Expect the bill to stack: the tow itself, daily storage, and a few government fees, and the total depends on whether police ordered the tow or a private lot took the car. In El Paso, City Code Section 12.54.020 caps a nonconsent tow inside city limits at $100 for a light-duty vehicle, storage runs at TDLR daily caps, and the city collects a $20 police fee when a police-ordered tow is released from a storage facility, plus a $20 impoundment fee when the car is at a city-owned facility. Add it up before you drive over, because charges change at midnight.
Quick Tow EP is a referral service. We connect drivers with independent local tow operators. The driver hires and pays the operator directly, and the operator quotes the price. Quick Tow EP does no towing, roadside work or storage itself.
First, find out where your car actually is
Two very different bills come from two very different places. A police-ordered tow usually lands at the City of El Paso Municipal Vehicle Storage Facility at 11615 Railroad Drive, run by UR Vehicle Management Solutions (URVMS), phone (915) 212-0205, open 24 hours, according to EPPD’s towing page. For a private-property tow, the lot is identified by the number on the posted sign, per TDLR guidance.
El Paso police may tow when a car is parked illegally or looks abandoned, is in a crash or unsafe to drive, the driver is arrested or has no license, or the registration is expired.
- Call the city facility at (915) 212-0205 or search the URVMS online vehicle database, which lists every vehicle currently stored there and its charges.
- If nothing turns up, call the EPPD non-emergency line at (915) 212-4000.
- If it was a private-property tow, call the number on the lot’s sign or the property manager.
- Confirm the lot and the amount owed before you drive anywhere.
Lookups aren’t always instant. Call the facility to confirm before you drive over.
Was it police or a private lot?
This decides which fee caps apply. Section 12.54.060 defines a police ordered tow as one directed by an officer under Transportation Code Section 545.305 or an incident management tow, and the $20 police fee applies when such a tow is released from a storage facility.
A private-property tow is a nonconsent tow too. The tow company issues the itemized tow ticket, while the storage facility bills storage. Inside El Paso city limits the City Code cap governs the tow. Outside city limits, like Socorro, Horizon City, Canutillo or Fabens, the TDLR statewide maximum applies unless a local rule sets a lower one.
Adding up the bill
The tow line
For a nonconsent tow inside city limits, City Code Section 12.54.020 caps the tow at $100 for a light-duty vehicle (gross vehicle weight rating up to 10,000 lbs), $350 for medium duty, and $450 for heavy duty, per EPPD. Dollies or go-jacks add no more than $25. For vehicles over 10,000 lbs, a tow running past two hours from arrival can add up to $55 per hour for each hour over two, plus actual cost if cargo must be moved by hand. Debris cleanup at the scene is included in the tow fee under Section 12.54.030.
Storage
TDLR caps daily storage at $22.85 per day or part of a day for vehicles 25 feet or less, and $39.99 for longer ones, per the 2023 adjustment on TDLR’s consumer page. A day starts and ends at midnight, and a lot can’t charge more than one day if your car was there under 12 hours. For a Texas-registered vehicle, a lot can’t charge more than five days of storage unless owner notice was mailed or published.
City fees
Section 12.54.060 adds a $20 fee collected for the police department when a police-ordered tow is released from a storage facility, and a $20 impoundment fee when the car is at a city-owned facility. Both are in the city ordinance.
Fees that are often not allowed
A notification fee of up to $50 isn’t allowed if you reclaim the car within 24 hours or before notice was sent. An impoundment fee of up to $20 is only allowed when the lot had to protect a car with broken or open doors, windows, trunk or hood, plus an inventory or registration lookup, and the bill must list those exact services. A lot may also collect fees owed to a law enforcement agency or government entity. It may not charge any other storage-related fees, per TDLR.
Card fee and the midnight rule
URVMS accepts cash and Discover, Mastercard and Visa, and adds a 1.98% government fee for credit cards. Charges are current only through midnight of the day quoted, and URVMS says its listed costs are estimates; the price its customer service representatives quote is what must be paid.
Holds
Some vehicles have a hold and can’t be released yet. Call before visiting to confirm your car is released for pickup.
County tows
Sheriff-towed vehicles may sit at the Sheriff’s contracted tow company or the EPCSO Abandoned Motor Vehicle Evidence Lot at 12501 Montana Ave., Building F. Per the county FAQ, fees include a wrecker service fee, storage at $20 per day plus tax after hold release, a $10 process fee plus tax, and a $25 notification fee.
How to keep the total down
- Go fast. Storage is charged by day or part of a day, and a car there under 12 hours costs at most one day under TDLR rules.
- Reclaim within 24 hours and the notification fee shouldn’t apply.
- Bring the right papers the first time so you don’t make a second trip into another storage day.
- Call ahead to confirm release status, hours and payment methods.
- Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to the caps above.
- Pay by cash at the city lot if you want to skip the 1.98% card fee.
What to bring
- Valid federal or state photo ID, or a foreign photo ID like a Mexico driver’s license or matricula consular
- One proof of ownership: registration, title, insurance card naming you, a notarized power of attorney, a tax receipt plus renewal card, a current lease or rental agreement, or TDLR’s Personal Vehicle Owner Removal and Inspection form
- Payment for the balance owed
- A power of attorney, court order or rental agreement if that’s how you’re connected to the car
A lot can’t refuse release just because your ID shows a different address than the title. If your papers are locked in the glove box, the lot must let you get to them.
If someone else is picking it up
Prepare a notarized power of attorney signed by the owner and a copy of the owner’s ID. Non-owners acting for the owner should call (915) 212-0205 to learn what extra documents the city facility needs. More detail is in our guide to someone else picking up a car from an El Paso impound.
If you arrive before the tow starts
Under Section 12.54.020(D), if you’re at the scene and don’t want the car towed, there’s no charge and you get it back if it isn’t hooked up. If it’s hooked up but hasn’t left the scene, it must be released on payment of one-half the regular tow fee. This applies to nonconsent tows under the city code.
If the fees look wrong
Write down every line on the bill and photograph it. Under Occupations Code Section 2308.2065, a licensed tower can’t charge more than the fee set by the city or state rule, and can’t charge for a service not on those lists. TDLR can order refunds of overcharges, and Section 2308.458 lets a justice court decide whether a charge exceeded the city’s authorized amount and order the excess refunded. File a complaint with TDLR, and ask the lot in writing for a breakdown before you pay if you can. Our post on Texas towing fee limits walks through the caps.
If the car won’t drive after release
You can hire any operator you choose for a follow-on tow. A tow you call yourself is a consent tow, priced by the operator you hire, and no TDLR maximum table applies to it. Ask for the quote in writing before the truck rolls.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out where my car was towed?
Call the city facility at (915) 212-0205 or search the URVMS online database, which lists stored vehicles and charges. If nothing shows, call the EPPD non-emergency line at (915) 212-4000. For a private-property tow, call the number on the lot’s sign.
How much does it cost to get my car out of impound?
City Code 12.54.020 caps a nonconsent tow inside El Paso city limits at $100 for a light-duty vehicle, storage runs $22.85 per day or part of a day for most cars under TDLR caps, and under 12.54.060 a $20 police fee is collected when a police-ordered tow is released from a storage facility, while a $20 impoundment fee applies when the car is at a city-owned facility. Credit cards add 1.98% at the city facility.
What paperwork do I need to pick up my car?
A valid photo ID and one proof of ownership, such as registration, title or an insurance card naming you. Bring payment too. A notarized power of attorney helps if someone else is collecting the car.
Can I get my car back if they haven’t towed it away yet?
Under City Code 12.54.020(D), if you’re at the scene and the car isn’t hooked up, there’s no charge. If it’s hooked up but hasn’t left, it’s released for one-half the regular tow fee.
Can the lot charge me to get my stuff out of the car?
Access to retrieve ownership documents and personal property is free under TDLR rules. For storage-related charges, daily storage applies, notification is up to $50, and the impoundment fee of up to $20 applies only when the lot had to protect a car with broken or open doors, windows, trunk or hood, plus an inventory or registration lookup, and the bill must list those exact services. Government fees may also be collected, and no other storage-related fees may be charged.
How long do I have to fight the tow fees?
Under Occupations Code Section 2308.456, your written request must reach the court before the 14th day after the car was placed in storage, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. If the required notice was never given, the deadline does not apply, and the 14 days do not start until the tow company or storage facility gives you the information needed to fill out the request. Missing the deadline waives the hearing. The court may charge a $20 filing fee, and the hearing must be held before the 21st calendar day after the court receives the request. Keep your itemized receipt and photos of the bill. A justice court can order an excess refunded under Occupations Code Section 2308.458.
When to call for a tow
If your car is released but won’t start, won’t roll, or was damaged in the incident that got it towed, you need an operator, not a ride. Confirm the lot has released the vehicle first, then arrange the follow-on tow. Call (915) 320-5573 and Quick Tow EP will connect you with an independent local tow operator.