Skip to content
T
Towed?Estimate
T
TowingCosts.com
Updated 2026Fees verified Jul 2026

Impound Fees by State

Every state sets its own impound and storage rules. Estimate what it costs to get your car out, see your state's daily storage limit, and learn how to push back on an overcharge.

How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?

Getting a car out of impound usually combines a one-time tow or release fee of about $150 to $350 with daily storage of roughly $20 to $60 per day, plus any admin or gate fee. Costs vary by state, and because storage adds up every day, a car left for two weeks can top $1,000. Use the estimator below for your state and days held.

Estimate your impound cost

Loading estimator...

Impound Fee Limits by State

Some states set a statewide dollar cap; others leave it to county or local rule, or to the operator's filed rate. Open your state for the exact limits and sources.

StateRelease feeMax storage / dayCap typeDetails
AlabamaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
AlaskaLocal ruleLocal (city)City capView fees
ArizonaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
ArkansasLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
CaliforniaOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
Colorado$250.91$48.19/dayStatewide capView fees
Connecticut$130.63$37/dayStatewide capView fees
Delaware$250$50/dayStatewide capView fees
FloridaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
Georgia$228$33/dayStatewide capView fees
Hawaii$75$25/dayStatewide capView fees
IdahoOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
Illinois-ICC-regulated: no storage charge for the first 24 hours after the tow; ICC-capped daily rate (per 24-hour period) thereafter.See detailsView fees
IndianaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
IowaNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
KansasLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
KentuckyOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
Louisiana$152.50$34/dayStatewide capView fees
Maine-$1,500 max per 30-day period (daily rate must be reasonable)Statewide capView fees
MarylandLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
Massachusetts$132$35/dayStatewide capView fees
MichiganNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
MinnesotaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
MississippiNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
MissouriOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
MontanaNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
NebraskaOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
NevadaOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
New HampshireNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
New JerseyLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
New Mexico-$20/dayStatewide capView fees
New York$125$15/dayCity capView fees
North CarolinaNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
North Dakota-$50/dayStatewide capView fees
Ohio$144$17/dayStatewide capView fees
Oklahoma-OCC-capped: $23.94/day outdoor, $39.90/day indoor for a standard car (max 1 day if held under 24 hrs), per OCC Order 741981 (eff. 6/1/2024)See detailsView fees
OregonLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
Pennsylvania-$25/dayStatewide capView fees
Rhode Island$125$35/dayStatewide capView fees
South CarolinaLocal ruleSet by countyLocal / countyView fees
South DakotaNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
TennesseeOperator rateOperator-filed rateOperator-filedView fees
Texas$272$22.85/dayStatewide capView fees
Utah-$42/dayStatewide capView fees
VermontNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees
Virginia$210First 24 hours free by statute (Va. Code 46.2-1233.1); per-day cap set by local ordinance - no statewide dollar limit. Fairfax County (Northern VA) = $61/day as of Dec 2025.Statewide capView fees
Washington$400.95$101.25/dayStatewide capView fees
West Virginia-$27/dayStatewide capView fees
Wisconsin$150$25/dayStatewide capView fees
WyomingNo capNo statewide capNo statewide capView fees

National ballpark when no statewide cap applies: roughly $20-$60 per day in storage, plus the initial tow. Local ordinances may set stricter limits.

How to get your car out of impound

Impound lots and state rules differ, but for most non-consent (police or trespass) tows the release process follows the same five steps. Have your paperwork ready to avoid a second trip and extra days of storage.

  1. Find out where your car was towed

    Call the local police non-emergency line, or the number on the posted tow sign, to confirm which lot holds your car and get any case or release number. Most lots will not release a vehicle without it.

  2. Confirm the fees and the hours

    Ask the lot for an itemized total, its release hours, and which payment methods it accepts. Many impound lots are cash-only and add a gate fee if you collect the car outside business hours.

  3. Gather your documents

    Bring a government photo ID and proof of ownership (title or current registration). Many lots also require proof of current insurance before they release the car; if your coverage lapsed, line up a policy or SR-22 quote first so you can retrieve it the same day.

  4. Pay and get an itemized receipt

    Pay the release, tow, and storage charges, and insist on an itemized receipt that lists each fee separately. You need it to spot and challenge anything that looks off.

  5. Check the bill and dispute anything over the limit

    Compare each charge against your state's posted limits below. If a fee is above the legal maximum, or the tow itself was improper (missing signage or no required notice), you can dispute it and demand a refund.

Want the full walk-through, including what to do if your license is suspended? Read how to get your car out of impound.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a typical impound fee?
A typical impound combines a one-time tow or release fee of about $150 to $350 with daily storage of roughly $20 to $60 per day, plus any admin or gate fee. That often totals around $210 to $530 for the first few days. Some states cap these charges by law, so check your state below for its exact limits.
How much is it to release an impounded car?
The release charge itself, the tow or administrative fee to hand the car back, is commonly about $150 to $350, on top of the daily storage that has already accrued. Lots often add a gate or after-hours fee if you collect the car outside business hours. States that cap fees set the exact release amount in law.
How much do I have to pay if my car gets impounded?
You pay the tow or release fee (about $150 to $350), storage for each day the car is held (roughly $20 to $60 per day), and sometimes an admin or gate fee. A car left for two weeks can top $1,000, so retrieving it quickly saves the most. Your state may cap these amounts, so use the estimator above for your situation.
How to get out of paying impound fees?
There is usually no way to avoid legitimate fees entirely, but you can keep them as low as possible: get the car out quickly so storage stops adding up, ask for an itemized receipt, and dispute any charge above your state's legal maximum. If the tow itself was improper, such as missing signage or no required notice, you may be able to challenge the whole bill.
How can I get my car out of impound with no money?
If you cannot pay in full, ask the lot whether it offers a payment plan or takes a card, since policies vary by lot. Many states let you retrieve personal belongings, and sometimes the vehicle, before paying, though most require payment before release. Act fast, because storage grows every day, and if the fees are illegal or the tow was improper, disputing the bill can lower what you owe.
Can I get my impounded vehicle back?
In most cases yes. Once you show a valid photo ID and proof of ownership, pay the outstanding fees, and (at many lots) show proof of current insurance, the lot must release your vehicle. The main exceptions are a car held as evidence or under a court order. If your license is suspended, bring a licensed driver to drive it home.
Are impound storage fees capped?
It depends on the state. Some states set a statewide maximum daily storage rate; others leave it to local ordinance or the tow operator's filed rate. Check your state below for its specific limit, then compare it against what you were actually charged.
What if I think the impound fee is too high?
Get an itemized receipt, compare each line against your state's limits below, and dispute anything above them. A ready-to-send dispute letter that cites your state law makes this fast.

Where to go next

Estimate a tow costPrice a tow by distance, vehicle, and service before you call.Know your towing rightsSee the towing laws and fee limits for your state.Dispute an overchargeBuild a demand letter that cites your state's impound limits.The full get-out guideStep-by-step: what to bring, what it costs, and how to pay less.

Charged too much to release your car?

Build a ready-to-send dispute letter that cites your state's impound and storage limits.

Build my dispute letter

Browse Towing Costs

By State

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY

Popular Cities

New York City, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILHouston, TXPhoenix, AZPhiladelphia, PASan Antonio, TXSan Diego, CADallas, TXSan Jose, CA
Cost CalculatorAll StatesTowing GuideAbout UsMethodologySite Map