First: where is your car?
Call the phone number on the tow-away sign where you parked. If police had it towed, call the police non-emergency line. Either way it goes to a licensed vehicle storage facility (impound lot); find them by city.
If you catch the tow truck
- Not fully hooked up yet: you can take your car back with no fee and no proof of ownership.
- Fully hooked up but still on the lot: you can keep it by paying a drop fee, at most $135 for a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds. The driver must take cash, credit and debit cards.
What it can cost (Texas limits)
| Daily storage, vehicle 25 ft or shorter | $22.85/day |
| Daily storage, longer than 25 ft | $39.99/day |
| Impound fee | $22.85 |
| Notification fee | $50 |
| Private-property tow, up to 10,000 lb | $272 max |
| Drop fee (hooked up, still on the lot) | $135 max |
Cities and counties can set lower limits. Storage can't be charged for more than one day if the car is there less than 12 hours, and days run midnight to midnight. There's no notification fee if you pick the car up within 24 hours or before the notice goes out.
What to bring
- Photo ID: any state driver's license or ID card, a federal photo ID, or a photo ID from a foreign government.
- Proof you own the car or may use it (one is enough): a driver's license whose name matches the registration, an insurance card naming you, the title, a notarized power of attorney from the owner, a tax receipt plus registration renewal card, or a lease or rental agreement.
- Payment for the tow and storage fees.
Your rights at the lot
- You can get personal belongings or ownership papers out of the car without paying.
- Lots that take cars around the clock must release your car within an hour, any time. Others must release it within an hour from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, except national holidays.
Think the tow was wrong?
Request a tow hearing at any justice of the peace court in the county the car was towed from, within 14 days of the tow. You can challenge a tow, storage or boot you think was wrongful, or a bill above the allowed fees. You can also file a complaint with TDLR, which licenses tow companies and storage lots: (800) 803-9202.
Common questions
How much can an impound lot charge per day in Texas?
Up to $22.85 a day for a vehicle 25 feet or shorter and $39.99 a day for a longer one, under TDLR's 2023 adjustment. Cities and counties can set lower limits.
What do I need to get my car out of impound in Texas?
A photo ID, one proof that you own the car or may use it (such as a matching driver's license, an insurance card naming you, or the title), and payment for the towing and storage fees.
How long do I have to request a tow hearing in Texas?
Within 14 days of the tow, at a justice of the peace court in the county the car was towed from.
Can I stop a tow in progress?
If the car isn't fully hooked up, you can take it with no fee. If it's fully hooked up but still on the lot, you can keep it by paying a drop fee of at most $135 for a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds.
Checked against official sources on October 28, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or business before you act.