New York City Police Department

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Towed Vehicles | Home

Cars may be towed for various reasons by several different government agencies, including the NYPD, the City Marshall, and the Sheriff. Please contact your local NYPD Precinct to assist you in determining if your vehicle has been relocated due to a parade, demonstration or street fair. If your vehicle was not towed or relocated, it may have been stolen. The local precinct can assist you in preparing the necessary reports.

If your car was towed by the NYPD Chief of Transportation for being parked illegally, it will be taken to a Tow Pound. There are tow pounds in all boroughs except Staten Island. Towed cars are usually taken to the pound in the same borough from which they were towed. For the addresses and locations of the Tow Pounds, click here: Tow Pound Locations


Retrieving a Towed Vehicle

When retrieving a towed vehicle, bring the following items with you to the Tow Pound:
  • Current vehicle registration certificate
  • Valid driver's license
  • Current insurance card for the vehicle
Vehicles may only be released to the registered owners, their spouses, or their authorized representatives. In order to be considered an authorized representative for the vehicle's owner, you must have authorization in writing, with the notarized signature of the registered owner. A vehicle will not be released if there are parking judgments against it. You must pay the judgment amount to the Parking Violations Bureau before redeeming your vehicle. Parking tickets cannot be paid at the tow pound.


Towing Fees

The towing fees are:
  • Regular Tow fee: $185.00
  • Heavy Duty Tow fee: $370.00
  • Overnight Storage fee: $20.00
  • Immobilization Devise (Boot): $185.00
NOTE: If the vehicle is not redeemed on the same day that it was towed, an additional overnight storage charge of $20 will be charged to the vehicle each night the vehicle is held at the Tow Pound.

The accepted forms of payment are:
  • Cash
  • Certified Check - payable to NYC Police Department
  • ATM Bank Debit Card that allows withdrawals from checking accounts only (e.g. NYC, MAC, etc.)
  • Money Order or Traveler's checks(all parts must be presented)
  • Discover, American Express, MasterCard, Visa
NOTE: The longest waiting times to retrieve a vehicle occur during noon and late afternoon hours.