Starting fees for the main kinds of NYC tows, before storage, tickets and judgment debt.
The short answer: If the NYPD tows your car for illegal parking, the tow is $185 plus $20 a night of storage. A tow from a private parking lot is capped at $125, which includes three days of storage. The most expensive case is a City Marshal or Sheriff tow for unpaid tickets: $356 in boot, execution and tow fees for the smallest vehicle, plus the more than $350 judgment that triggered it.
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New York City has more than one towing system, and each sets its own price. Before you can work out what you owe, you need to know who took the car. Here is every published NYC rate in one place, with the official source for each line.
NYC tow fees by who towed you
| Place and rule | Amount |
|---|---|
| NYPD tow, regular vehicleFor illegal parking. Paid at the NYPD tow pound in the Bronx, Brooklyn or Queens. Source: NYPD | $185 |
| NYPD tow, heavy-dutySource: NYPD | $370 |
| NYPD storageCharged each night the car stays if you don’t pick it up the same day. Source: NYPD | $20 per night |
| Marshal or Sheriff bootFor more than $350 in parking or camera judgments. Source: NYC Finance | $136 |
| Marshal or Sheriff execution feeSource: NYC Finance | $80 |
| Marshal or Sheriff towPlus a dispatch fee, if it applies, of $70, $90 or $750, and your judgment debt. Source: NYC Finance | $140, $180 or $1,500 by vehicle size |
| Private parking lot tow (cap)Then up to $15 a day from day 4. Source: DCWP | $125 including 3 days of storage |
| Drop fee, private lot (cap)For unhooking a car that is about to be towed. Source: DCWP | $62.50 |
| Blocking a driveway (cap)Then $15 a day from day 4. Source: DCWP | $125 plus tax, including 3 days |
| Accident tow under DARP (cap)Storage $25 a day for days 1 to 3, then $27 a day. Source: DCWP | $125 (10,000 lb or less) / $140 |
| Highway tow (cap)Storage $15 a day for days 1 to 3, then $17. Tow day counts as day 1. Source: NYC311 | $70 first mile, $4 each additional mile |
“Cap” means the maximum a DCWP-licensed company may charge for that kind of tow. If your car broke down off a highway and you called a company yourself, DCWP says businesses can set their own rates, so ask for the price before they hook up.
Step 1: Figure out who towed your car
NYC Finance splits it this way (NYC Finance):
- NYPD tows cars that were parked illegally or didn’t have valid registration or insurance.
- A City Marshal or the Sheriff tows cars with more than $350 in parking or camera tickets in judgment. Usually the car is booted first. NYC Finance says a booted car may be towed if the judgment isn’t paid within 48 hours, and sometimes right away (NYC Finance booting page).
- A private company tows from parking lots, private property and blocked driveways. These companies must be licensed by DCWP (DCWP).
For any city tow, use the Find Towed Vehicle tool or call 311. For private property, look for the posted sign with the tow company’s name and number. If there isn’t one, call the local precinct.
What a typical bill looks like
- NYPD tow, picked up the same day: $185.
- NYPD tow, picked up after three nights: $185 + 3 x $20 = $245. The parking ticket that caused the tow is separate. You can’t pay it at the pound, and NYC Finance says to pay or dispute it within 30 days.
- Private lot tow, picked up on day five: $125 + 2 x $15 (days 4 and 5) = $155 at most.
- Marshal tow of a regular car: $136 + $80 + $140 = $356 in fees, plus any dispatch fee, plus a judgment of more than $350. That means more than $700 in total before poundage.
Compared with other big cities, NYC’s capped private-lot rate is low. Our most expensive places to get towed report and storage fees per day guide show how other places compare.
How to get your car back from an NYPD tow pound
- Bring three documents: current registration, a valid driver’s license and the current insurance card (NYPD).
- Be the right person. Only the registered owner, their spouse or an authorized representative can pick up the car. A representative needs written authorization with the owner’s notarized signature.
- Clear judgments first. A car won’t be released if there are parking judgments against it. NYC Finance says you must pay the judgment if you owe $101 or more (NYC Finance).
- Pay. NYPD tow pounds accept cash, certified checks payable to the NYPD, ATM debit cards, money orders or traveler’s checks, and Discover, American Express, MasterCard and Visa. Cards must be in the name of the person picking up the car.
If the NYPD towed you for DMV offenses, such as no valid registration or insurance, the process is different. You go to a Finance business center with your license and the original title, settle all DMV offenses and judgments there, and they tell you where to get the car. Can’t get it out yet? See how to get your things out of a towed car.
Watch: How much does a tow truck cost? (2026)
If a City Marshal or the Sheriff towed you
Call (646) 517-1000 or go to a Finance business center to pay. If you pay in person, ask for a Vehicle Release Form; phone payments don’t need one. If the car is financed or leased, bring a notarized authorization and a certified copy of the title (NYC Finance).
Move fast. NYC Finance says a car not picked up within 72 hours may be auctioned as soon as 10 days after the tow. You can also cancel a Marshal or Sheriff tow that’s in progress if you pay the judgment, poundage, execution and dispatch fees on the Republic Immobilization Services portal before the tow is finished.
Your rights with private tow and boot companies
DCWP licenses the companies that tow from private lots and driveways, and it publishes these rules (DCWP):
- Licensed trucks. Look for the company’s name, address, phone number and metal DCWP license medallion on the driver’s side. If they’re missing, the truck is unlicensed or breaking the rules. Check a license through DCWP or 311.
- Credit cards. Licensed tow companies must accept a credit card, and 311 says they must accept at least two major cards (NYC311). See tow company credit card rules.
- Accident tows. After a crash on an NYC street or highway, you must use the DCWP-licensed company authorized by police. It must take the car anywhere you choose in the city. You should get an Authorization to Tow form, a receipt and the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing. You never have to sign an Authorization to Repair form.
- Private boots. A boot on a private lot must come off within 30 minutes of payment. The company must take credit cards and can charge no more than $25.
The $125 and $15 private-property limits come from the City’s administrative code. A 2011 local law raised them from $100 and $10 (Local Law 41 of 2011). If you were overcharged or told “cash only,” file a complaint with DCWP online or through 311 and keep every receipt. Our tow bill checker and wrongful tow refund tool can help you put the complaint together. For how signs work in other states, see tow-away sign requirements by state.
More help: estimate a tow you call yourself with the tow cost calculator and our tow truck cost guide, find a lot with the impound lot directory, read the full impound lot guide, or learn the drop fee rules by state.
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 an NYPD tow pound?
The NYPD lists a $185 tow fee for a regular vehicle and $20 for each night it is stored. A car picked up the same day costs $185, and one picked up after three nights costs $245. If the car has $101 or more in parking judgment debt, you also have to pay that before it is released.
How do I find out who towed my car in NYC?
Use the City’s Find Towed Vehicle tool or call 311. If the car was on private property, look for the posted sign naming the tow company. If there is no sign, call the local police precinct.
What is the most a private tow company can charge in NYC?
For a tow from a private parking lot, DCWP caps the charge at $125 for the tow plus the first three days of storage, then $15 a day. If you catch them before the tow, the drop fee is capped at $62.50.
Can I stop an NYPD tow in progress?
Yes. NYC Finance says if you catch your car being towed, you can sign a Field Release Agreement and agree to pay the penalties and fees within 30 days.
Will NYC auction my car?
For Sheriff and City Marshal tows, NYC Finance says a vehicle not retrieved within 72 hours may be auctioned as soon as 10 days after the tow.
Rates and rules change; confirm with the towing agency or 311 before you pay. We checked every figure against the official pages below on October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- NYPD: Towed Vehicles (fees, documents, payment)
- NYC Department of Finance: Towed vehicles in New York City
- NYC Department of Finance: Booting and towing
- NYC DCWP: Towing Services Guide
- NYC DCWP: Towing Services Guide (PDF, updated 10/2023)
- NYC311: Tow Truck Complaint (DARP, ROTOW, private and highway rates)
- NYC Local Law 41 of 2011 (private-property towing charges)
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