There is no set number, because the City of Dallas doesn’t publish a release fee for the Auto Pound. Call the pound directly at (214) 670-5116 before you drive over, so you know exactly what to bring. If your car ended up at a private storage lot instead of the city pound, state law caps what that lot can charge you. Either way, call (469) 902-4411 first if you still need a tow to get the car home or to a shop once it’s released.

Two different lots, two different rules

Dallas has two separate systems that both get called “impound,” and they don’t work the same way.

The Dallas Auto Pound is the city-run lot at 1955 Vilbig Road, Dallas, TX 75208. Police-directed tows and abandoned vehicles from the street often land here. The pound does not publish a fee schedule or firm hours, and different sources list different hours, which means the only reliable answer is a phone call. Dial (214) 670-5116, or call 3-1-1 for the City of Dallas if you’re not sure your car is even there. Dallas Parking Management, at (214) 948-5346 or [email protected], can also help you track a vehicle down.

Private vehicle storage facilities (VSFs) are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, not the city. These are the lots that hold cars towed from apartment complexes, private lots without permission, or after some private-property tows. Unlike the city pound, TDLR does publish hard fee caps for these facilities.

What TDLR caps a private lot at

If your car is at a licensed private storage facility rather than the city pound, Texas law sets maximum charges:

  • Tow fee, up to 10,000 lbs: $272 maximum
  • Daily storage, 25 feet and under: $22.85 per day (no daily fee at all if the car was stored under 12 hours)
  • Impoundment fee: $20 maximum, and only if impoundment services were actually performed
  • Notification fee: $50 maximum

A storage facility must accept cash, debit, and credit. It’s prohibited from tacking on “environmental fees,” notary fees, or a fee just to let you retrieve personal belongings from inside the car. If a lot quotes you something outside these caps, ask for the fee schedule in writing. These numbers come from TDLR’s published VSF fee rules under 16 TAC Chapter 85.

If your car was towed off private property without your permission, meaning someone had it removed from an apartment lot or a business parking space, Dallas City Code Chapter 48A-43 caps that initial tow fee based on weight:

  • Up to 10,000 lbs: $121 maximum
  • 10,001 to 26,000 lbs: $191 maximum
  • Over 26,000 lbs: $445 maximum

No operator can add a separate charge for a dolly, tow bar, or “linkage” on top of these caps. Charging above the cap is a criminal offense under the city code, not just a billing dispute.

What to bring when you go pick it up

Whether it’s the city pound or a private lot, plan on needing your driver’s license, proof of ownership (title or registration), and a way to pay. Some lots and the pound may also want proof of insurance. Since the Auto Pound doesn’t post its exact fee or hours anywhere reliable, calling ahead saves you a wasted trip and lets you confirm what forms of payment they take.

If you also need a tow once your car is released

Sometimes a car comes out of impound and still isn’t drivable, maybe it needs a jump, has a flat, or needs to go straight to a repair shop instead of home. Call (469) 902-4411 and we’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator who can meet you at the lot.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t the City of Dallas publish an impound fee? The Auto Pound’s fee schedule isn’t published in any official source we could verify, and reported hours conflict across sources. Call (214) 670-5116 directly for a current answer before you go.

Is the TDLR fee cap the same as the city pound’s fee? No. TDLR’s caps ($272 tow, $22.85/day storage, $50 notification) apply to licensed private vehicle storage facilities. The city-run Auto Pound is a separate system with its own unpublished process, so confirm with the pound directly.

Can a private lot charge me a fee to get my personal items out of the car? No. TDLR rules prohibit a storage facility from charging a fee just to access your own personal property inside the vehicle.

What if my car was towed from my apartment complex without warning? That’s a non-consent tow, capped under Dallas City Code 48A-43 at $121, $191, or $445 depending on weight. If the fee charged is higher than the cap, that’s worth challenging.

If your car needs a tow before or after an impound release, call (469) 902-4411. We’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator who can handle it.