Fees and procedures referenced below are current as of July 2026.
A serious car accident usually leaves vehicles damaged, disabled, and blocking traffic. As you’re processing what happened, a tow truck may arrive and an officer may ask where you want your vehicle taken.
That decision is important. Where the vehicle goes can affect how much you pay, how quickly an insurance adjuster can inspect it, and whether important evidence is preserved. It can also determine whether your vehicle begins accumulating daily storage charges.
This Houston towing guide explains what drivers should know after a car accident, including who chooses the towing destination, how much a police-authorized tow may cost, how to retrieve a vehicle from storage, and what to do if you believe a towing company violated your rights.
On This Page
- What Happens When Your Car Cannot Be Driven After a Houston Accident?
- Do You Have the Right to Choose Where the Vehicle Goes?
- Be Careful About Tow Truck Solicitation at the Accident/li>
- Does Houston’s Tow and Go Program Coverows?
- How Much Does a orized Tow Cost in Houston?
- How to Locate a Towed Vehicle in Houston
- What Do You Need to Retrieve a Vehicle?
- Can You Retrieve Personal Property Without Paying the Entire
- Who Pays the Towing and Storage Costs?
- What If the Vehicle Is Declared a Total Loss?
- What Can You Do About an Improper Tow or Excessive Charges?
- Quick Houston Accident Towing Checklist
- Speak With a Houston Car Accidenta>
What Happens When Your Car Cannot Be Driven After a Houston Accident?
If no one is injured and the vehicles can be driven safely, drivers should move out of active traffic before exchanging information. If a vehicle is too damaged to operate, law enforcement may arrange for it to be removed.
The Texas Department of Insurance states that when police call a tow truck after an accident, the driver may tell the officer to have the vehicle taken to a storage facility or body shop of the driver’s choice.
When possible, decide on a destination before the tow truck leaves. Suitable options may include:
- Your home
- A repair facility you trust
- A dealership
- A City of Houston-approved police storage lot
Do not assume that your car must go wherever the tow truck operator recommends.
Do You Have the Right to Choose Where the Vehicle Goes?
Houston motorists generally have the option to select the towing destination, except in limited circumstances such as when a vehicle is being held as evidence or the driver has been arrested.
The Houston Police Department’s Motorist Bill of Rights instructs drivers to tell the officer where they want the vehicle taken and to request a copy of the police tow slip showing the selected location. The city also warns that storage fees at approved police private storage lots are regulated and posted, while charges at other destinations may not be regulated in the same manner.
Before the tow begins:
- Clearly state where you want the car taken.
- Confirm that the officer records the correct address.
- Obtain the towing company’s name.
- Request a copy or photograph of the tow slip.
- Confirm whether the destination charges storage fees.
If you are transported to a hospital or otherwise unable to make the decision, the vehicle will usually be taken to an authorized storage facility. A family member, insurer, or attorney can later locate it and arrange for its removal.
Be Careful About Tow Truck Solicitation at the Accident Scene
Tow truck operators at a Houston police scene are not permitted to solicit your business by pressuring you to choose a particular repair shop, storage facility, attorney, medical provider, or other service.
HPD specifically states that a tow operator violates Houston rules by approaching a crash victim and offering, suggesting, or requesting that the damaged vehicle be taken to a particular body shop while police remain at the scene. The operator’s responsibility is to tow the vehicle as directed by the officer.
Be cautious when a driver says:
- “This is the shop your insurance company uses.”
- “You have to let us take it to our lot.”
- “The officer already approved this repair facility.”
- “Insurance will pay everything, so the price does not matter.”
- “Sign this now so we can start repairs.”
Ask to read every document before signing it. A vehicle storage facility may not require a vehicle owner to authorize towing, repairs, or another service when the vehicle was placed in storage through a law enforcement initiated tow.
Does Houston’s Tow and Go Program Cover Accident Tows?
Houston’s Tow and Go program provides no-cost assistance for qualifying mechanical breakdowns on participating freeways. For example, a vehicle that runs out of fuel, overheats, or experiences a flat tire may be moved to a nearby safe location without charge.
However, vehicles involved in crashes are not eligible for the program’s free towing service. Abandoned vehicles and vehicles involved in law-enforcement incidents are also excluded. Accident-related tows are instead subject to the applicable local towing rate.
Tow and Go can be reached at 713-881-3333, but drivers should not expect the program to provide a free tow after a collision.
How Much Does a Police-Authorized Tow Cost in Houston?
Effective January 1, 2026, Houston’s regulated non-consent tow rate is:
- $232 for the first 20 miles
- $4.64 for every additional mile
This rate applies when a vehicle is abandoned, blocking a moving lane, involved in an accident, or removed because of another law-enforcement incident. Tow operators must accept cash and at least two of the four major credit-card brands identified by the city.
However, the initial towing charge may not be the entire bill. Depending on where the vehicle is taken and how long it remains there, the owner may also encounter storage, impoundment, notification, or government-related charges.
Under the current Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation schedule, a vehicle storage facility may generally charge up to:
- $22.85 per day for a vehicle no longer than 25 feet
- $39.99 per day for a vehicle longer than 25 feet
- $22.85 as an impoundment fee
- $50 as a one-time notification fee
Storage may be charged for part of a calendar day, although a facility generally may not charge two days of storage when the vehicle was held for less than 12 hours. The invoice must identify permitted charges, and facilities may not add environmental fees, notary fees, or fees for releasing personal belongings.
Rates can change, so request a written, itemized total before paying.
How to Locate a Towed Vehicle in Houston
If you do not know where the car was taken, search for it using its license plate number or vehicle identification number.
HPD directs motorists to FindMyTowedCar.com or the Houston tow line at 713-308-8580. The search system can provide the storage facility’s location and information about pending charges.
For a vehicle towed outside Houston’s city limits but within Harris County, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office also directs motorists to its towing information and vehicle-location resources.
Contact the storage facility before traveling there. Ask about:
- The current balance
- Accepted payment methods
- Release hours
- Documents needed
- Whether advance notice is required
- Whether an insurance adjuster has inspected the car
Storage fees can continue accumulating while the vehicle remains at the facility. Reporting the accident to the appropriate insurer quickly can help prevent unnecessary delays.
What Do You Need to Retrieve a Vehicle?
A vehicle storage facility will generally require:
- Government-issued photo identification
- Proof that you own the vehicle or have authority to possess it
- Payment of the permitted towing and storage charges
Proof of ownership or authorization may include a matching vehicle registration record, title, insurance card naming you as an insured, current rental or lease agreement, notarized power of attorney, or an approved TDLR vehicle-removal form. Texas facilities may accept government-issued identification from another country, including a Mexican driver’s license or matrícula consular.
A storage facility may not insist on proof of insurance when you have another legally sufficient release document, government identification, and payment. Facilities that accept vehicles around the clock must also release them around the clock. Other facilities must generally make vehicles available within one hour during designated release periods.
Can You Retrieve Personal Property Without Paying the Entire Bill?
You ordinarily have the right to access the vehicle to obtain ownership documents and remove personal belongings without first paying the towing and storage balance.
A storage facility may not charge for releasing personal property. It must also provide free access during normal business hours for an insurance or repair inspection. Owners may request to inspect the tow ticket and obtain the applicable non-consent towing fee schedule.
When visiting the lot:
- Photograph every side of the vehicle.
- Photograph the interior and mileage.
- Document broken windows or unsecured openings.
- Note any damage that was not present immediately after the collision.
- Obtain an itemized invoice and receipt.
- Collect medication, identification, work equipment, child seats, electronic devices, and other necessary belongings.
Do not remove installed vehicle parts while the car remains in storage.
Who Pays the Towing and Storage Costs?
Responsibility depends on fault, available insurance coverage, and the terms of the applicable policies.
When another driver caused the accident, that driver’s property-damage liability coverage may ultimately pay for damage to your vehicle and related losses. However, the other insurer may investigate liability before issuing payment.
You may also be able to use your own coverage. Collision coverage pays to repair or replace an insured vehicle after a crash, while optional towing-and-labor coverage pays to tow a vehicle that cannot be driven. Uninsured or underinsured motorist property-damage coverage may apply when the responsible driver has no insurance, insufficient coverage, or leaves the scene.
Do not leave a vehicle accumulating storage fees solely because the insurance companies are debating fault. Ask the adjuster when the inspection will occur and whether the vehicle should be moved to a repair facility, salvage location, or another lower-cost destination.
Keep every tow ticket, invoice, receipt, storage notice, photograph, email, and insurance communication. These records can help establish the amount of your property-related losses.
What If the Vehicle Is Declared a Total Loss?
An insurer may declare the vehicle a total loss when the cost of repair approaches or exceeds its value. The company will calculate the vehicle’s value and may eventually arrange to move it from storage to a salvage facility.
Before signing over the title or authorizing disposal:
- Confirm that the insurer has completed its inspection.
- Remove all personal property.
- Photograph the vehicle thoroughly.
- Download dashcam or onboard-camera footage.
- Preserve maintenance and repair records.
- Document aftermarket equipment or special features.
- Confirm whether you intend to retain the salvage.
Texas drivers may challenge an insurer’s valuation with local advertisements, dealership quotes, comparable vehicle listings, and documentation of custom equipment or vehicle condition.
When the crash caused catastrophic injuries or death, the vehicle itself may contain important evidence. Speak with an attorney before permitting repairs, destructive testing, salvage, or disposal.
What Can You Do About an Improper Tow or Excessive Charges?
A vehicle owner or operator may request a tow hearing when a vehicle was removed without consent and there is a dispute over whether probable cause existed or whether the permitted fees were exceeded.
In Harris County, the written request generally must be filed before the 14th business day after the vehicle was placed in storage. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are excluded from that calculation. Harris County currently lists a $54 filing fee and directs tow-hearing requests to designated Justice of the Peace courts in Precincts 2, 3, 6, or 8. (Harris County Justice Courts)
For complaints involving a Houston police-authorized tow, motorists may contact the HPD Auto Dealers Detail at:
Phone: 832-394-4800
24-hour emergency number: 832-394-4869
Email: HPD.AutoDealers@Houstontx.gov
HPD accepts complaints involving towing companies and vehicle storage facilities operating under Houston regulations.
Complaints involving licensed towing operators or storage facilities may also be submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Quick Houston Accident Towing Checklist
After an accident involving a disabled vehicle:
- Photograph the vehicle and accident scene before it is moved.
- Tell the officer exactly where you want the car taken.
- Avoid accepting unsolicited body-shop or repair recommendations.
- Obtain the towing company’s name and a copy of the police tow slip.
- Locate the vehicle immediately if you were transported from the scene.
- Report the accident to your insurer and request a prompt inspection.
- Retrieve personal property and document the vehicle’s condition.
- Move the vehicle promptly once the inspection is complete.
- Keep every towing and storage record.
- Do not authorize repairs or disposal until you understand your options.
Speak With a Houston Car Accident Attorney
Towing problems can make an already difficult accident even more stressful. Injured drivers often face unexpected storage charges, disputes between insurance companies, pressure to authorize repairs, and uncertainty about how to proceed. A Houston car accident attorney can investigate the collision, communicate with insurers, preserve relevant vehicle evidence, and pursue compensation from the parties responsible for your injuries and losses.
Hilda Sibrian has represented injury victims in car and truck accident claims across Texas for over 22 years. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed due to another driver’s negligence, you need to call an experienced Houston attorney as soon as possible. The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian serve all of Houston and Texas, including Sugar Land, Missouri City, La Porte, Beaumont, Pasadena, The Woodlands, The Heights, Bellaire, Kingwood, Baytown and of course Houston proper.
Call the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian today for a free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.
