Houston does not have one city impound lot. If your car was towed in the City of Houston, search findmytowedcar.com by plate or VIN. The record usually posts within two hours of the tow. If you were towed in unincorporated Harris County, use findmytowedcar.org/harriscountytow. For any other lead, call HPD Towline at (713) 308-8580.
Where HPD tows go
Vehicles towed by Houston Police Department, the City of Houston, or another city agency inside Houston city limits go to a licensed private Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF). The VSF network is spread across the metro. The city lookup tool tells you which one has your car.
If the lookup is empty for the first hour after the tow, wait. Records often lag the actual tow by 30 to 120 minutes. If the record still has not posted after a few hours, call HPD Towline and an operator can locate the vehicle by plate or VIN.
Where Harris County tows go
For tows in unincorporated Harris County (areas outside the City of Houston, City of Baytown, City of Pasadena, and other incorporated cities), the Harris County Sheriff’s Office handles the lookup through findmytowedcar.org/harriscountytow. The site is open around the clock and launched in November 2025.
You can also call the Harris County Sheriff non-emergency line at (713) 221-6000 or the info line at (346) 286-1600.
What you will need to get the car out
Before you go to the VSF, pull together:
- A photo ID (driver license or state ID)
- Proof of ownership (title or registration in your name)
- Proof of insurance
- Payment for tow and storage fees
If the car is in your name but the registration is in someone else’s name, bring that person or their notarized authorization. If the vehicle is financed, the lienholder’s authorization may be needed.
Storage fees at the VSF
TDLR sets VSF fees across Texas. Daily storage runs $22.85 per day for vehicles up to 25 ft and $39.99 per day for vehicles over 25 ft, plus an impoundment fee of up to $20 and a notification fee of up to $50. Storage begins six hours after the vehicle arrives at the VSF, and a part-day counts as a day.
No more than five days of storage can be charged until the VSF mails owner notice. There is no fee to access personal property inside a stored vehicle. Environmental fees and notary fees are prohibited by TDLR.
What if the car was towed from a wreck
If your car was towed after a crash on I-45, I-10, I-69, Loop 610, or Beltway 8, the tow may have been arranged by HPD or TxDOT. Use the same findmytowedcar.com lookup. If the tow happened on a freeway in another county, contact that county’s sheriff or constable.
What to do before you drive the car out
Once the car is released, ask the VSF for the release paperwork. Keep it in the glove box until you are sure no hearing or insurance question comes up. If you believe the tow was wrongful, you have 14 days from the date you received the hearing information to file a written request for a tow hearing in justice court (Occ. Code §§2308.452, 2308.456).
Call (281) 916-1288 to reach Quick Tow Houston. The operator can help you think through the next step, including a same-day dispatch if you need a tow to a repair shop or your home after release.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a towed car to show up online? Most Houston tows post to findmytowedcar.com within two hours of the tow. Some post faster, some take longer. If the lookup is empty after a few hours, call HPD Towline at (713) 308-8580.
Does Houston have a single impound lot I can drive to? No. There is no single city impound lot in Houston. Police and city tows go to whichever licensed VSF received the vehicle. The lookup tool tells you which one.
What if my car was towed in unincorporated Harris County? Use findmytowedcar.org/harriscountytow, or call the Harris County Sheriff non-emergency line at (713) 221-6000.
What are the storage fees at a Houston VSF? TDLR sets the fees: $22.85 per day for vehicles up to 25 ft, $39.99 per day for longer vehicles, plus an impoundment fee of up to $20 and a notification fee of up to $50. Storage begins six hours after arrival.
Can the VSF charge me to get my personal belongings? No. TDLR prohibits fees to access personal property in a stored vehicle. You have the right to retrieve your belongings without paying storage.
How long do I have to challenge a tow? You have 14 days from receipt of the hearing information to file a written request for a tow hearing in justice court under Texas Occ. Code §§2308.452 and 2308.456.