To find out where your car was towed after an accident, call the non-emergency line of the law enforcement agency that responded to the scene. The responding officer arranged the tow and logged the company’s name, phone number, and destination. Give the dispatcher your license plate and the approximate time and location of the crash, and they can point you directly to the yard holding your vehicle.
Move quickly. Storage fees begin the moment your car reaches the lot, and every day of delay adds to the bill.
Call the Agency That Responded to the Accident
Police and highway patrol dispatch a tow truck to clear the road after a crash, and that tow gets recorded. The department will have the towing company’s name, phone number, and where the vehicle was taken.
If you’re not sure which agency responded, use the location of the accident to figure it out:
- Inside city limits, start with the city police department.
- On a highway or interstate, contact the state highway patrol.
- In an unincorporated area, call the county sheriff’s office.
Most of these agencies run 24-hour non-emergency dispatch lines, so you don’t have to wait for business hours. Have your plate number, the time of the accident, and the nearest cross streets ready before you call.
Other Ways to Track Down Your Vehicle
If you can’t reach the responding agency, or you want to confirm what they tell you, there are a few other paths.
Check Any Paperwork From the Scene
Officers sometimes hand out a card or a tow receipt at the scene that lists the towing company’s name, address, and phone number. If you were taken to a hospital and didn’t collect anything yourself, ask a friend or family member to look through the personal belongings that came back with you. The information may already be in your wallet or bag.
Search a Local Towed Vehicle Database
Many cities and counties operate online databases where you can search for a towed vehicle by license plate number or VIN. These are usually linked from the local police department’s website. A quick search for “[your city] towed vehicle lookup” will surface the tool if one exists in your area.
Request the Accident Report
The official accident report often lists the towing company by name. Depending on the jurisdiction, you can request a copy within a few days of the crash, either online or in person at the responding agency. This is slower than a phone call, but useful if the initial call didn’t get you what you needed.
Call Your Insurance Company
Your auto insurer, or the other driver’s insurer if they’ve already started processing the claim, may have arranged for the vehicle to be moved to a specific facility. They can tell you where it ended up and, in some cases, coordinate the release directly with the tow yard.
Confirm the Yard and Its Requirements Before You Go
Once you have the tow company’s name and number, call the yard directly. Confirm the address, the hours (some yards have limited release windows and charge extra for after-hours pickup), and exactly what documents and payment methods they accept. Requirements vary, and some yards are strict enough that a missing piece of paper will send you home empty-handed.
At a minimum, plan to bring:
- A government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport) that matches the name on the registration.
- Proof of ownership, meaning your current registration card or the original title. Some yards also accept a tax collector’s receipt showing you as the registered owner.
- Proof of insurance, either a current card or digital proof on your phone. Many yards won’t release a vehicle without it.
- Payment for the towing and storage balance. Ask whether they take cards, because some lots are cash-only or add a card processing fee.
If Someone Else Has to Pick Up the Car
If you’re injured or otherwise can’t go yourself, most tow yards will release the vehicle to a friend or family member with proper authorization. The typical requirement is a notarized letter from you as the registered owner granting that person permission, along with a copy of your photo ID and the original of theirs. Some facilities have their own authorization form. Call ahead, because rules differ from one yard to the next.
Why Speed Matters: Fees Start Immediately
A tow yard bill after an accident usually stacks several charges together. The base tow fee, sometimes called the hookup fee, covers loading and transport. Most companies add a per-mile rate on top of that. Together, the tow itself can run roughly $100 to $300 or more depending on the vehicle and local rate caps.
Daily storage is where the number grows fast. Charges typically run $30 to $75 per day, and some facilities charge $100 or more. A week of storage alone can add up to $500 on top of the tow. Some yards also tack on administrative fees, after-hours release fees, or gate fees worth another $30 to $100. This is the practical reason to find the car the same day you can: waiting is expensive.
Many states cap what tow companies can charge for non-consensual tows, and the rate schedule must be posted at the facility. If the bill exceeds the posted rates, you have grounds to dispute it before you leave.
What Happens at the Yard
When you arrive with your documents, go to the office first. Staff will verify your identity and ownership, present the bill, and take payment. Someone will usually walk you to your vehicle on the lot afterward.
Before you sign the release form or drive off, inspect the car carefully. Look for scratches, dents, broken mirrors, or undercarriage damage that wasn’t there before the tow. Compare what you see against any photos you took at the accident scene. If you find new damage, photograph it from multiple angles, note the date and time, and raise it with the yard manager before you leave. Getting it on record at pickup is what makes a later damage claim credible.
Read the release form before signing. Some contain language waiving your right to dispute charges or claim damage. If you’ve already noticed new damage and the form includes a damage waiver, write a note about the damage on the form itself before signing.
Getting Personal Belongings Out
Many states and municipalities require tow yards to let you retrieve personal property from the vehicle even if you can’t pay the full bill yet. Car seats, medication, laptops, and luggage generally count as personal property you’re entitled to access. Vehicle components like tires, batteries, and stereo systems do not. If the yard refuses access to personal belongings, call the local police non-emergency line or the agency that regulates towing in your area.
Who Pays the Bill
You pay the tow yard directly. The company holds your vehicle under a possessory lien, meaning they have a legal right to keep it until the charges are settled. You can then seek reimbursement from whoever is responsible.
If another driver caused the accident, their liability insurance should cover your towing and storage costs as part of your property damage claim. Submit the tow yard receipts with the claim. If liability is disputed or the other insurer is slow, your own collision coverage (if you carry it) can typically pick up the towing and storage charges as part of your accident claim. Either way, the priority is getting the car moved so storage fees stop growing while insurers argue.
Roadside assistance coverage is a separate product that usually applies to breakdowns rather than accident tows, and it often carries low limits, such as towing within a 15-mile radius or to the nearest repair shop. Don’t assume a roadside plan will cover a post-accident tow to an impound lot across town.
If you can’t pay the full balance at once, call the yard and ask about a payment plan. Not every facility offers one, but some will work with you rather than watch the car sit and rack up charges they may never collect. Some cities also offer fee waivers or reductions for low-income residents or first-time tows; the local police department or the municipal office that oversees towing can tell you what programs exist. Letting the car sit indefinitely is the worst financial option, because the fees keep growing and you can eventually lose the vehicle to a lien sale.