The True Cost of Getting Your Car Towed in America's 10 Biggest Cities
Your car is gone. The curb is empty. Your stomach drops.
Before the panic spiral — Where is it? How do I get it back? How much is this going to cost me? — take a breath. We compiled the published towing and storage fees in America's 10 biggest cities so you know what to expect. Confirm current charges with the facility.
💡 Spoiler: Costs differ a lot by city, and storage fees add up daily.
The Big Picture: Towing Fees by City
Here's what it costs the moment the tow truck hooks your car — before a single day of storage.
| City | Tow Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $175 | PPA |
| San Diego | $178 | City of San Diego |
| New York City | $185 | NYC.gov |
| Austin, TX | $185 | APD contracted rate |
| Los Angeles | $220 | LAPD Police Commission |
| Phoenix | ~$225 | Phoenix PD contract (2026) |
| Houston | $232 | HPD contracted rate |
| Chicago | $250 | Municipal Code §9-92-080 |
| Dallas | $272 | TDLR statewide max |
| San Antonio | $272 | TDLR statewide max |
Key insight: Texas cities (Dallas, San Antonio) hit the state-regulated maximum of $272. Houston and Austin negotiate lower contracted rates. California and New York have their own rate structures.
Daily Storage Fees: Where It Really Hurts
The tow fee is just the opening act. Storage fees are where costs spiral — and they vary wildly.
| City | Daily Storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | $20/night | Cheapest in the country |
| Austin, TX | $22.85/day | TDLR statewide max |
| Houston | $22.85/day | TDLR statewide max |
| Dallas | $22.85/day | TDLR statewide max |
| San Antonio | $22.85/day | TDLR statewide max |
| Phoenix | $25/day | ARS max for police tows |
| Philadelphia | $31.25/day | $25 + 25% city tax |
| San Diego | $41/day | CHP rate schedule |
| Chicago | $50/day | Municipal Code §9-92-080 |
| Los Angeles | $68/day | + 10% tax = $74.80/day |
The takeaway: Los Angeles charges 3.4x more per day than New York City. If your car sits for a week in LA, you're paying $476 in storage alone, before the 10% tax.
Total Cost Comparison: What You'll Actually Pay
Each total is the tow fee plus 1, 3 or 7 days of storage at the daily rate above (with storage tax where shown), rounded to the nearest dollar. Other fees, listed below, can apply on top.
After 1 Day
| City | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | ~$205 | 💚 Cheapest |
| Philadelphia | ~$206 | |
| Austin | ~$208 | |
| San Diego | ~$219 | |
| Phoenix | ~$250 | |
| Houston | ~$255 | |
| Dallas | ~$295 | |
| San Antonio | ~$295 | |
| Los Angeles | ~$295 | |
| Chicago | ~$300 | 🔴 Most expensive |
After 3 Days
| City | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | ~$245 | 💚 Cheapest |
| Austin | ~$254 | |
| Philadelphia | ~$269 | |
| Phoenix | ~$300 | |
| San Diego | ~$301 | |
| Houston | ~$301 | |
| Dallas | ~$341 | |
| San Antonio | ~$341 | |
| Chicago | ~$400 | |
| Los Angeles | ~$444 | 🔴 Most expensive |
After 7 Days
| City | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | ~$325 | 💚 Cheapest |
| Austin | ~$345 | |
| Houston | ~$392 | |
| Philadelphia | ~$394 | |
| Phoenix | ~$400 | |
| Dallas | ~$432 | |
| San Antonio | ~$432 | |
| San Diego | ~$465 | |
| Chicago | ~$600 | |
| Los Angeles | ~$744 | 🔴 Most expensive |
The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
Additional Fees by City
- Los Angeles: $115 "release fee" on every tow. 10% tax on storage.
- Philadelphia: 25% city tax on all storage fees. Boot fee of $150 if booted first.
- Phoenix: $150 administrative fee for mandatory impounds. $75 after-hours release.
- Chicago: Additional fines for DUI/narcotics/firearms impounds.
- Texas cities: Up to $50 for owner notices (not charged if the car is reclaimed within 24 hours or before notice is sent) and an impound fee of up to $22.85 for qualifying, documented services.
- San Diego: $54 "cost recovery fee" on every tow. After-hours release: $48.
- New York City: Outstanding parking tickets must be paid before release.
The Real Hidden Cost: Time
Many people spend hours just figuring out where their car was towed. That can mean:
- Calling wrong numbers
- Navigating broken city websites
- Being transferred between departments
- Sitting on hold with the city
Meanwhile, storage fees are ticking. In Los Angeles, one extra night in storage costs $74.80.
Your Rights: What Every City Has to Tell You
| Right | Cities That Require It |
|---|---|
| Post-tow hearing to contest | All 10 cities |
| Written notice of fees | Chicago, LA, all Texas cities, Philadelphia |
| Storage fee cap | Chicago ($1,500), some AZ limits |
| Stolen vehicle fee waiver | Chicago (as of Jan 2025), New York |
| Drop fee (reduced if you arrive during tow) | California, Texas, Arizona |
💡 Pro tip: In California, if you arrive while your car is being hooked up but hasn't left yet, the tow company must release it for a reduced "drop fee" — typically half the tow rate.
How to Minimize Your Costs
1. Search Early
Every hour matters. Use Towji to start a guided recovery search and see what to do next.
2. Pick It Up Same Day If Possible
The difference between same-day and next-day pickup:
- Los Angeles: Save $74.80
- Chicago: Save $50
- San Diego: Save $41
- Philadelphia: Save $31.25
3. Start With One Guided Search
A simpler start is one guided search instead of chasing separate phone trees. Use Towji.com to search from one place and get recovery guidance without exposing location details on the public page.
4. Keep Your Vehicle Details Ready
Save your plate, registration state and VIN somewhere you can reach from your phone. If you subscribe, you can save vehicles to your Towji account so you do not have to retype them. Coverage and update times vary by location.
5. Contest If It Was Wrongful
Every city allows post-tow hearings. If you believe the tow was illegal:
- Document everything — photos of signage, your parking spot, timestamps
- File within the deadline — ranges from 10 days (Phoenix, NYC) to 30 days
- Know your local code — improper signage, incorrect procedures, and expired tow authorizations are common grounds for dismissal
The Bottom Line
| Cheapest | Most Expensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Tow fee | Philadelphia ($175) | Dallas/San Antonio ($272) |
| Daily storage | NYC ($20) | Los Angeles ($68+tax) |
| 3-day total | NYC (~$245) | Los Angeles (~$444) |
| 7-day total | NYC (~$325) | Los Angeles (~$744) |
Getting towed is expensive everywhere, but Los Angeles is in a league of its own — costing more than twice as much as New York after a week. Texas cities cluster together thanks to statewide TDLR regulation, while cities with local rate-setting (LA, Chicago, Philadelphia) show the widest variance.
The single most important thing you can do? Start your search early. Storage fees add up daily.
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Fees were checked against official city government websites, state regulatory agencies, and municipal codes in February 2026. Sources include NYC.gov, Chicago.gov, Phoenix.gov, Philadelphia Parking Authority, California Highway Patrol rate schedules, LAPD Police Commission, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) 2024 biennial adjustment, Arizona Revised Statutes, Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, and individual city municipal codes and police department tow contracts. Costs shown are for standard passenger vehicles under typical tow scenarios. Actual costs may vary based on vehicle weight, distance towed, time of day, and reason for tow. Fees change; confirm current charges with the facility.