Towing and storage fees: what they can charge

Towing and storage fees are not one nationwide price. What a tow yard can charge depends on where the tow happened, why the vehicle was towed, and whether state or local law uses a hard cap, a filed rate, or a reasonableness standard. Before you pay, compare the bill line by line with the official rules for that city and state. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Why the price depends on where and why you were towed

The first big thing to know is that there is no single U.S. towing price. Texas sets statewide maximum private-property tow fees, California says many towing and storage charges must be reasonable, and Washington requires tow operators to file fee schedules with the state and not charge more than those filed amounts. That means the same kind of tow can cost different amounts in different places. (tdlr.texas.gov)

The rules can also change based on the type of tow. A private-property tow, a police-ordered impound, and a tow after a crash may not follow the same pricing rule. In Texas, for example, private-property tow caps are statewide unless a city or county sets a lower fee. In Washington, certain private-impound limits are tied to Washington State Patrol contract rates. In California, one key question is whether the rate is comparable to similar local services or to public-agency towing rates. (tdlr.texas.gov)

That is why it helps to use search your city, county or ZIP and then check our state-by-state pages before assuming the bill is right. This guide is general information, not legal advice. If the amount matters, confirm the current rule with the tow yard’s regulator, the local police agency, or the court clerk that handles tow hearings. (tdlr.texas.gov)

What can usually appear on a tow bill

Most tow bills are built from a few common parts: the tow charge itself, daily storage, and sometimes extra line items that state law specifically allows. Texas is a clear example. There, a vehicle storage facility may collect only fees directly related to the tow, and the allowed add-ons are limited to items such as a daily storage fee, a one-time notification fee, an impoundment fee, and in some places a governmental or law-enforcement fee. (tdlr.texas.gov)

For a Texas private-property tow, the statewide maximum tow fee is $272 for a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less, $380 for 10,001 to 24,999 pounds, and $489 per unit for 25,000 pounds or more, with a maximum total of $978. Texas also allows a one-time $50 notification fee and an impoundment fee of up to $22.85 if the legal requirements for that fee are met. (tdlr.texas.gov)

California does not use the same kind of single statewide cap for all situations on the sources reviewed here. Instead, the California Bureau of Automotive Repair says a storage rate is reasonable if it is comparable to storage-related rates charged by other automotive repair businesses in the same geographic or demographic area. If a repair dealer both tows and stores a vehicle, the towing and storage charges are considered reasonable if they do not exceed rates charged for similar services provided in response to requests from a public agency such as the California Highway Patrol or local police. (bar.ca.gov)

California also flags some add-ons as presumptively unreasonable as of January 1, 2026. These include gate fees except when the owner or insurer asks for release outside regular business hours, additional towing fees that exceed 10% of the normal towing rate because the call came after normal business hours, storage fees for state holidays that exceed the posted daily storage rate, and storage fees above 50% of the daily storage rate when the vehicle is recovered within the first four hours of storage. (bar.ca.gov)

Washington takes a different approach. A registered tow truck operator must file a fee schedule with the state, no fee may exceed the filed fee, and billing invoices given to the person redeeming the vehicle must be itemized so the individual fees are clearly visible. For certain private impounds, the maximum towing hourly rate and maximum daily storage rate on the filed schedule cannot exceed 135% of the Washington State Patrol contract maximum, and the after-hours release fee cannot exceed 100% of the patrol maximum. (app.leg.wa.gov)

How storage time is counted

Storage is often the part of the bill that grows fastest, so the clock matters. In Texas, a storage facility may charge for any part of the day the vehicle is on the lot, but not more than one day if the car stayed less than 12 hours even if that stay crossed two calendar days. Texas’s current maximum daily storage fee is $22.85 for vehicles 25 feet long or less and $39.99 for vehicles over 25 feet. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Texas also limits how much storage can be billed if required notices are not sent on time. If the vehicle is registered in Texas and the first notice is not sent to the owner and primary lienholder, the facility may charge only 5 days of storage. If the vehicle is registered outside Texas, the facility must send a written request for motor vehicle record information within 5 days of accepting the vehicle or it may charge only 5 days of storage. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Washington spells out its math in more detail. Tow truck service must be calculated on an hourly basis, and after the first hour it must be charged to the nearest quarter hour. Storage fees must be calculated on a 24-hour basis and charged to the nearest half day from the time the operator unloads the vehicle and completes the paperwork at the secure storage area. Washington also says the unloading, paperwork, and prep time after the truck returns to the storage area may be billed in 15-minute increments, but not for more than 60 minutes total. (app.leg.wa.gov)

California’s January 1, 2026 rules add another consumer check: if a vehicle is recovered within the first four hours of storage, storage fees above 50% of the daily storage rate are presumptively unreasonable. That does not mean every lower fee is automatically correct, but it gives drivers a useful benchmark when they review a short-stay bill. (bar.ca.gov)

Fees and add-ons that may be limited or not allowed

A tow yard cannot just make up extra charges because the situation is stressful. Texas says a vehicle storage facility may not charge additional fees other than the permissible towing fees and allowed storage-facility charges. Texas specifically says no environmental fees, no notary fees, and no fees to access personal property stored in the vehicle. Texas also says you may access the vehicle to get ownership documents and recover personal property without paying a fee for that access. (tdlr.texas.gov)

In California, timing matters on private property that is open to the public for free parking. The property owner or agent generally may not tow the vehicle within one hour of the vehicle being parked. There are exceptions for a vehicle parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, in a fire lane, in a way that interferes with an entrance or exit, or in a space legally designated for disabled persons. If the one-hour rule is violated, the violator is civilly liable for two times the towing and storage charges. (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)

Washington adds another useful protection for bill review: no fee may exceed the filed fee schedule, and the invoice must be itemized. So even when a charge itself is allowed, you should still ask whether that exact amount matches the operator’s filed or contracted rate. (app.leg.wa.gov)

If your tow started on an apartment lot, shopping center lot, hotel lot, or other private property, it is smart to read the local private-property rules too. Our guide to Private-property towing: your rights can help you spot issues with signage, timing, and authorization. (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)

A quick bill-check list before you pay

Use this short list at the lot or on the phone:

1. Ask where the vehicle was towed from and who authorized it. In Texas, the tow paperwork must identify the person, property owner, or law-enforcement agency that authorized the tow, and the tow ticket must be given to the owner if the owner or operator is present and available at the time of the tow. (tdlr.texas.gov)
2. Ask for an itemized tow ticket or invoice. Texas says the tow ticket must itemize each charge, and Washington says billing invoices must be itemized so the individual fees are clearly discernible. (tdlr.texas.gov)
3. Compare each line to the rule that applies. Check the tow class or vehicle weight, the storage start time, and whether any notice deadlines affect storage charges. In Texas, missing notice steps can limit storage to 5 days. (tdlr.texas.gov)
4. Ask which payment methods must be accepted. Texas vehicle storage facilities must accept cash, debit card, and credit card. Washington says commercially reasonable tender includes cash, major bank credit cards, or a personal check drawn on a Washington branch if it is supported by two pieces of valid ID and the check can be verified. (tdlr.texas.gov)
5. Bring ID and proof you can redeem the vehicle. Texas says you must provide photo ID, prove you are the owner or authorized user, and pay the fees. Examples Texas accepts include a driver’s license that matches DMV ownership information, an insurance card showing you are a named insured, a title, a notarized power of attorney, or a current lease or rental agreement. See What to bring to get your car out of impound for a simple list. (tdlr.texas.gov)
6. Write everything down. Save receipts, photos of signs, and the names of anyone you speak with. If you want a simple printout, use this Towed car checklist. (tdlr.texas.gov)

If the bill looks wrong

If the total seems too high, do not rely on a verbal explanation alone. Ask for the itemized bill, the fee schedule, and the rule that supports each charge. Then compare that paperwork with the official city, county, or state rule. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Texas gives consumers a clear path to challenge a bill. You may request a tow hearing if you believe the vehicle was wrongfully towed, stored, or booted, or if you were charged more than the allowed fee. Texas says the request must be made within 14 days of the tow, the court may charge a $20 filing fee, and the hearing must be held before 21 calendar days after the court receives the request. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Washington also gives a right to a hearing. A person seeking to redeem an impounded vehicle has the right to contest the validity of the impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges. The written hearing request must be received by the proper court within 10 days after the opportunity for a hearing was provided and more than 5 days before the auction date, or the right is waived. (app.leg.wa.gov)

In California, one useful challenge point is timing on certain private-property tows. If a car was towed from free parking on private property that is open to the public in less than one hour, and none of the listed exceptions applied, the person who caused the tow can be liable for two times the towing and storage charges. If you need next steps, start with our guide on How to dispute a tow or file a complaint. (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)

Frequently asked questions

Can they charge storage for part of a day?

Sometimes, yes. Texas allows a daily storage fee for any part of the day, except that the lot may charge only one day if the vehicle was there less than 12 hours even if the stay crossed midnight. Washington uses a different rule: storage is charged on a 24-hour basis to the nearest half day. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Do you usually have to pay before the vehicle is released?

Often, yes. Texas says you must provide ID, prove you are the owner or authorized user, and pay the towing and storage fees to recover the car. Washington says the vehicle shall be released when the person entitled to redeem it makes commercially reasonable tender sufficient to cover the towing, storage, or other services, although some government holds can add extra conditions. (tdlr.texas.gov)

Can they charge you just to get your personal items out?

Rules vary, but extra access fees are not always allowed. Texas says a vehicle storage facility may not charge fees to access personal property stored in the vehicle, and Texas also says you may access the vehicle to recover personal property and ownership documents without paying a fee for that access. (tdlr.texas.gov)

What if the car is financed, leased, or a rental?

Who can redeem the vehicle may be broader than just the person who was driving. Texas accepts some proof based on a current lease or rental agreement. Washington says people who may redeem can include the legal owner, the registered owner, a person authorized in writing by the registered owner, and certain insurers or vendors acting for them. (tdlr.texas.gov)