Towing Laws in District of Columbia: Your Rights, Costs & Impound Rules

If your car was just towed in the District of Columbia - ticketed off the street, removed from private property, or hauled off after a crash - this page explains what DC law says about the fees you can be charged, how to get your vehicle and belongings back, and where to file a complaint. Every fact below comes directly from the DC Code and municipal regulations, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in DC

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) handles towing and impoundment in the District - its tow crane operators can tow a vehicle once it's been ticketed for any parking violation, and DPW can be reached directly at (202) 673-6833 for questions about a specific tow. If you want to file a formal towing complaint, that goes to the DC Office of the Attorney General, either by phone at 202-442-9828 or through the online form at oag.dc.gov/complaint.

What a tow can cost

DC fixes district-wide impound tow charges by statute rather than leaving them to local variation. The standard towing fee is $100, plus a storage fee of $20 per day. That base fee jumps to $275 if your vehicle's size or weight requires special towing equipment, and it rises to $1,000 for vehicles impounded under the specific regulatory provision covering certain violation categories.

Because these figures are set district-wide, they're a useful baseline to check any invoice against. Our towing cost calculator can help you compare a bill to these statutory amounts.

Getting your car back from impound

DC law treats towing and storage fees, along with any unpaid parking fines, as an automatic prior lien on your impounded vehicle. You have 28 days after the impoundment notice to reclaim the car before that window closes. If a vehicle goes unclaimed, the District can sell or otherwise dispose of it - along with any personal property left inside - with the proceeds first going to reimburse towing, storage, and notice costs.

If you're towed from private property

Removals from private property in DC are carried out by the District government or by a towing company acting at the direction of the Department. A vehicle parked without the property owner's consent can be removed immediately once a notice of infraction has been conspicuously placed on it. Separately, an abandoned vehicle on private property can be removed 45 days after a warning notice is mailed first class to the property owner's last known address.

After an accident

If you know or have reason to believe your vehicle was in a collision, DC law requires you to stop immediately. Where anyone is injured, the driver must call 911, stay on scene until law enforcement arrives, and provide identifying information. Where there's only property damage, the driver must provide identifying information to the owner or report the crash to law enforcement or 911. Taking these steps isn't optional - a first offense involving injury can carry up to 180 days of incarceration.

The Move Over law

Approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using its lights or siren, DC law requires you to change into a lane that isn't adjacent to it, as long as the roadway has at least two lanes in your direction and the change can be made safely. On a one-lane roadway, you're instead required to proceed with due caution at a safe speed until you're past the vehicle. Separately, if you're approaching a collision or breakdown, you must reduce speed and vacate any lane that's blocked.

Chains & winter traction

Between October 15 and April 15, whenever snow, sleet, or freezing rain is falling or coating a street marked as a Snow Emergency Route, DC regulations prohibit letting your vehicle become stalled because its drive wheels aren't equipped with tire chains or effective snow tires. In other words, if you're driving a Snow Emergency Route during that window and conditions turn wintry, your vehicle needs to be equipped to handle it.

FAQ

How much can I be charged for a standard DC impound tow? The base statutory rate is $100 for the tow plus $20 per day for storage, though it rises to $275 for vehicles needing special equipment and to $1,000 for certain impoundment categories.

How long do I have to get my car out of a DC impound lot? You have 28 days after the impoundment notice to reclaim your vehicle before the District can move to sell or dispose of it.

What happens if I'm involved in a DC collision and no one is hurt? You still need to stop and either provide your identifying information to the other owner or report the crash to law enforcement or 911 - the requirement to report applies to property damage, not just injuries.

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