Towed in Texas? Here's how to get your car back.
Free guidance — who to call, what it should cost, and what to do if the lot you parked in had no tow-away signs.
Three steps to locate your vehicle
- 1
Call the local police non-emergency line
Texas law (Occupations Code ch. 2308) requires the tow operator to report a private-property tow to local law enforcement within 2 hours. Dispatch can tell you exactly which storage lot has your car. Have your plate number ready.
- 2
Check your city's online lookup
Houston & Harris County have an official lookup at findmytowedcar.com (HPD tow line: 713-308-8580). Other cities — Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth — list their auto pound and impound lookup on the city police department site.
- 3
Know your rights at the storage lot
The lot must give you an itemized receipt, accept card payment, and release your vehicle when you pay. Think the tow was unlawful? You have 14 days to request a tow hearing at a justice of the peace court. Statewide questions: TDLR consumer info or (800) 803-9202.
Tow companies near where you parked
Search the area you were towed from — many tow operators run their own storage lots, and a call can confirm whether they have your vehicle.
Report missing tow-away signage
For a private-property tow to be lawful in Texas, the lot generally must post compliant tow-away signs at each driveway entrance — visible, unobstructed, with the storage lot's phone number. If you were towed from a lot with missing or hidden signage, report it here. We track problem properties, and your report can support a tow-hearing claim.
- • Photograph every entrance to the lot before signs change.
- • Keep your storage lot receipt — it's itemized by law.
- • File the official complaint with TDLR at (800) 803-9202.
Common questions
- How do I find out where my car was towed in Texas?
- Call the local police non-emergency line for the city where you parked. Texas law requires the tow company to report a private-property tow to local law enforcement within two hours, so police dispatch can tell you which vehicle storage facility has your car. Have your license plate number and vehicle description ready.
- How much can a storage lot charge me?
- Tow fees and daily storage fees for non-consent tows are capped by Texas law and local rules. The vehicle storage facility must give you an itemized receipt, must accept cash and cards, and must release your vehicle when you pay — even if you dispute the tow afterward.
- What if there was no tow-away sign?
- Private lots generally must post compliant tow-away signs at each entrance for a non-consent tow to be lawful. If signage was missing or hidden, you can request a tow hearing at a justice of the peace court within 14 days — if the tow is found unauthorized, you can recover what you paid. You can also file a complaint with TDLR.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Fee caps and signage rules vary by city and change over time — confirm specifics with TDLR or the justice of the peace court for your county.