How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Car Back After Being Towed?

What do tow yards charge where we cover?

Posted maximums for a standard (light-duty) car, from the fee tables our city tools use. Which amount applies depends on the facts of each tow (who ordered it, the vehicle, the place). Amounts for heavier vehicles are on each city's fees page.

Texas

California

Washington

Colorado

Illinois

Wisconsin

How does storage add up?

Texas law

The TDLR rule requires every mailed storage notice to state the facility's licensed name, address, phone and release hours; the daily storage rate, the type and amount of all other charges, and "Total storage charges cannot be computed until vehicle is claimed. The storage charge will accrue daily until vehicle is released"; the first date storage is assessed; any planned transfer date and address; the date the vehicle was accepted and from where, when and by whom it was towed; the VSF license number; a notice of the owner's right under Occ. Code ch. 2308 to challenge the legality of the tow; and TDLR's name, mailing address and toll-free number for questions or complaints.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.703(i)(1) · Checked on October 5, 2026

California law

The law limits storage charges to no more than one day of storage if the vehicle is released 24 hours or less after it was placed in storage. After 24 hours, storage may be charged per full calendar day or part of a day.

Source: Civ. Code § 3068.1(a)(1) · Checked on October 5, 2026

Washington law

A tow company must file its fee schedule with the Department of Licensing, and no fee may exceed the filed fees. Towing is charged by the hour, and after the first hour to the nearest quarter hour. Storage is charged on a 24-hour basis, to the nearest half day, starting when the vehicle has been unloaded and the paperwork done at the storage lot; unloading and paperwork time may be billed as tow time in 15-minute steps, up to 60 minutes in all. Every invoice given to the person redeeming must be itemized so each fee is clearly discernible, and must show the time of day the vehicle arrived at the storage lot.

Source: RCW 46.55.063(1), (3)-(5); WAC 308-61-135(2) · Checked on October 6, 2026

Colorado law

Storage may not exceed the PUC's 24-hour maximum ($48.19 for a vehicle rated under 10,000 lbs. from March 15, 2026). After a private-property tow, only the first 24 hours of storage, prorated by the hour, may be charged until the owner notification under § 42-4-2103 is complete, and storage may not be charged retroactively after that. After a residential tow, storage must keep being prorated by the hour. Storage may not be charged for any time the carrier's garage keeper's liability insurance was not in force.

Source: 4 CCR 723-6, Rule 6511(d); Colorado PUC towing rates (effective March 15, 2026) · Checked on October 6, 2026

Illinois law

The ICC sets the maximum rates for relocation tows and for storage beyond 24 hours. A relocator may not charge for storage for the first 24 hours after the tow, may not charge other services to the vehicle's owner or operator, and any credit card fee counts toward the maximum. The ICC must require a relocator to refund anything charged above the rate, including a card fee. Charging other than the ICC rates is unlawful.

Source: 625 ILCS 5/18a-200(6), 18a-300(12) · Checked on October 6, 2026

When can tow and storage fees be limited or waived?

Texas law

The TDLR rule requires every storage facility, including government-run lots, to accept cash, debit cards and credit cards. A facility that violates this may not charge storage beyond the date payment by credit card is tendered, in addition to administrative penalties.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.711 · Checked on October 5, 2026

The law provides that if the court finds a person or law enforcement agency authorized the removal and storage with probable cause, the requester pays the removal and storage costs. If the court does not find probable cause, the towing company, storage facility, parking facility owner or law enforcement agency that authorized the removal must pay the costs or reimburse the owner or operator. Regardless of probable cause, if the towing charge collected exceeded fees regulated by a political subdivision or authorized by ch. 2308 or ch. 2303, the towing company must reimburse the overcharge. Parallel rules apply to booting.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.451 · Checked on September 28, 2026

California law

The law provides that if, within the first 24 hours of storage, a person entitled to the vehicle (or the owner's insurance representative) requests release, tenders the appropriate fees, and presents documentation, and the storage facility fails to release it or is not open during normal business hours, then only one day's storage may be charged until after the first business day (a day the lienholder is open to the public at least 8 hours). After 24 hours, charges may be by full calendar day.

Source: Veh. Code § 22658(i)(3) · Checked on October 5, 2026

The law gives the vehicle owner or agent the right to retrieve the vehicle during the first 72 hours of storage without paying a lien fee.

Source: Veh. Code § 22651.07(c)(2) · Checked on October 5, 2026

Washington law

At the hearing the court decides whether the impoundment was proper, whether the towing and storage fees charged complied with the posted rates, and who is responsible for paying them; it may not adjust fees that comply with the posted or contracted rates. If the impound was proper, the fees and court costs are assessed against the person who asked for the hearing - unless the tow company did not have a signed and valid impound authorization from the private property owner or an authorized agent. If the impound violated chapter 46.55 RCW, the registered and legal owners bear no impoundment, towing or storage fees; whoever authorized the impound becomes liable for them; and the court enters judgment for the owners against whoever authorized the impound for the hearing filing fee and reasonable damages for loss of use of the vehicle while it was impounded. If that judgment is not paid within 15 days of written notice of its entry, the court awards reasonable attorneys' fees and costs in an action to enforce it.

Source: RCW 46.55.120(3)(b)-(e) · Checked on October 6, 2026

City of Seattle

Inside Seattle it is a misdemeanor for a tow company, driver or agent to demand or collect more than the maximum rates in SMC 6.214.220, to charge for more time than was spent towing or for services not rendered, or, for an uncompleted tow, to refuse to release the vehicle to someone who shows reasonable proof of ownership or authorization and pays the uncompleted-tow fee. For each such violation, restitution is mandatory.

Source: SMC 6.214.260(A), (C) · Checked on October 6, 2026

Colorado law

If a towing carrier fails to comply with article 10.1 of title 40, the abandoned-vehicle and lien laws it names, or any rule adopted under them, it may not charge or keep any fees or charges for the services performed for the vehicle, and must return any fees it collected to the authorized or interested person. In any action to collect towing fees, it is an affirmative defense that the vehicle was towed nonconsensually and the carrier did not comply with § 40-10.1-405. The PUC rule says a vehicle held in storage after a tow or storage in violation of statute or rule must be released without charge.

Source: C.R.S. § 40-10.1-406(1)(a)-(b); 4 CCR 723-6, Rule 6511(f) · Checked on October 6, 2026

The towing carrier must immediately release a nonconsensually towed vehicle if the owner pays 15 percent of the fees owed, not more than $60, and the person is not a lienholder or insurance company. To take the vehicle without paying the total, the person signs the PUC form "Towed Vehicle Release Notice: Retrieval with Payment Owed", affirming they owe the carrier fees that comply with the law; signing does not stop a PUC complaint or other remedies, and the carrier may use the form to collect the debt. The carrier may not require any other approval process. Under the PUC rule this applies to a residential tow, and the remaining balance is due no sooner than 90 days after release.

Source: C.R.S. § 40-10.1-405(5)(c)-(e), (6)(a); 4 CCR 723-6, Rule 6512(l) · Checked on October 6, 2026

Illinois law

A relocator may not demand, collect or receive anything of value from the vehicle owner if the relocation was not performed in compliance with the Relocation Towing Law and the ICC rules. A relocator operating without a valid ICC license, or in violation of the law or the rules, must immediately release the vehicle to a properly identified person on demand, without demanding payment or imposing other conditions.

Source: 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1710.47(a)(2)(C), 1710.120(b) · Checked on October 6, 2026

A relocator must give local police a phone number that answers whenever it tows, list that number in its ads, and have an employee on its premises at all times to arrange immediate release. If, after a reasonable effort, the owner cannot reach the relocator by phone for one hour from the first try during hours it must answer, all towing and storage fees are waived. Three calls by police on the owner's behalf within an hour, at least two of them 45 minutes apart, are enough proof.

Source: 625 ILCS 5/18a-300(15) · Checked on October 6, 2026

City of Chicago

For a vehicle the City impounds under § 9-92-030 (parking and tow-zone violations, hazards, abandoned vehicles and similar), the owner pays $250 for the tow ($350 at 8,000 lbs. or more) and $50 a day storage ($100 at 8,000 lbs. or more). No fees for a tow found to be erroneous; storage is capped at $1,500 per vehicle; only one day of storage if the vehicle is disposed of; and no fees if the vehicle was stolen at the time and the theft was reported in a timely manner. The City's page says charges are paid in cash or by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or Diners Club; checks and money orders are not accepted.

Source: Chicago Mun. Code § 9-92-080(b); City of Chicago, Common Towing Questions · Checked on October 6, 2026

How can you check your bill?

Each city tool below asks about the tow and the bill and shows the rules for that place. Where a city has a fees page, it lists every posted maximum with a box that puts the amount on a bill next to the maximum.

• Open Towed in Austin · Towed in Austin: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in College Station · Towed in College Station: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Corpus Christi · Towed in Corpus Christi: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in DFW · Towed in DFW: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in El Paso · Towed in El Paso: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Houston · Towed in Houston: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Lubbock · Towed in Lubbock: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in the Valley · Towed in the Valley: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in San Antonio · Towed in San Antonio: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in LA
• Open Towed in Riverside
• Open Towed in Sacramento
• Open Towed in San Diego
• Open Towed in San Francisco
• Open Towed in San Jose
• Open Towed in Seattle · Towed in Seattle: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Spokane · Towed in Spokane: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Tacoma · Towed in Tacoma: posted maximums and the compare box
• Open Towed in Denver
• Open Towed in Chicago
• Open Towed in Madison · Towed in Madison: posted maximums and the compare box

Related questions

• Do You Have to Pay a Tow Truck Up Front to Get Your Car Back?
• Tow Yard Storage Fees: Daily Limits by State and City
• Car towed? Start here (every state)