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. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.
Seattle’s hills, rain and busy bridges create their own towing challenges. This page shows where to start if your car was towed, what to know about Washington impound rules, and how to request a tow or roadside help.
If your car was towed in Seattle
Start with the official source: City of Seattle: Find a Towed Car. It is the place to confirm where a city or police tow was taken, current fees, hours and what to bring. For private-lot tows, the sign at the lot entrance usually names the tow company to call. Our impound lot guide and impound release cost estimator help you plan the pickup.
Public street vs. private property
The City of Seattle’s Find a Towed Car page tells drivers to first figure out whether the car was taken from a public street or from private property, then contact the right company. For police-authorized impounds from Seattle streets, the page names the city’s contracted tow company and links to its impound search. The same section of the city site also covers maximum towing fees and how to file towing complaints, for both police-authorized and private property impounds.
Washington payment rules
Washington state law on redeeming impounded vehicles, RCW 46.55.120, addresses how owners can pay to get a vehicle back. Our payment rules by state page summarizes it. Always confirm with the tow company that holds the car what it accepts.
Driving and breakdowns in Seattle
Seattle’s steep streets matter for towing. A car stalled on a hill may need careful winching, and a provider needs to know if the car is on a slope, in a tight garage or on a narrow residential street. Long bridges and floating bridges have limited shoulders, so if you break down on one, stay belted in with hazards on unless you are in danger, and call for help with your exact direction and location.
Rain is common much of the year, so worn tires and wipers are a frequent factor in breakdowns and minor crashes. In winter, hills can become icy quickly; if your car slid into a curb or ditch, mention it so the provider brings the right equipment. Many city streets have time-limited or zoned parking, so check posted signs carefully.
Seattle local rules at a glance
- For police-authorized impounds in 2026, Lincoln Towing charges $297 for a Class A (car or pickup) tow in the north zone and $263 in the south zone. The fee includes the dolly and the first half hour of winching.
- The first 12 hours of storage are free. After that, storage costs $22 per 12 hours in the north zone and $19 in the south zone.
- There is also a $35 City administrative fee, or $67 for scofflaw and suspended-license impounds.
Source: Max towing fees, police-authorized impounds (seattle.gov). Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Asking for a tow or roadside help in Seattle
If you are hiring a tow yourself, get the full price in writing before the truck is hooked up, and ask how you can pay. Our checklist for choosing a tow company and avoiding scams covers what to ask, and the tow cost calculator gives a ballpark range.
Seattle towing guides on TowCars.com
- My car was towed: what to do next
- Stuck on the highway: roadside checklist
- Tow bill checker
- Tow yard storage fee limits
- How to choose a tow company and avoid scams
Frequently asked questions
Use the City of Seattle’s Find a Towed Car page, which names the contracted tow company for police-authorized impounds and links to its search.
The City of Seattle’s towing pages link to maximum fees for private property and police-authorized impounds.
No. We pass your free quote request to independent providers who serve the area. They set their own prices and terms.
Need a tow or roadside help in Seattle? Tell us what happened and where, and we’ll pass your request to independent providers who serve the area.
