State guide
Tennessee
Tennessee has an abandoned-vehicle process run through the Department of Revenue, but the state’s public-facing materials now describe its portal as an abandoned/immobile vehicle system rather than a simple statewide live towed-car finder. Tennessee Highway Patrol also publishes towing-service standards and maximum tow/storage rate forms for companies on the THP rotating list.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- How to find a towed car
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- State sources found THP maximum tow/storage rate disclosures and local Nashville fee schedules, but I did not find a single statewide statute page clearly capping all private-property non-consent tow fees statewide; use local government rules and the THP standards pages where applicable.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For abandoned, immobile, or unattended vehicles, Tennessee says ownership verification must be requested within three business days, owner/lienholder notice sent within three business days after the response, and late notice limits storage charges.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security / Tennessee Highway Patrol for companies on the THP rotating towing list.
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Tennessee
Links to the Tennessee Abandoned Vehicle Portal and related motor vehicle services.
THP manual covering towing-list standards, complaints, and rate rules for participating companies.
Official Tennessee maximum tow and storage rate disclosure form used by THP-listed towing services.
District headquarters numbers to contact THP about a vehicle towed on a state highway.
Key facts for Tennessee
- A finder must request ownership verification within three business days of taking the vehicle into custody.
- After getting owner/lienholder information, notice must be sent within three business days; failing deadlines limits collectible storage charges.
- Without owner or lienholder consent, storage cannot be charged for more than 60 days.
- THP’s towing manual says storage rates begin 24 hours after a vehicle is towed.
- The THP manual lets an owner file a written complaint to the District Captain/designee for unauthorized towing, excessive rates, or manual violations.
- The published Tennessee maximum-rate form lists daily storage maximums of $40.00 for Class A and D and $100.00 for Class B and C.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Tennessee
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police Vehicle Impound Section Davidson | Nashville | 615-862-7800 | Metro Nashville impound lot page with release rules, fees, and auction information. |
| Vehicle Storage Lot Shelby | Memphis | Not published* | Memphis Police contact listing for the city vehicle storage lot. |
| City Court Clerk - Towing Citations Shelby | Memphis | Not published* | Explains Memphis towing-citation releases and directs owners to the city impound lot after payment. |
| Vehicle Impoundment Lot Knox | Knoxville | 865-215-6215 | Knoxville fleet page with impound lot contact information, hours, and links to impounded-vehicle lists. |
| Chattanooga Police Department Hamilton | Chattanooga | Not published* | Police department page says CPD can tow abandoned cars on public property and otherwise you may call a wrecker of your choice. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If THP towed the vehicle, call the THP district headquarters for the area where it was left.
- Ask the tow lot for itemized towing and storage charges and compare them with any posted rate sheet or local impound rules.
- If you think a THP-list tow was unauthorized or overpriced, send a written complaint to the district captain covering that tow location.
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 Tennessee's population center, for comparison only):
- Central Records Unit, Kentucky · about 79 miles
- Huntsville Police Department Records & Reports, Alabama · about 81 miles
- Evansville Police towing contract materials, Indiana · about 164 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Tennessee online services
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Tennessee page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.