The short answer: Getting a car out of impound usually costs a tow fee, a daily storage fee and sometimes a city administrative fee. You may also have to pay any unpaid tickets first. Official city tow fees we checked run from $90 in Boston to $317 plus a $385 admin fee in San Francisco. The fastest way to pay less is to pick the car up quickly, because storage adds up every day.
TowCars.com is a towing information and referral service. We don’t tow or store vehicles. This is general information, not legal advice. See our disclosure.
By TowCars Editorial Team · Checked October 31, 2026
What you pay at an impound lot
- Tow fee: a flat fee for the tow, often set by the city or by a city contract.
- Storage: charged per day or per 12 or 24 hours. Some cities give a free first window, such as 4 hours in San Francisco or 12 hours in Seattle.
- Administrative fee: some cities charge their own release fee, such as $150 in Phoenix, $35 in Seattle, and $385 in San Francisco ($335 for a first tow).
- Tickets and boot fees: in some places, such as Washington, DC, outstanding tickets must be paid before release.
Every figure here comes from an official city page. See the full tow and impound fees by city table, with sources and a CSV download.
How storage adds up
Storage is often the part that grows. Chicago charges $50 a day for vehicles under 8,000 pounds (chicago.gov). Denver’s city lot charges $20 a day for vehicles under 6,000 pounds (denvergov.org). A week in Chicago adds $350 on top of the tow. Our impound release cost estimator totals it for your dates.
7 ways to lower impound fees
- Go as soon as you can. Check the lot’s hours before you go. Arriving after hours can cost extra: Phoenix warns of an after-hours gate fee at its tow yards.
- Bring everything the first time. Usually that’s ID, proof of ownership, and in some places current registration and insurance. Read the release requirements on your city’s page (see our city pages), so a second trip doesn’t cost another day.
- Ask about low-income or first-tow discounts. San Francisco lists a $0 admin fee and a $111 tow fee for qualifying low-income owners, and a lower admin fee for a first tow. See our San Francisco page.
- If the car was stolen, say so. Denver waives tow and storage fees for confirmed victims of recovered stolen vehicles.
- Challenge an invalid tow. Some cities refund the fees if a hearing finds the tow was invalid. See how to get towing fees refunded.
- Check the bill against the legal maximum. Compare each line with the official fees table and the tow bill checker.
- Ask how you can pay. Some lots don’t take checks, and some add a card fee: Boston adds 2.5%. See credit card rules for tow yards.
If you need a tow, not an impound release
Hiring a tow yourself is a different price: you agree it with the company. Get a ballpark range from the tow cost calculator and always ask for the total before the truck is hooked up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
It depends on the city. Official tow fees we checked range from $90 in Boston to $317 plus a $385 admin fee in San Francisco, plus daily storage. See our fees by city table for sources.
Can impound fees be waived?
Sometimes. San Francisco offers reduced fees for qualifying low-income owners, Denver waives fees for confirmed stolen-vehicle victims, and some cities refund fees if a hearing finds a tow invalid.
Why does storage cost so much?
Storage is charged per day or per period for as long as the car stays at the lot, so a few extra days can add more than the tow itself.
Need a tow instead? Request a free quote and we’ll pass it to independent providers in your area.
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