Start with the tow company that took your car

When your vehicle is towed, the tow operator or police officer at the scene should give you a receipt or ticket with the tow company's name and phone number. If you have that paperwork, call that company first — they will tell you where your car is being held and what you owe to get it back.

If you do not have the receipt, you can still find out which company towed you. Call the police non-emergency line for the city or county where your car was parked and tell them the location, your license plate number, and the date. The dispatcher can tell you which tow company was contracted to work that area, or they may have a record of the specific tow if it was police-initiated.

Some cities maintain a public tow database online. Search "[your city name] towed vehicle locator" or "[your city name] tow database" to see if yours has one. These databases let you search by license plate or vehicle identification number (VIN) and show you which impound lot is holding your car.

Key Takeaways

  • The tow company's name and phone number should be on your receipt or ticket — that is your fastest route to locating your vehicle.
  • If you lost the receipt, call your local police non-emergency line with your license plate number and the location where you were towed; they can tell you which company took your car.
  • Many cities have online tow databases where you can search by license plate or VIN to find which impound lot is holding your vehicle.
  • Storage fees begin when ready after tow and increase daily, so the sooner you locate your car, the lower the total cost will be.
  • You will need a valid ID and proof of ownership (registration or title) to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot.

What to have ready when you call

When you contact the tow company or impound lot, have your license plate number, VIN, and the date and location of the tow ready. This information helps them pull up your vehicle quickly. If you have your registration or proof of ownership, have that nearby too — you may need to read details from it over the phone.

Ask the tow company or impound lot for the total amount owed, including the tow fee, storage fees, and any administrative charges. Storage fees start the day your vehicle arrives and increase each day it sits there, so the amount will be higher if you wait to retrieve it. Ask what payment methods they take — most accept cash, card, or check, but some have restrictions.

Understanding tow fees and storage costs

Tow fees and storage rates vary by location and by the reason for the tow. A tow for a parking violation typically costs less than a tow for an accident or abandoned vehicle. Storage fees are charged per day and can range from a few dollars to over twenty dollars daily, depending on your city and the impound lot.

The total bill grows quickly. A car towed for a parking violation might cost $150 to $300 for the tow itself, then $10 to $25 per day in storage. After a week, you could owe $250 to $475 total. After two weeks, the bill could exceed $500. This is why locating your vehicle and retrieving it as soon as possible matters financially.

Some impound lots offer payment plans if you cannot pay the full amount at once. Ask when you call whether this option is available. A few cities have hardship programs that reduce or waive fees for people with low income, though these are uncommon — ask the impound lot or your city's parking enforcement office whether one exists in your area.

What you need to bring to retrieve your vehicle

To pick up your car, bring a valid government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and proof that you own the vehicle. Proof of ownership is usually your vehicle registration, title, or a bill of sale. If someone else is picking up the car on your behalf, bring a signed letter from you authorizing them, along with both their ID and yours.

Bring payment for the full amount owed — cash, check, or card, depending on what the impound lot takes. If you are paying by check, ask ahead whether they will take it or if they require cash or card only. Some impound lots require payment before they release the vehicle; others will take payment at the time of release.

Bring your keys if you have them. If your keys are lost or were taken during the tow, tell the impound lot when you arrive. They may charge an additional fee to have a locksmith open the vehicle, or they may have a spare on file if the tow was police-initiated.

If your car was towed by police or for a violation

Police-initiated tows happen when a vehicle is parked illegally, abandoned, involved in an accident, or seized as evidence. If this happened to you, the police report or citation should list the impound lot. Call the police department's non-emergency line and give them your license plate and the date — they can confirm where your car is and whether there are any holds on it.

A hold means you cannot retrieve the vehicle yet. Holds are placed when a car is evidence in a crime, when there are unpaid parking tickets or fines attached to the vehicle, or when the vehicle is registered to someone with an outstanding warrant. If there is a hold, ask the police department or impound lot what needs to happen before it is lifted.

If your car was towed for unpaid parking tickets, you may need to pay those tickets before you can get your vehicle back. Contact your city's parking enforcement or traffic court office to find out the ticket amount and whether payment will release the hold.

If your car was towed by a private property owner

Private tows happen when you park on someone else's property without permission — an apartment complex, private lot, business parking area, or residential street with restricted parking. The property owner or their management company arranges the tow, and your car goes to whatever impound lot they contract with.

If you do not have a receipt, contact the property owner or management company directly. They can tell you which tow company they use and where your car was taken. If you cannot reach them, try calling tow companies in your area and giving them your license plate — some will search their system for you.

Private impound lots sometimes have different rules than police impounds. Some require you to bring a notarized letter from the property owner saying you have permission to retrieve the vehicle, or they may require the property owner to authorize the release. Call ahead and ask what documentation they need before you go.

What to do if you cannot locate your vehicle

If you have called the police and checked your city's tow database but still cannot find your car, it may have been towed to a lot outside your city. Some regional tow companies serve multiple cities and move vehicles between lots. Call the police department again and ask if your car was towed to a regional impound facility.

If your vehicle was towed weeks or months ago and you are just now looking for it, it may have been sold at auction. Most impound lots hold vehicles for 30 to 90 days before selling them to recover storage costs. Ask the impound lot whether your car has already been auctioned and, if so, who purchased it.

If you believe your car was towed illegally or without cause, you can file a complaint with your city's parking enforcement office or police department. Keep any documentation you have — photos of parking signs, your receipt, or witness statements. Some cities have a process to dispute a tow and recover fees, though this usually requires proof that the tow violated local law.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a tow company have to hold my car before they can sell it?

Most impound lots hold vehicles for 30 to 90 days before auctioning them to pay storage costs. The exact time frame varies by state and by the impound lot. Call your impound lot and ask their specific policy — if your car is close to that important date, you need to retrieve it soon or it may be sold.

Can I get my belongings out of my towed car before I pay the tow bill?

Most impound lots will let you remove personal items from your vehicle before paying, but policies vary. Call ahead and ask. Some require a staff member to supervise while you retrieve items, and some charge a small fee for this service. A few lots do not allow it and require full payment first.

What if I cannot afford to pay the tow and storage fees?

Ask the impound lot whether they offer payment plans. Some do, though not all. A few cities have hardship programs that reduce fees for people with low income — contact your city's parking enforcement or social services office to ask. If your car was towed illegally, you may be able to dispute the tow and recover fees through your city.

Do I need the original title to pick up my car, or is a registration enough?

Registration is usually sufficient proof of ownership. The impound lot needs to confirm you own the vehicle; a current registration shows that. If you do not have your registration, bring your title or a bill of sale. Call the impound lot ahead of time and ask what documents they will take.

Can someone else pick up my car if I give them permission?

Yes, but bring a signed letter authorizing them, along with both your ID and theirs. Some impound lots require the letter to be notarized. Call ahead and ask what authorization they need before you send someone to retrieve the vehicle.