The number people quote is the tow fee. The number they actually pay is the tow fee plus however many nights they took to sort it out, plus whatever was already owed on the vehicle. Here is the whole picture.
NYPD tow pound charges
- Regular tow: $185
- Heavy duty tow: $370
- Overnight storage: $20 per night
- Boot removal: $185
The storage charge applies if the vehicle is not redeemed on the same day it was towed, and another $20 is added for each night it stays.
What that looks like over time
| Time in the pound | Regular tow total |
|---|---|
| Same day | $185 |
| 3 nights | $245 |
| 1 week | $325 |
| 2 weeks | $465 |
| 30 days | $785 |
Roughly nine nights of storage costs more than the tow itself. That is the arithmetic worth remembering.
Cannot get there yourself? Send someone with a notarized letter.
The costs that are not on the tow bill
The ticket that caused the tow. Billed separately, paid or disputed through the Department of Finance within thirty days of the date on the ticket. It cannot be paid at the pound.
Outstanding judgments. The vehicle will not be released while parking judgments stand against it. Those are paid to the Parking Violations Bureau, again not at the pound, and they can run to hundreds or thousands.
Getting there. Pounds are in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens only. If you are coming from Manhattan or Staten Island, add travel and a lost half day.
Sheriff and City Marshal tows cost differently
If the vehicle was towed over more than $350 in judgment debt, a different schedule applies:
- Boot fee: $136
- Sheriff or Marshal execution fee: $80
- Tow fee, by vehicle size and weight: $140, $180 or $1,500
- Tow dispatch fee where applicable: $70, $90 or $750
- Plus the judgment amount itself and any additional fees
These vehicles also carry a deadline. If not retrieved within 72 hours, the vehicle may be auctioned as soon as 10 days after the tow.
How payment works
NYPD pounds take cash, certified check payable to the New York City Police Department, money orders and travelers checks, an ATM debit card drawing on a checking account, and Discover, American Express, Mastercard and Visa.
The card must be in the name of the person collecting the vehicle. If you are sending someone else, they need their own card or cash.
Three ways to pay less
Go the same day. Redeeming the day of the tow avoids the storage charge entirely. That is the single biggest lever you have.
Send someone if you cannot go. An authorized representative with a notarized letter from the registered owner can collect it, which turns a five day delay into a same day pickup. Every day saved is $20.
Catch it before it leaves. If you reach the vehicle while it is still being hooked, you can stop an NYPD tow by signing a Field Release Agreement and agreeing to pay the penalties and fees within thirty days.
What waiting actually costs
Two things get worse with time, and neither improves. Storage compounds every night, and the judgment blocking release does not shrink while you gather the money. At some point the accumulated charges approach what the vehicle is worth, and that decision is much easier on day three than on day thirty.
See how long a car can stay in impound and what to do if you cannot afford it.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a tow in NYC?
$185 for a regular tow, $370 for heavy duty, plus $20 for every night of storage.
Does the storage charge start immediately?
It applies if the vehicle is not redeemed the same day it was towed.
Can I pay the ticket at the pound?
No. Tickets go to the Department of Finance, and judgments to the Parking Violations Bureau.
Is there a payment plan?
Tow and storage charges are due when you collect the vehicle. Contact 311 or the Department of Finance about options on the underlying ticket debt.
Are the fees ever waived?
Do not plan on it. Plan on $20 a night and move quickly.
Sheriff and Marshal tows, and the deadline attached to them
A tow over more than $350 in parking or camera violations in judgment is not an NYPD tow, and it does not follow the same route or the same schedule.
Payment is handled through the Department of Finance rather than at a pound. After paying in person you request a Vehicle Release Form. Bring notarized authorization and a certified copy of the title if the vehicle is financed or leased.
And there is a countdown that ordinary parking tows do not have. If the vehicle is not retrieved within 72 hours, it may be auctioned as soon as ten days after the tow. That is the fastest route from parked to sold in the whole system.
Cost of waiting, in plain numbers
Same day is $185. Three nights is $245. A week is $325. Two weeks is $465. Thirty days is $785.
Roughly nine nights of storage costs more than the tow did. Nothing in that table gets better by waiting, and the judgment blocking release does not shrink while you gather money.
Two ways people pay more than they need to
Discovering a judgment at the counter. Judgments block release and cannot be paid at the pound. Check what is outstanding before traveling, or the trip costs you a day and another night.
Sending somebody with the wrong card. A card must be in the name of the person collecting the vehicle. Handing a friend your credit card does not work, and they will be turned away holding a perfectly good authorization letter.
Both are avoidable with one phone call and one sentence of planning.
How to pay, and what is accepted
NYPD pounds take cash, certified check made payable to the New York City Police Department, money orders and travelers checks, an ATM debit card drawing on a checking account, and Discover, American Express, Mastercard and Visa.
Bring more than one option. Card systems go down, and a failed transaction at the counter costs another night rather than an inconvenience.
Three ways to pay less
Collect the same day. Redeeming on the day of the tow avoids the storage charge entirely. It is the single largest saving available and it is free.
Send somebody if you cannot go. An authorized representative with a notarized letter from the registered owner can collect it, turning a five day delay into a same day pickup. Each day saved is $20.
Catch it before it leaves. If you reach the vehicle while it is still being hooked, signing a Field Release Agreement and agreeing to pay within thirty days avoids the tow charge and the storage completely.
What is not on the tow bill
Three costs sit outside it and people forget all three.
The ticket that caused the tow, billed separately through the Department of Finance and payable or disputable within thirty days of its date. It cannot be paid at the pound and paying it does not release the vehicle.
Any outstanding judgments, which block release entirely and are paid to the Parking Violations Bureau. These can run to hundreds or thousands and are the number most likely to surprise you at the counter.
And getting there. Pounds are in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens only, so a tow in Manhattan or on Staten Island means the vehicle left the borough and you are making a journey without a car.
See also: vehicle power of attorney · transferring a car after the owner dies
Related reading
- How to find your towed car in NYC
- How to get your car out of impound
- What to bring to pick up a towed car
- Can someone else pick up my towed car?
- What it costs
- How long can it stay there?
- Free vehicle release letter
Fees, procedures and locations are set by the NYPD, the NYC Department of Finance and the Sheriff’s Office and can change. Confirm current amounts and requirements before you travel. This is general information, not legal advice.