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The short answer: to find a towed car in Houston, call the tow line at 713-308-8580 or search FindMyTowedCar.com with your license plate or VIN. If your car breaks down on a Houston freeway and you’re with it, the city’s Tow and Go program will tow it to a safe location nearby at no cost. If you think a tow was wrong, you can request a tow hearing. Here are the details.
Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we don’t guarantee any towing company. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.
How to Find a Towed Car in Houston
- Search online or call. Houston Police Department’s Auto Dealers Detail says to call the tow line at 713-308-8580 or go to FindMyTowedCar.com. Have your VIN or license plate ready. The site also shows the storage lot location and pending storage fees.
- Not listed? If you can’t find the car, contact HPD. It may have been stolen, or towed by a different agency.
- Move fast. Storage charges add up every day. See our impound lot guide for what to bring.
What a Houston Police Tow Costs
HPD’s towed-vehicles FAQ lists a standard non-consent tow rate of $232 for the first 20 miles, plus $4.64 per mile after that. An older city “Motorist Bill of Rights” handout lists lower figures, so confirm the current rate on the city’s ARA non-consent tow rates page. Storage and other charges are separate. Texas regulates many storage-facility fees through TDLR, and our tow truck cost guide breaks those down.
Your rights at the scene
The city’s Motorist Bill of Rights says:
- You can choose to have the car towed to a location of your choice at the regulated rate. Tell the officer and ask for a copy of the police tow slip.
- You can choose a Police Private Storage Lot, where storage fees are regulated and posted. Other locations may charge fees that aren’t regulated.
- The tow operator must accept cash and at least two of the four major credit cards.
- Tow operators may not solicit business. If one tries, tell the officer at the scene.
Learn more in how to choose a tow company and avoid scams.
Broken Down on a Houston Freeway? Tow and Go
Tow and Go (formerly SafeClear) is a regional program for stalled vehicles on Houston freeways. According to the city and program materials:
- If your car breaks down from a mechanical problem, such as running out of gas, overheating, or a flat tire, in a freeway main lane, shoulder, ramp, or HOV/HOT lane in the service area, it will be towed at no cost to a safe location within one mile.
- If you have a working spare and a jack, the operator will change a flat tire for free once you’re off the freeway.
- If you want to go farther, such as home, the city’s non-consent tow rate applies.
- Abandoned vehicles, vehicles in crashes, and law-enforcement incidents don’t qualify for the free tow. Tollways and the Katy Freeway HOT lanes aren’t included.
- If you call your own tow truck, it must arrive before officers authorize Tow and Go, or meet you at the safe location.
Questions or complaints about Tow and Go go to HPD’s Auto Dealers Detail at 832-394-4869.
After a minor crash: Steer It, Clear It
If you’re in a freeway crash, no one appears hurt, and the cars can be driven safely, Texas law requires you to move them off the main lanes. Houston TranStar’s “Steer It, Clear It” page explains that you should move to a frontage road, cross street, or other safe place to exchange information. If someone is injured, call 911. If your car won’t run and you’re not hurt, Tow and Go materials say to stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled.
Requesting a Tow Hearing
If you believe your vehicle was towed without probable cause, you can request a hearing. HPD points to the Harris County Justice of the Peace courts’ tow hearing page (jp.hctx.net/tow) for the current form and instructions. Under Texas rules described by TDLR, you generally must file the hearing request before the 14th day after the car was placed in storage, not counting weekends and national holidays, with the justice court named in your notice. Rules change; verify with your local authority.
Complaints about a tow company or storage facility in Houston go to HPD’s Auto Dealers Detail at 832-394-4800 or hpd.AutoDealers@HoustonPolice.org. Statewide, you can also file a complaint with TDLR.
Flooded Streets and Towing
Houston streets and underpasses can flood fast. The National Weather Service says more deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard, and the CDC reports that more than half of flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The NWS message is simple: Turn Around, Don’t Drown. If your car stalls in water, get to safety first and call for help. If the car has been in flood water, have it towed rather than driven, and call your insurer.
Special Vehicles
EVs, AWD cars, and lowered or lifted vehicles often need a flatbed. Read our EV and hybrid towing guide, the hardest vehicles to tow, and costly towing mistakes. For an old car you plan to scrap, see selling a junk car without a title.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my towed car in Houston?
Call 713-308-8580 or search FindMyTowedCar.com with your plate or VIN.
Is Tow and Go really free?
Yes, for qualifying breakdowns where you’re with the vehicle. You get a tow to a safe spot within one mile. Going farther costs the regulated rate.
How much is a police tow in Houston?
HPD’s FAQ lists $232 for the first 20 miles and $4.64 per additional mile, plus storage. Confirm the current rate with the city.
How long do I have to request a tow hearing?
Under Texas rules, generally before the 14th day, not counting weekends and national holidays. Check your notice and the Harris County JP tow page.
Request a Tow Quote in Houston
TowCars.com doesn’t tow vehicles or run Tow and Go. For a private tow, send us a request, and we’ll pass it to independent towing providers serving Houston.
Sources
- Houston Police Department – Towed Vehicles FAQ
- FindMyTowedCar.com
- City of Houston – Motorist Bill of Rights and Tow and Go Guidelines (PDF)
- City of Houston – Tow and Go Program
- City of Houston ARA – Non-Consent Tow Rates
- Houston TranStar – Steer It, Clear It
- TDLR – Towing Consumer Information
- National Weather Service – Turn Around Don’t Drown
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