State guide
Illinois
Illinois does not show a single statewide public towed-vehicle search on the official state pages found, but Chicago runs an official real-time city vehicle search and several other large cities publish impound or release pages. State law sets notice and process rules for nonconsensual private-property towing, while fee limitations may also come from the municipality authorizing the removal.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- How to find a towed car
- No statewide public lookup was found on the official Illinois state pages searched; Chicago does provide an official city search for city tows and relocations.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Illinois statutes found do not set one statewide dollar cap for private-property tow and storage charges, but they cap the pre-removal service fee at no more than one-half the posted rate if the owner arrives before removal, and storage-fee accrual is subject to any municipal limitations authorizing the tow.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For private-property nonconsensual tows, the towing service must notify local law enforcement within 30 minutes; for law-enforcement-authorized impounds, notification goes out within 10 business days, and lienholder notice for storage-fee claims is due within 2 business days.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Illinois Commerce Commission for relocation towing companies, operators, and dispatchers in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, and Winnebago counties; ICC also says elsewhere you should contact local authorities for licensing and public protection information.
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Illinois
Illinois Commerce Commission Relocation Towing
Explains ICC licensing of relocation towing companies, operators, and dispatchers, and links to the complaint report.
ICC Informal Complaint Wizard
Official online complaint entry that includes relocation towing.
Chicago Vehicle Search
Official Chicago lookup for vehicles towed or relocated by the City of Chicago.
Key facts for Illinois
- Illinois official pages found did not show a statewide public towed-vehicle lookup.
- For private-property removals, the towing service must notify local law enforcement within 30 minutes.
- If the owner appears before removal, the car must be disconnected and released after a reasonable service fee capped at half the posted rate.
- Law-enforcement impound notice must be sent within 10 business days, or within 2 days after identity is determined.
- To charge storage, lienholder notice must be sent by certified mail within 2 business days.
- ICC licenses relocation towing companies, operators, and dispatchers for two-year periods.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Illinois
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Vehicle Search Cook | Chicago | Not published* | Searches City of Chicago police-towed and relocated vehicles from the last seven days; private-company tows may not appear. |
| Aurora Police Towed Vehicles Kane | Aurora | Not published* | Explains Aurora impound fees, towing/storage charges, and release process. |
| Aurora Police Contracted Tow Companies Kane | Aurora | Not published* | Lists Aurora’s tow contractors; if you cannot determine the company, call with the tow report, police report, or plate number. |
| City of Joliet Towed Vehicle Release Will | Joliet | Not published* | Explains how to obtain a release form for a vehicle towed or impounded by Joliet Police. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If your car was towed in Chicago, search the city vehicle search first; it covers only City of Chicago tows and relocations.
- If the tow was from private property in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, or Winnebago counties, use the ICC towing complaint process.
- Keep every tow record and receipt; Illinois statutes tie storage-fee collection to timely notice.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Illinois's population center, for comparison only):
- South Bend Business Licenses - Towing, Indiana · about 109 miles
- South Bend Police Department Policy Manual, Indiana · about 109 miles
- Fort Wayne PPI / Repo Tow Reporting, Indiana · about 166 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Chicago Vehicle Search
Website →Phone: (312) 744-4444 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Illinois page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.