City of Chicago auto pound fees compared with the ICC maximums for private-lot relocation tows (light-duty vehicles).
The short answer: A City of Chicago tow costs $250 for a regular car plus $50 a day at the auto pound, with storage capped at $1,500. Any tickets in final determination are due too. A tow from a private lot is regulated by the state: at most $238.20 plus $45 a day, and nothing for storage if you get the car within 24 hours.
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Chicago has two separate towing systems. City departments send cars to City auto pounds at rates set in the Municipal Code. Private-lot tows, called “relocation” tows, are licensed by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), which sets its own maximum rates. Here’s what each one costs and how to get your car back.
Chicago tow fees: city pound vs private lot
| Place and rule | Amount |
|---|---|
| City tow, vehicle under 8,000 lbSet by the Municipal Code of Chicago. Source: Chicago Dept. of Finance | $250 |
| City tow, 8,000 lb or moreSource: Chicago Dept. of Finance | $350 |
| City pound storageStorage is capped at $1,500. Source: Chicago Dept. of Finance | $50 a day (under 8,000 lb) / $100 a day (8,000 lb or more) |
| City bootAll tickets in final determination are also due. Source: Chicago Dept. of Finance | $100 passenger vehicles / $400 truck tractors, semi-trailers and trailers |
| Private-lot relocation tow, light duty (max)Illinois Commerce Commission rate for Cook, Will, Kane, DuPage and Winnebago counties. Source: ICC rate sheet | $238.20 |
| Private-lot relocation tow, medium / heavy duty (max)Source: ICC rate sheet | $520 / $700 |
| Relocation storage (max)None if you claim the car within 24 hours, and none for days the lot is closed. Some towers charge less. Source: ICC rate sheet, ICC consumer guide | $45 a day light duty / $140 medium and heavy |
What a typical bill looks like
- City pound, one day of storage: $250 + $50 = $300, plus tickets in final determination.
- City pound, five days: $250 + $250 = $500.
- City pound, worst case: once storage reaches the $1,500 cap, the tow and storage total $1,750 for a regular car. Add a $100 boot if the car was booted before the tow.
- Private-lot relocation tow, claimed within 24 hours: no more than $238.20.
- Private-lot tow, claimed after three open days: up to $238.20 + 2 x $45 = $328.20. Days the lot is closed can’t be charged.
The city bill can grow much faster than the tow fee, because old tickets come due all at once. The Department of Finance says unpaid fees from earlier boots on vehicles registered to you are also due, along with boot tamper fees if they apply (Chicago Dept. of Finance). Our tow yard storage fees per day guide shows how Chicago compares.
How to get your car back from a City auto pound
- Find it. Use the City’s vehicle search. If the car was towed over tickets, call 312-744-PARK (7275), or 312-744-4444 any time, any day (Chicago Dept. of Finance).
- Bring proof of ownership. The Department of Streets and Sanitation says vehicles are released to people showing proof of ownership (Streets and Sanitation).
- Pay the right way. The pound accepts cash, credit or debit cards, or a USPS money order. It does not take personal checks. You can also pay at a Department of Finance payment center.
- Don’t wait. The pound keeps a car 21 days before it can be auctioned or destroyed. You can ask for one 15-day extension at 312-746-4954, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Was the car impounded over DUI, drugs, a gun or similar? That’s a separate process with an administrative penalty. You can pay the fine plus tow and storage at 400 West Superior to get the car released right away. Or you can ask for a preliminary hearing within 15 days of the seizure, or a full hearing in writing within 15 days of the notice (Vehicle Impoundment Fact Sheet).
Watch: How much does a tow truck cost? (2026)
Your rights after a private-lot tow in Chicago
In Cook, Will, Kane, DuPage and Winnebago counties, the ICC regulates tows from private property under 625 ILCS 5/18a and 92 Illinois Administrative Code Part 1710. These rules don’t cover cars on public streets, disabled vehicles, repossessions or police-directed tows (ICC consumer guide). Under these rules:
- Catch it in time. If you’re there before the car is towed and offer to move it, the company must let you move it right away. See our drop fee by state guide.
- Distance limits. The car can be towed no more than 10 air miles in incorporated areas, or 15 in unincorporated areas.
- Payment. Towers must accept cash, money orders, cashier’s or certified checks, and major credit cards, with no extra fee. More in our tow company credit card rules.
- ID. Bring identification, such as your driver’s license and the key. The tower may also ask for the title, registration or a rental contract.
- Invoice and complaint form. You must get a complete Relocation Towing Invoice. The complaint form is on the back of it.
- Signs. The lot must have signs at least 24 inches high and 36 inches wide. They must say unauthorized vehicles will be towed and list the company’s name, address and phone, where the car goes, the fees and the hours. The tower can’t charge more than the posted fee. Compare other states in tow-away sign requirements.
- Police notice. The tower must tell local police within one hour of the tow.
To complain, mail the form to the Illinois Commerce Commission, 9511 W. Harrison Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016, or call the ICC Police at (847) 294-4326 (ICC consumer guide). Keep your invoice and photos. Our tow bill checker and wrongful tow refund tool can help.
How to contest a City of Chicago tow
You’re entitled to a post-tow hearing on whether the tow was valid and on the towing and storage fees. Ask for it when you redeem the car, or visit the nearest auto pound within 15 days of release. You must attend in person. Hearings are held by the Department of Administrative Hearings at 400 West Superior. If United Road Towing damages a car while towing it or at a pound it manages, URT is responsible for paying the claim (Streets and Sanitation).
More help: price a tow you call yourself with the tow cost calculator and our tow truck cost guide, find a lot in the impound lot directory, read the impound lot guide, or see the most expensive places to get towed.
Stuck right now? Send a quick free quote request and we’ll connect you with an independent local tow provider. Ask for the full price before they dispatch.
Get a free quoteIndependent providers set their own prices. We don’t tow or store vehicles.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get a car out of a Chicago auto pound?
The Department of Finance lists a $250 tow for vehicles under 8,000 pounds and $50 a day of storage, with storage capped at $1,500. You also have to pay any parking, standing and compliance tickets in final determination on vehicles registered to you.
What can a private tow company charge in Chicago?
Tows from private lots in Cook County fall under the Illinois Commerce Commission. Its current maximums are $238.20 to tow a light-duty vehicle and $45 a day for storage. No storage is allowed if you claim the car within 24 hours, or for days the lot is closed.
How do I find my towed car in Chicago?
Use the City’s online vehicle search for city tows. For a car towed over tickets, call 312-744-PARK (7275), or 312-744-4444 at any hour. A private relocation tower must notify local police within one hour, so the police can also help.
How long before Chicago auctions a towed car?
The Department of Finance says the pound keeps a vehicle 21 days before it can be auctioned or destroyed. You can ask for one 15-day extension by calling 312-746-4954.
How do I contest a Chicago tow?
Request a post-tow hearing when you pick up the car, or at the nearest auto pound within 15 days of release. Hearings are held in person by the Department of Administrative Hearings at 400 West Superior.
Rates and rules change; confirm with the City of Chicago or the ICC before you pay. We checked these figures against the official sources below on October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- City of Chicago Dept. of Finance: Relocated and Towed Vehicle Information
- City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation: Overview of the towing process
- City of Chicago Administrative Hearings: Vehicle Impoundment Fact Sheet
- Illinois Commerce Commission: Relocation Towing Consumer Information Guide (PDF)
- Illinois Commerce Commission: Relocator post-application instructions, rates and order RTV-A-67 (PDF)
- Illinois Commerce Commission: Relocation Towing program
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