If your car is missing from where you parked it in Dallas, call 311 first or contact the Dallas Auto Pound directly at (214) 670-5116. Most city tows land at the pound, 1955 Vilbig Road, but private-property tows go to a different lot entirely, so check the signage where your car was parked before you drive anywhere. Call (469) 902-4411 if you need help sorting out which lot has your vehicle or getting it back on the road after.

Start with the two most likely places

A missing car in Dallas ends up in one of two systems, and figuring out which one determines everything that happens next.

City-directed tows (police-ordered, abandoned vehicle, or certain code violations) go to the Dallas Auto Pound at 1955 Vilbig Road, Dallas, TX 75208. Call the pound directly at (214) 670-5116, or call 311 first if you’re not sure whether the city towed it. Dallas Parking Management can also help at (214) 948-5346 or [email protected]. The pound doesn’t publish a fixed fee schedule or set hours, so call before you drive over.

Private-property tows happen when you’re parked at an apartment complex, retail lot, or private lot without authorization, and the property owner contracts a private towing company, not the city. These go to that company’s storage lot, which could be anywhere in the metro. The property’s signage is required by Texas law (Occupations Code 2308.301) to list the towing company’s name and a 24-hour phone number, so check the sign at the entrance to the lot where you parked before assuming the city has your car.

If you were parked at an apartment or private lot

Texas law requires signage at every entrance of a private lot that enforces towing, and that sign has to include the towing company’s name and phone number, along with who’s allowed to park and the enforcement hours. If your car disappeared from an apartment complex, walk back to the entrance and read the sign carefully. It’s your fastest path to the right phone number. If there’s no sign, or the signage doesn’t meet the legal requirements, that’s worth noting, because Texas law makes the property owner civilly liable for towing without proper signs.

Suburban and county pounds, if you’re outside Dallas proper

Several Dallas-area suburbs run their own impound systems, separate from the Dallas Auto Pound:

  • Garland operates a city lot at 1630 Commerce, Garland 75040.
  • Irving runs its own city Auto Pound; Irving tows add an 8.25% sales tax and a 1.75% card surcharge, plus $3 per mile for tows that start outside Irving city limits.
  • Mesquite has no city impound lot at all. Vehicles towed in Mesquite go to private wrecker yards. Call (972) 216-6261 to find yours.
  • Richardson contracts with Signature Towing, 1204 Municipal Drive, Plano 75074, (972) 423-4010. Richardson vehicles are auctioned the first Wednesday of each month if unclaimed.

If your car went missing in one of these cities rather than Dallas proper, start with that city’s number instead of the Dallas Auto Pound.

Two Dallas-specific reasons your car might be gone

Two enforcement chains are unique enough to DFW that they’re worth knowing about directly.

NTTA toll violations. If you’ve racked up 100 or more unpaid tolls across two written notices within a year, NTTA can classify you as a habitual violator and ban your vehicle from its toll roads. Driving a banned vehicle is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500, and repeated violations can escalate to impound. If you suspect this is why your car is gone, check your NTTA account status before anything else.

The Dallas “barnacle” boot. If you’ve had three or more outstanding parking citations in a calendar year, the city can immobilize your vehicle with a windshield boot rather than towing it outright. You get 24 hours to resolve it before the city tows and impounds the car. Pay outstanding tickets at cityofdallas.rmcpay.com, by phone at 1-833-773-1942, or in person at the Oak Cliff Municipal Center, 320 E Jefferson, Room 212.

Once you’ve located it

Bring your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration to whichever lot has your car. Have a way to pay, since most lots require settling towing and storage fees before release. If your car needs to move once you get there and isn’t drivable, or you just want a second vehicle handled at the same time, a licensed operator can meet you at the lot.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if the city towed my car or a private company did? Check where you were parked. Street parking, code violations, and police-ordered tows usually go through the city. Apartment, retail, or other private lots use a private company listed on the lot’s required signage.

What if there’s no signage where I was parked? Texas law requires signs at private lots that enforce towing. If there wasn’t one, note the location and time, since the property owner may be liable for towing without proper signage under Occupations Code 2308.301.

Does Mesquite have a city impound lot? No. Mesquite has no city pound. Cars towed there go to private wrecker yards, and the city directs you to call (972) 216-6261 to locate your vehicle.

What do I need to bring to get my car released? Bring your driver’s license, proof of registration, proof of insurance, and a way to pay outstanding fees. Requirements can vary slightly by lot, so calling ahead saves a wasted trip.

If you’re not sure where to start or need a tow once your car is released, call (469) 902-4411. We’ll connect you with a licensed operator who knows the Dallas metro’s impound systems and can help you get moving again.