Getting your car towed can be stressful and if you don’t pay the towing fees, things can get even more complicated. Here’s what you need to know.

Your Car Will Be Held

If you can’t pay the towing fees, the towing company or city impound lot will hold your vehicle. You can still access your personal belongings, like keys, wallets, sunglasses, or documents, because the company cannot legally keep these items.

There’s a 30-Day Window

You typically have 30 days to pay the towing fees and retrieve your car. If you’re unable to pay within that timeframe, the city may sell your vehicle at a lien sale auction. These auctions are public and the location is listed on the local government website. Potential buyers can inspect the car before bidding. Once your car is sold, you no longer own it.

Why Cities Hold Auctions

City officials conduct these sales to recover unpaid impound fees and other associated costs. If your car is worth more than $1,000, it’s usually better to find a way to pay the fees rather than risk losing the vehicle.

Options for Paying

If you don’t have the cash upfront, there are several options:

• Personal loan: A small loan of $1,000 or less is often easy to get with decent credit.

• Credit card: You can use a card to cover the towing fees.

• Home equity line of credit: If you own a home, this can be another option.

The key is to act quickly—paying the fees is almost always cheaper than losing the car entirely.

Typical Costs

Most towing bills aren’t huge. For example, in California, the average fee ranges from $150 to $400. If you can scrape together that amount within 30 days, you can avoid the stress and expense of losing your car.

Remember: Other Financial Obligations Remain

Even if your car goes to auction, you’re still responsible for any remaining financial obligations, like monthly car loan payments. The lien sale does not erase any debts associated with the vehicle.