Tow and storage rates in San Diego
What could be charged for tows and storage in San Diego, by year and by who set the amount. Each row names the record it comes from and links the source.
How to read these tables. Amounts are in dollars, as the source states them. Use the row that covers the date of the tow, and read the note for vehicle sizes and other details. Rows marked "Not found yet" are gaps we are still researching.
| Year or period | Tow | Storage, per day | Tow Impound Cost Recovery Fee | Record, source and status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before FY2022 | Not found yet | Not found yet We have not found official San Diego tow rate records for earlier years. | ||
| FY2022-23 (as of the 2022 audit) | $178.00 | $41.00 | $63.00 | City Auditor report OCA-23-005, Appendix C (rates from SDPD's towing program manual) Performance Audit of the City's Towing Program (2022) Official source Standard tow $178 ($190 medium, $250 large); storage $41 a day ($5.50 an hour the first day); flatbed $47; after-hours gate $48. The impound company also pays the City an $83 franchise fee and a $22 dispatch fee per tow. |
| FY2025 (from July 1, 2024) | Not listed | Not listed | $63.00 | City of San Diego FY2025 User Fee Schedule, Tow Impound Cost Recovery Fee FY2025 User Fee Schedule Official source The schedule lists only the City's fees ($63 per impound; $83 franchise fee per vehicle). Tow and storage rates are set in the tow contracts and were not published. |
| FY2026 (from July 1, 2025) | Not listed | Not listed | $115.00 | City of San Diego FY2026 User Fee Schedule, Police, Managed Tow Program FY2026 User Fee Schedule Official source Tow Impound Cost Recovery Fee $115 per impound; Tow Franchise Fee $135 per vehicle. The PDF table prints out of line; the amounts match the tool's verified rule sd-tow-impound-cost-recovery-fee-fy2026. |
| FY2027 | Not found yet | Not found yet No Fiscal Year 2027 user fee schedule was posted when we checked. | ||
Last checked .