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The short answer: It depends on the city and state. For a standard car towed from private property, the official daily storage caps we found run from $15 a day in New York City and $22.85 in Texas to $48.19 in Colorado and $85.96 per 24 hours in Seattle. City impound lots range from up to $15 a day in Boston to $130 a day in San Jose. Many places also give you a free first few hours or a free first day.
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Storage is the part of a tow bill that grows while you wait. The tow fee is charged once, but storage is charged per day or per 12 or 24 hours. Below are the official limits, then the grace-period rules that can save you a day’s fee.
Private-property tows: daily caps
These limits apply when a car is towed from a store, apartment or office lot at the owner’s request (a “non-consent” or “private property” tow).
| Place and rule | Max storage |
|---|---|
| New York CityThe $125 tow includes the first 3 days of storage; $15/day after that. Source: NYC DCWP | $15/day |
| OhioLight vehicles ($38 and $82 for heavier classes). Source: OAC 4901:2-24-03 | $22/day |
| TexasCars 25 ft or shorter ($39.99 if longer). Leave within 12 hours and only one day can be charged. Source: TDLR | $22.85/day |
| Miami-Dade County, FLOutdoor, 20 ft or less. Charged only after the first 6 hours. Source: Miami-Dade (PDF) | $27.60/day |
| Portland, ORAfter a 4-hour grace period ($41 over 20 ft). Source: Portland TRN-17.03 | $32/24 h |
| GeorgiaFirst 24 hours free, no charge for days the lot is closed. EVs up to $60. Source: GA DPS Tariff No. 5 (PDF) | $33/day |
| MassachusettsNon-commercial vehicles. Source: Mass. DPU | $35/24 h |
| UtahOutside storage, light vehicle ($47 inside). Source: UDOT 2026 (PDF) | $42/day |
| Chicago area (ICC)Light duty. No storage for the first 24 hours or days the lot is closed. Source: ICC guide (PDF) | $45/day |
| ColoradoUnder 10,000 lb. Can’t accrue past 24 hours until the required notice is sent. Source: Colorado PUC | $48.19/24 h |
| Seattle, WABilled as $42.98 per 12 hours. Source: Seattle.gov | $85.96/24 h |
| VirginiaNo storage charge at all for the first 24 hours. Source: Va. Code §46.2-1233.1 | No fixed cap |
| CaliforniaCan’t exceed the greater of the local police tow rate or the company’s CHP rate. Released within 24 hours = one day only. Source: Cal. Veh. Code §22658(i) | Local rate |
Ordered from lowest to highest daily cap.
City impound lots: daily rates
If police or the city towed your car (for example, for a parking violation), the city’s own impound rates apply instead. These are the published daily storage rates for a standard car from the same official sources we used in our 2026 report on the most expensive places to get towed.
| Place and rule | Storage |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CASource: San Jose Police | $130/day |
| San Francisco, CAFirst 4 hours free. Source: SFMTA | $69 first day, then $82/day |
| Los Angeles, CALAPD Official Police Garage rate, standard vehicle ($66 if not paying by card). Source: LAPD Police Commission (PDF) | $68/day |
| Chicago, ILCapped at $1,500 total. Source: City of Chicago | $50/day |
| Nashville, TNSource: Nashville.gov | $40/day |
| Miami-Dade County, FLAfter the first 6 hours. Source: Miami-Dade (PDF) | $32.07 per 24 h |
| Philadelphia, PASource: Philadelphia Parking Authority | $25 + 22.5% tax per 24 h |
| Seattle, WA (north zone)No storage for the first 12 hours. Source: Seattle.gov | $22 per 12 h |
| New York City (NYPD)No storage charge if you redeem the car the same day. Source: NYPD | $20/night |
| Denver, COSource: Denver | $20/day |
| Washington, DCStarts only after the first 24 hours. Source: DC DMV | $20/day |
| Boston, MASource: Boston.gov | Up to $15/day |
Grace periods that save you money
- California: released within 24 hours = one day of storage, regardless of the calendar date. If the lot isn’t open during normal business hours when you come with the fees, only one day’s storage may be charged until after the first business day (§22658(i)).
- Texas: a car that leaves within 12 hours is charged only one day, even across two calendar days (TDLR).
- Florida: no storage fee if the car is stored less than 6 hours. Miami-Dade charges in 24-hour increments only after the first 6 hours (Miami-Dade).
- Georgia, Virginia, Chicago-area relocation tows: no storage for the first 24 hours. Georgia and the ICC also bar charges for days the lot is closed.
- Portland: 4-hour grace period. San Francisco: first 4 hours free. Seattle police impounds: first 12 hours free.
How to keep storage low
- Find the lot fast. Every day adds a new charge. Our impound lot directory helps you find the official impound lot in major cities.
- Call before you go. Ask the total so far, the hours, and what documents you need. A second trip can cost another day.
- Know the after-hours fee. Picking up at night can add a gate fee: up to half the hourly tow rate in California, $75 in Utah, $65 in Georgia, $50 in Portland, $100 for Seattle private impounds and $106.06 in Colorado. Texas doesn’t list a separate after-hours fee among allowed storage-lot charges.
- Bring accepted payment. California lots must take cash or a valid bank credit card (§22658(k)). Texas lots must take cash, debit and credit cards (TDLR). See which tow companies have to take credit cards.
- Get an itemized bill. Count the days and check the daily rate against the tables above. If you picked up at night, compare any gate charge with the after-hours gate fee limits by state.
Check your bill in 1 minute: the free tow bill checker flags storage, notice and after-hours fees above the official cap. Planning a tow instead? Get a fair price range from the tow cost calculator. Think the tow itself was illegal? See how to get your money back.
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.
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FAQ
How much do tow yards charge for storage per day?
It depends on where you were towed. For private-property tows of a standard car, the official caps we found range from $15 a day in New York City (after 3 included days) and $22.85 a day in Texas to $48.19 per 24 hours in Colorado and $85.96 per 24 hours in Seattle. City impound lots charge from about $15 a day in Boston to $130 a day in San Jose.
Can a tow yard charge storage for the first day?
Some places give a free window. Georgia, Virginia and Illinois relocation tows charge no storage for the first 24 hours, Florida bans storage fees if the car is held less than 6 hours, Portland has a 4-hour grace period, and San Francisco’s first 4 hours are free.
If I pick my car up the next morning, do I pay for two days?
Often only one. In California, a car released within 24 hours can be charged only one day of storage regardless of the calendar date. In Texas, a car that leaves within 12 hours can be charged only one day even across two calendar days.
Is there a limit on total storage fees?
Chicago caps city impound storage at $1,500 in total. Most other places cap the daily rate rather than the total, which is why storage keeps adding up until you pick the car up.
How can I check if my storage charge is legal?
Enter the number of days and the daily rate from your bill into our free tow bill checker. It compares each fee with the official cap for 18 states and cities.
Rules change; verify with your local authority. All details were checked against the official sources below in October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- California Vehicle Code §22658
- Texas TDLR: VSF fees and other charges
- Texas TDLR: towing consumer information
- Florida Statutes §715.07
- Miami-Dade County maximum towing rates, eff. Oct. 1, 2026 (PDF)
- NYC DCWP: Towing
- Illinois Commerce Commission: Relocation towing guide (PDF)
- Colorado PUC: Towing rates
- Mass. DPU: Involuntary/trespass towing rates
- Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-24-03
- UDOT 2026 non-consent towing fee schedule (PDF)
- Georgia DPS: Non-consensual towing tariff No. 5 (PDF)
- Code of Virginia §46.2-1233.1
- Seattle: Max towing fees, private property impounds
- Seattle: Max towing fees, police-authorized impounds
- Portland TRN-17.03: Private property impound fees
- SFMTA: Towed vehicles
- San Jose Police: Public safety fees
- LAPD Board of Police Commissioners: OPG rates 2026 (PDF)
- City of Chicago: Relocated / towed vehicle information
- Nashville.gov: Police vehicle impound
- Philadelphia Parking Authority: Booted and towed vehicles
- NYPD: Towed vehicles
- Denver: Vehicle impound
- DC DMV: Booted/towed vehicle fees
- Boston.gov: How to get your towed car back
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