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The short answer: Many places cap the tow yard after-hours gate fee. It’s $50 in Portland, $65 in Georgia, $75 in Utah, $100 in Seattle and $106.06 in Colorado. California allows a gate fee but limits the hourly after-hours charge to half the hourly tow rate. Texas has no after-hours fee on its list of allowed storage fees.
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If your car is towed late at night or on a weekend, the tow yard may charge you extra just to open the gate. These fees are legal in many places, but they’re often capped and come with rules about business hours. Here are the official after-hours and gate fee limits, with links to each source.
Tow yard after-hours and gate fee limits
| Place and rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| CaliforniaThe yard must be open during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except state holidays) and release cars after hours too. If it isn’t open during normal hours or doesn’t release the car within the first 24 hours, you owe only one day of storage until after the first business day. Source: Cal. Veh. Code §22658(i), (n) | Gate fee allowed; hourly after-hours charge max half the hourly tow rate |
| ColoradoApplies to release outside the carrier’s business hours, typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding legal holidays. Rates effective March 15, 2026. Source: Colorado PUC towing rates | $106.06 after-hours release fee |
| UtahFrom the 2026 state non-consent towing fee schedule. Source: UDOT 2026 fee schedule (PDF) | $75 maximum after-hours fee |
| GeorgiaCan be charged only if you pick up the car outside the posted business hours. No storage may be charged for days the lot is closed. Source: GA DPS Tariff No. 5 (PDF) | $65, only outside posted business hours |
| SeattleFor private property impounds in the city. Source: City of Seattle | $100 maximum after-hours fee |
| Portland, Ore.Only for access or release after 6 p.m. or before 8 a.m. on weekdays, on weekends, or on City holidays. No gate fee if the tower arrives more than 30 minutes after the agreed release time. Source: Portland TRN-17.03 | $50 after-hours release or gate fee |
| VirginiaAn extra fee of up to $30 per instance for a tow between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, but no more than two such fees. No storage charge for the first 24 hours. Local ordinances can set different limits. Source: Va. Code §46.2-1233.1 | $30 night, weekend or holiday tow fee, max two |
| TexasVehicle storage facilities may charge only the fees on the state’s list, and that list has no separate after-hours or gate fee. Source: TDLR storage facility fees, Occ. Code 2308.2065 | No after-hours fee on the allowed list |
| New JerseyAn after-hours or weekend release fee is allowed only as a flat fee. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31 (PDF) | Flat fee only |
| Illinois (ICC relocators)No storage for the first 24 hours or for days the lot is closed. Source: Illinois Commerce Commission towing guide (PDF) | No storage for days the lot is closed |
Is it cheaper to wait until morning?
Not always. Compare the gate fee with one more day of storage. For example, Colorado’s after-hours release fee is $106.06, while its storage limit for a light vehicle is $48.19 per 24 hours (Colorado PUC). Waiting one day costs less there if storage is your only added charge. In Portland, the gate fee is $50 and storage is $32 a day (TRN-17.03).
Ask the yard for its exact release hours, whether it charges a gate fee, and the total amount due, before you go.
How to check an after-hours charge
- Get an itemized receipt. The gate or after-hours fee should be a separate line.
- Check the time. Most caps only apply outside defined hours, such as Portland’s 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays or Colorado’s typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours.
- Look for double charges. Virginia allows no more than two night, weekend or holiday fees per tow.
- Note delays. In Portland, no gate fee is allowed if the tower is more than 30 minutes late for the agreed release time.
- Run the numbers through our free tow bill checker.
Next steps: the tow bill checker flags fees above the legal limit, and our impound lot directory helps you find where your car was taken and its hours.
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
What is a tow yard gate fee?
A gate fee, or after-hours release fee, is an extra charge for opening the yard to release your car outside regular business hours. Many states and cities cap it, for example $50 in Portland, $65 in Georgia, $75 in Utah, $100 in Seattle and $106.06 in Colorado.
Can a tow yard charge a gate fee in Texas?
The state’s list of fees a vehicle storage facility may charge doesn’t include a separate after-hours or gate fee, and facilities can’t charge fees that aren’t on the list. If you were billed one, compare your receipt with the TDLR fee list and consider filing a complaint.
Can I avoid the after-hours fee?
Often yes, by picking up during business hours. But compare that with another day of storage. In California, if the yard isn’t open during normal business hours or doesn’t release the car within the first 24 hours, you owe only one day of storage until after the first business day.
Can a tow yard refuse to release my car at night?
In California, the yard must release vehicles after normal business hours, though it may charge a capped gate fee. Rules in other states vary, so call ahead and ask for the release hours and total price.
Can they charge storage for days the yard was closed?
Not in some places. Georgia bars storage charges for days the lot is closed, and the Illinois Commerce Commission guide says no storage is charged for days the lot is closed. Virginia allows localities to adopt the same rule.
Rules change; verify with your local authority. Cities and counties can set their own limits. All details were checked against the official sources below in October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- California Vehicle Code §22658
- Colorado PUC: Towing rates
- UDOT 2026 non-consent towing fee schedule (PDF)
- Georgia DPS: Non-consensual towing tariff No. 5 (PDF)
- City of Seattle: Maximum towing fees for private property impounds
- City of Portland: TRN-17.03 private property impound fees
- Virginia Code §46.2-1233.1
- TDLR: Vehicle storage facility fees
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308
- N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31 (PDF)
- Illinois Commerce Commission towing guide (PDF)
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