after the tow or boot, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Source: Occ. Code § 2308.456(a); checked October 14, 2026
21
Calendar days: the court must hold the hearing before the 21st calendar day after it receives the request.
Source: Occ. Code § 2308.458(a); checked October 14, 2026

State maximums that apply in every Texas city

$272
State maximum for a light-duty private-property tow (in effect since November 1, 2021).
Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.455(b); checked October 7, 2026
$135
State maximum light-duty drop charge (the car is released before it is towed away).
Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.455(c); checked October 7, 2026
$22.85
State maximum daily storage at a licensed storage lot for a vehicle 25 feet long or less (since January 1, 2024).
Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.722(d)(1); TDLR notice of Jan. 3, 2024; checked October 7, 2026
$22.85
State maximum impoundment fee at a licensed storage lot (since January 1, 2024).
Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.722(e); TDLR notice of Jan. 3, 2024; checked October 7, 2026
$50
State maximum notification fee; none may be charged if the vehicle is picked up within 24 hours after the lot received it.
Source: Occ. Code § 2303.155(c); 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.722(c); checked October 7, 2026

Complaints to TDLR, the state regulator (fiscal year 2025, statewide)

2,205
Consumer complaints TDLR received about tow companies and operators.
Source: TDLR, Tow Companies and Operators, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
290.59
Average days TDLR took to close a towing case.
Source: TDLR, Tow Companies and Operators, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
6.71%
Share of closed towing cases that resulted in disciplinary action.
Source: TDLR, Tow Companies and Operators, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
$55,899.74
Consumer restitution in towing cases.
Source: TDLR, Tow Companies and Operators, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
612
Consumer complaints TDLR received about vehicle storage facilities (storage lots).
Source: TDLR, Vehicle Storage Facilities, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
328.80
Average days TDLR took to close a storage-lot case.
Source: TDLR, Vehicle Storage Facilities, Fiscal Year 2025 complaint statistics (Nov. 19, 2025); checked October 14, 2026
(800) 803-9202
TDLR's toll-free number in Texas, listed on its towing consumer page. Complaints about a tow company or storage lot go to TDLR online or on its paper form.
Source: TDLR, Towing consumer information; checked October 14, 2026

How to file a TDLR towing complaint

Where tow hearings are heard and where towed cars are held

Justice courts that hear tow cases: Travis County

Justice Court, Precinct 1, Travis County

4717 Heflin Ln., Ste. 107, Austin, TX 78721

Phone: (512) 854-7700

Application for Hearing on Non-Consent Tow/Booted Vehicle (JP1, June 2017)

Justice Court, Precinct 2, Travis County

10409 Burnet Rd., Ste. 180, Austin, TX 78758

Phone: (512) 854-6367 (civil)

Application for Hearing on Unlawful Towing and Storage of a Vehicle (JP2, 08/18)

Justice Court, Precinct 3, Travis County

8656-B W. Hwy 71, Ste. 200, Austin, TX 78735

Phone: (512) 854-6763, option 4

Application for Tow Hearing (JP3; sworn)

Justice Court, Precinct 4, Travis County

4011 McKinney Falls Pkwy., Ste. 1200, Austin, TX 78744

Phone: (512) 854-9478 (civil)

Application for Unlawful Towing or Booting Hearing (JP4)

Justice Court, Precinct 5, Travis County

1000 Guadalupe St., Ste. 117 (civil), Austin, TX 78701; mail: P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767

Phone: (512) 854-9050 (civil)

Application for Hearing on Unlawful Towing or Booting (JP5, 05/2019)

Court list checked September 29, 2026

Austin (City of Austin / Austin Police Department): Find a towed car: search.autoreturn.com

Getting the car back in Austin

Records we have asked for

Austin Police Department: monthly impound counts, wrecker enforcement records, rotation lists and AutoReturn rates. Requested on October 7, 2026 (request R198515-100726); waiting for the response.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): towing and storage-lot complaints and enforcement outcomes, by county. Requested on October 9, 2026 (request R056518-100926); waiting for the response.