Dallas Fort Worth International Airport tows vehicles parked longer than 90 days on airport property. The 90-day clock starts when the vehicle is left, and the clock does not stop while you are out of town. If your vehicle was towed from DFW, the citation line is 866-449-7566 and the boot line is (972) 973-3112. Call (469) 902-4411 if you need a tow once your car is released, and we’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator.
How the 90-day clock works
DFW’s parking rules cap continuous parking at 90 days. The clock starts the moment a vehicle is left in an airport parking area and runs continuously until the vehicle is moved or removed. Long-term parking lots, economy lots, and remote parking areas all share the same 90-day rule.
After 90 days, the airport treats the vehicle as abandoned on airport property and authorizes a tow off-airport. The vehicle does not go to the Dallas Auto Pound. It goes to a contracted off-airport storage facility under the airport’s tow program.
What to do if your vehicle was towed from DFW
Start with the citation line at 866-449-7566 or the boot line at (972) 973-3112. Both numbers are DFW Airport Parking Services lines, and they can confirm whether your vehicle was towed and where it is being held. You can also email [email protected] for non-urgent questions.
The airport gives you 15 days from the citation date to pay or contest the parking citation. After 15 days, the penalty doubles. If you believe the tow was issued in error, you can dispute it through DFW’s citation process before paying.
How to get the vehicle back
Once you confirm the vehicle was towed and find out where it is being held, recovery follows the standard steps.
Bring valid ID and proof of ownership to the storage facility. The facility will not release the vehicle to anyone other than the registered owner or an authorized person.
Pay the tow and storage fees under the airport’s contracted rate. DFW airport tows are not subject to TDLR’s VSF caps the way a private storage lot would be, because the airport’s contracted tow is part of the airport’s own parking enforcement program. The rate is set by the airport’s contract with the operator.
Document the vehicle’s condition before driving it away. Photograph any damage that happened during the tow or storage. If you find damage, file a claim with the airport’s parking services.
When you need a tow once it’s released
If the vehicle was towed from DFW but is not drivable once you pick it up, or if you need it moved to a shop, an insurance lot, or your home in Plano, Irving, or wherever, a licensed Dallas-area operator can take it from there. We connect DFW travelers with operators who handle post-storage tows out of off-airport facilities and into the wider DFW metro.
How to avoid the next tow
A few habits keep DFW travelers out of the 90-day trap.
Use a tracker. A cheap GPS tracker in the vehicle, paired with a calendar reminder, tells you when the 90-day mark is approaching if you are parked long-term.
Have someone move the vehicle. If you are going to be away longer than 90 days, ask a friend, family member, or a paid service to start the car and move it briefly. The 90-day clock resets when the vehicle is moved off the spot and back.
Use off-airport long-term parking. Some off-airport parking operators have their own shorter or longer rules, and they handle their own enforcement. Confirm with the specific operator what their continuous-parking cap is.
Notify DFW if you have a circumstance. If your vehicle is in for a long repair at an airport-area shop, ask the shop to notify DFW parking services so the 90-day clock does not apply to that specific lot.
Frequently asked questions
Where does DFW tow vehicles? Off-airport to a contracted storage facility. The facility’s address is on the citation paperwork or available by calling the citation line.
How long do I have to pay or contest a DFW citation? 15 days from the citation date. After that, the penalty doubles.
Does the 90-day rule apply to the cell phone lots? No. The cell phone lots are designed for short stops, not continuous parking, and have their own time limits.
What if my car was towed from DFW but I never got a citation? Call the boot line at (972) 973-3112 or the citation line at 866-449-7566 to confirm whether the vehicle was towed and where it is being held.
If your vehicle was towed from DFW and you need a tow to a shop, an insurance lot, or home once it’s released, call (469) 902-4411. We’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator who can move it for you.