The short answer
There's no national price. Your bill is the tow, plus storage for every day the car sits at the lot, plus a few fees, and some states cap each one. Where a state sets limits, the tow itself tops out between $210 (Virginia) and $272 (Texas) for a car, and storage runs $22.85 to $48.19 a day.
Example: the most a Texas lot can charge for a car towed from a private lot and picked up after three days of storage is $413.40: a $272 tow, a $22.85 impound fee, $68.55 of storage and a $50 notification fee. Every extra day adds another $22.85.
What each state allows
These are the state limits we've checked for tows from private property, such as apartment complexes, stores and business lots. In some states cities and counties can set their own limits, and police-ordered tows can follow local contracts. Tap a state for its full guide.
| State | Most for the tow | Storage | If you catch the tow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $272 (private lot, up to 10,000 lb) | $22.85 a day (25 ft or shorter); only one day if it's there under 12 hours | Free if it isn't fully hooked up; $135 drop fee if it is |
| Virginia | $210, plus $30 for nights, weekends or holidays (two at most) | Free for the first 24 hours | $25 |
| Georgia | $228 (private lot, up to 10,000 lb) | Free for the first 24 hours, then $33 a day ($60 for an electric car) | $130 |
| Colorado | $250.91 plus $3.80 a mile and a fuel surcharge | $48.19 per 24 hours | $97.70 drop fee; none from residential lots |
| California | No more than the local police or CHP tow rate, whichever is higher | One day if you pick up within 24 hours | Half the regular tow charge |
| Florida | Set by cities and counties; posted at the lot | None if it's stored under 6 hours | Half the posted tow rate |
| New Jersey | Your town's ordinance fee schedule | Your town's ordinance fee schedule | Decoupling fee only |
- Washington: no statewide price list. A court won't cut fees that match the operator's posted or contracted rates, but if the impound was improper you owe nothing. Towed in Washington
- Oklahoma: the Oklahoma Corporation Commission sets the rates for police tows, and the wrecker service must have someone ready to release your car within 1 hour. Towed in Oklahoma
- Michigan: if you get there before the car is towed, it must be unhooked for a reasonable service fee. Towed in Michigan
- North Carolina: private-lot tows are mostly regulated by cities and counties. After a police tow, you can get a hearing before a magistrate within 72 hours. Towed in North Carolina
What's on the bill
- The tow: hooking up the car and hauling it to the lot. Some states add mileage or a night and weekend charge.
- Storage: charged per day, so this is the part that grows. In Texas, days run midnight to midnight.
- Fees: an impound fee, a fee for mailing you the required notice, and sometimes an after-hours release fee (up to $65 in Georgia, $106.06 in Colorado).
How to keep the bill down
- Go today. Virginia and Georgia charge nothing for the first 24 hours, California charges one day if you pick up within 24 hours, and Florida charges no storage under 6 hours. Texas charges no notification fee if you pick up within 24 hours or before the notice goes out.
- Catch the tow if you can. A car that hasn't left the lot costs far less to release: free in Texas if it isn't fully hooked up, $25 in Virginia, and half the tow charge in California and Florida.
- Check the posted rates. In Florida, a fee above the lot's posted rate sheet is considered unreasonable, and in Virginia charges above the posted fees can't be collected. In California, a company that overcharges can owe you four times the amount.
- Ask about cards first. Georgia tow companies can't add a card surcharge. Colorado companies can.
- Towed from your own apartment in Colorado? You can get the car back by paying 15% of the total, up to $60, and owe the rest later.
What to bring
- A photo ID.
- Proof you own the car or may use it, such as the title, the registration or an insurance card in your name.
- Payment. Some lots take only cash or certain cards, so call first.
- For a police impound, the release paperwork the agency asks for. In Oklahoma, for example, you need proof of insurance.
Don't wait too long
Unclaimed cars get sold or scrapped to cover the bill: as soon as 15 days after the notice in Washington, 30 days after the notice in Colorado, and 35 days after storage in Florida for a car more than 3 model years old. In Georgia, the abandoned vehicle process starts after 30 days.
Think the tow was wrong?
Most states give you a way to challenge it, but the deadlines are short: 14 days for a tow hearing in Texas, 10 days in Washington and for a police tow in Oklahoma. In several states, you owe no towing or storage fees if the tow is found improper.
Find the impound lot or tow company near you →
Common questions
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
It depends on the state and how long the car sits. Where states set limits, the tow itself tops out between $210 (Virginia) and $272 (Texas), and storage runs $22.85 to $48.19 a day. The most a Texas lot can charge for a car towed from a private lot and picked up after three days is $413.40.
How much is impound storage per day?
Up to $22.85 a day in Texas for a vehicle 25 feet or shorter, $33 a day in Georgia after the first free 24 hours, and $48.19 per 24 hours in Colorado. Virginia charges nothing for the first 24 hours, and Florida charges no storage for a car held under 6 hours.
How much can a tow company legally charge?
In the states that cap it, $210 in Virginia, $228 in Georgia, $250.91 plus mileage in Colorado and $272 in Texas for a car towed from private property. Florida and New Jersey leave private-lot tow rates to cities, counties and towns.
What happens if I don't pick up my impounded car?
Storage keeps adding up, and the lot can eventually sell or dispose of the car: as soon as 15 days after the notice in Washington, 30 days after the notice in Colorado, and 35 days after storage in Florida for a car more than 3 model years old.
Can I get my belongings out without paying?
In Texas, yes: you can get personal belongings and ownership papers out without paying. In Washington, belongings must be returned on request with ID, and in Colorado they're free for residential tows if you ask within 30 days of the notice.
Checked against official sources on October 29, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or business before you act.