Came back and your car was gone? Use this directory to find the official way to locate a towed car in the 25 largest U.S. cities. For each city it shows the government’s towed-car lookup, the impound or contract lots (address, hours and phone), and the published fees. Everything was taken from official city, police or state pages, and each entry links to its source.
Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we aren’t responsible for the work, prices, or conduct of any towing company or impound lot. This directory is information only, not legal advice. See our disclosure.
Find where your towed car is
Search your city to get the official towed-car lookup, the impound lot address, hours and phone, and the published fees. Every entry links to the government page we checked it on.
Pins show lots with a published street address. Cities whose official sources publish no lot address have no pin.
Need a tow, not a tow lot?
If you need a tow now or want quotes from independent towing providers near you, send TowCars.com a request.
Request a tow quoteInformation only, not legal advice. Official details checked ; agencies change lots, hours and fees, so call before you go. TowCars.com doesn’t tow, store or release vehicles and isn’t affiliated with any city or impound operator. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How to find a towed car, step by step
- Check the signs first. Look at the curb and the lot entrance for tow-away or temporary no-parking signs. A posted sign often names the towing company and gives its phone number.
- Search the official lookup. Most big cities have an online search by plate or VIN. Records can take a few hours to appear; San Diego says its impound process takes at least three hours.
- Call if the search comes up empty. Use the city’s tow line or the police non-emergency number. Ask who towed the car, why, where it’s stored and what you’ll owe.
- Gather documents and payment. Bring photo ID, proof of ownership and an accepted payment method. Ask whether you also need proof of insurance, a police release or paid-up tickets.
- Go quickly and check the bill. Storage is usually charged per day. Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it with the city’s published fees.
Police tows vs. private-property tows
A police or city tow follows a parking violation, unpaid tickets, an accident, an arrest or an expired registration. These cars go to the city’s impound lot or to a contracted tow company. A private-property tow happens when a property owner has the car removed from a lot or driveway. Those cars usually go to the tow company’s own yard, not the city lot. If you’re unsure which kind of tow you’ve had, start with the city lookup, which often lists both.
What this directory covers
| Rank | City (main source) | Online lookup | Lots with address | Fee info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | Yes | 3 listed | Yes |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | Yes | 16 listed | Yes |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | Yes | 4 listed | Yes |
| 4 | Houston, TX | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | Yes |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | Yes | 5 listed | Yes |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | Yes | 2 listed | Yes |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | Yes | 1 listed | No |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | No |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | Yes | 3 listed | No |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | Yes |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | Phone only | No single lot (tow company yards) | No |
| 12 | Austin, TX | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | No |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | Yes |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | No |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | Yes | 1 listed | Yes |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | Yes | 1 listed | No |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | Yes | 1 listed | Yes |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | Yes |
| 19 | Denver, CO | Yes | 1 listed | Yes |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | Yes | 1 listed | Yes |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | Yes |
| 22 | Washington, DC | Phone only | 2 listed | Yes |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | Yes | 1 listed | No |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | Yes | No single lot (tow company yards) | No |
| 25 | Boston, MA | Yes | 1 listed | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if my car was towed or stolen?
Look for tow-away signs where you parked. Private lots usually post the towing company’s name and phone number at the entrance. Next, search the city’s official towed-vehicle lookup or call the number listed above for your city. Have your plate number, and ideally your VIN, ready. If no tow record turns up, call the police non-emergency line, and report the car stolen if they confirm it wasn’t towed.
Why don’t some cities list an impound lot?
In many cities, towed cars are held by contracted or licensed private tow companies rather than at one city-run lot. Oklahoma sends you to the wrecker service that has the car, Fort Worth works with local impound providers through AutoReturn, and in San Jose the tow company holds the car. When the official sources don’t publish a lot address, we leave it out. The city’s lookup or phone line will tell you which yard has your car.
What do I need to get my car out of impound?
Usually a photo ID, proof that you own the car (registration or title) and payment for the tow and storage. Some cities ask for more. Dallas requires proof of insurance before you drive out of the Auto Pound. San Jose often requires a police vehicle release before the tow company will hand over the car. In Washington, DC you must pay all outstanding tickets first. Check your city’s entry and call ahead.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
It depends on the city and how long the car sits. A few published examples: New York charges $185 for a regular NYPD tow plus $20 for each night the car is held. Boston‘s city lot charges a $90 tow plus $3 an hour in storage, up to $15 a day. Denver charges $120 to tow a vehicle under 6,000 lb and $20 a day for storage. Each city entry above links to its official fee page where one exists. You can also check a bill with our tow bill checker.
What happens if I leave my car at the impound lot?
Storage keeps adding up, and an unclaimed car can eventually be sold. San Antonio says unclaimed vehicles can go to public auction 30 days after the owner is notified, and Washington, DC auctions or scraps them 28 days after notice. Get the car out as soon as you can, even if you plan to dispute the tow.
My car was towed from a private parking lot. Where is it?
Private-property tows usually aren’t held at the city impound lot. Call the towing company named on the sign at the lot entrance. Austin, Seattle and Las Vegas all tell drivers to start there. If there’s no sign, use the city’s lookup (Las Vegas, for example, says private tows in its jurisdiction show up on AutoReturn) or call the police non-emergency line.
Is the information on this page official?
Every phone number, address, hour and fee comes from a city, police or state government web page, which we link in each entry. We checked all of them on October 26, 2026. Agencies change contractors, hours and fees, so call before you go. TowCars.com isn’t affiliated with any impound lot, and this page is information only, not legal advice.
Need a tow you can trust?
If you need a tow now, or want prices from independent towing providers in your area before you book, send us a request.
TowCars.com doesn’t tow, store or release vehicles and isn’t affiliated with any city, police department or impound operator. This page is information only, not legal advice. Lots, hours and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you go.
