Car towed in New York? Start here
Free steps to find your car, protect your deadlines and ask for your money back in New York.
We checked 4 New York towing rules against official sources. Each one has its citation, a link and the date we checked it.
1. Find your car
- NYC Finance: find a towed vehicle (New York City; NYPD and marshal or sheriff tows; for private tows call 311 or the local precinct). Last checked .
If it isn't listed, call the police non-emergency number for the city or county where you parked. Ask whether the car was towed, by whom and where it was taken. We never charge to help you find your car.
What to do right now
- Make sure it was towed, not stolen. Use an official lookup if there is one, or call the police non-emergency number for the place where you parked. Ask who towed it, where it is, and the lot's hours.
- Take photos now. The spot where you parked, every sign at the entrances (or the lack of one), curb paint and meters. When you get the car back, photograph all sides, the inside and the odometer before you leave the lot.
- Get the paperwork. Keep every notice, receipt and letter, and the envelope it came in. Ask for a copy of anything that shows who asked for the tow.
- Ask for an itemized bill before you pay. Compare each charge with the posted rates and, where we list one, your state's or city's maximum.
- Pay by credit card if you can. A card payment leaves a record, and card issuers have a process for disputing charges. Ask for a receipt either way.
- Write down what happened. Times, names, what people said, and any damage you notice.
- Note every deadline. Look for dates on every paper you get. Some deadlines to ask for a hearing or to stop a sale are only days long, and storage charges usually grow every day.
This is general information to help you keep track. It is not legal advice, and it does not decide whether a tow or a charge was lawful.
2. Know your deadline
Start a court proceeding to test a garage or tow lien before a sale: 10 days, counted from date the notice of sale was served on you.
Official text: “Within ten days after service of the notice of sale, the owner or any person entitled to notice pursuant to section two hundred one of this article may commence a special proceeding to determine the validity of the lien.”
We haven't checked how New York counts weekends and holidays, so the calculator never moves the date later. Treat it as the last day and act sooner if you can.
Source: N.Y. Lien Law § 201-a. Last checked .
Free deadline calculator
Enter the date from your papers. The calculator only counts days; it doesn't say whether a deadline was met. The dates printed on your notices are the ones that count.
3. Get your money back
Common ways people ask for a refund:
- Ask the tow company in writing to refund any charge you think was wrong, and keep a copy.
- File a complaint with the agency that regulates tow companies, if there is one.
- If you paid by card, ask your card issuer how to dispute a charge.
- Ask for a hearing if your state has one (see the deadlines above), or file in small claims court.
- If you want advice about your own situation, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.
The New York rules we checked are below.
Key towing rules in New York
If the tow company wants to sell the car
If you are served with a notice that a garage or tow company will sell your car to pay its lien, you can start a special court proceeding to test whether the lien is valid within 10 days after the notice was served.
Official text: “Within ten days after service of the notice of sale, the owner or any person entitled to notice”
Source: N.Y. Lien Law § 201-a. Last checked .
Fees and caps
In New York City, a licensed tow from a private lot or driveway may cost no more than $125 for the tow and the first 3 days of storage, then $15 a day. The drop fee is $62.50, and licensed tow companies must accept a credit card.
Official text: “Towing and three days of storage: $125”
Source: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, towing rules. Last checked .
In New York City, a boot on a private lot must be removed within 30 minutes, the company must accept a credit card, and it may charge no more than $25.
Official text: “The company must remove the boot within 30 minutes, must accept payment by credit card, and may charge no more than $25.”
Source: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, towing rules. Last checked .
Who regulates tow companies
In New York City, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licenses tow companies and takes complaints online or through 311.
Source: NYC DCWP. Last checked .
Page last reviewed .