Jan 14, 2026
As winter settles in across Chicago, bringing snow, icy roads and tighter parking rules, many residents are once again finding their cars unexpectedly towed. While the city’s winter parking bans have been in place for years, each season still catches thousands of drivers off guard, often leaving them with a costly and time-consuming trip to the auto pound.
According to CBS, a Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation spokesperson said that 227 cars were towed on the first night of the winter parking ban — that’s down from last year, when 244 were towed on Dec. 1, 2024, and further down from 2023, which had 263 cars towed. CBS reported that last year, more than 7,400 vehicles were towed between Dec. 1 and April 1 amid the winter parking ban (1).
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Not realizing what your local parking laws are can cost you; for Chicagoans who don’t heed the signage, they’ll face a $150 towing fee, plus a $60 ticket and a $25 per day in storage fees.
Discovering your car has been towed can be a stressful experience, and an unexpected bill for being towed can be a big financial hit. While these tows were legitimate, predatory towing is also a growing issue. Here’s what you need to know, and what you can do to avoid a big bill if your car is towed.
The financial impact of a car tow
Towing and storage fees will vary based on your area. You may also have to pay a ticket depending on the circumstances for which you were towed.
In New York City, for example, the regular tow fee for a vehicle is $185, plus a $20 overnight storage fee (2).
In the state of Georgia, prices are a little higher, and there are maximum charges that can be levied for towing and storage of vehicles that were improperly parked. For a vehicle that weighs 10,000 pounds or less, the maximum tow charge is $228; there can be no storage charge for the first 24 hours, and after that, storage fees can be no more than $33 a day (3).
Storage fees are a major concern if your car is towed, as they can quickly add up. For those in Chicago, a week of storage fees would cost $175, which is more than the initial towing fee (1).
In addition to the charges you will face when your car is towed, it can also cost you in other ways. If you’re unable to retrieve your vehicle right away, you will have to pay for alternative transportation. And you may end up losing money as well if you have to take time off work to go and retrieve your vehicle.
The CBS report included interviews with Chicagoans whose cars were towed, with one resident, Michaela Davis, saying that it took her more than four hours to get her car back, due to long lines at the auto pound.
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How to avoid sky-high tow fees
It goes without saying, the best way to avoid paying costly towing and impound fees is to always be aware of the local street-parking laws in your area. The CBS report noted that residents were being reminded to “triple check” the street signage before parking their vehicle this winter.
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If you do end up in the unfortunate situation of being towed, be sure to take action right away, to avoid mounting storage fees.
Chicago residents can check a city website, or call 311, to see if their vehicle has been towed. If you need to see if your vehicle has been towed, search for websites or a phone number for your area that you can use to check if you’ve been towed, or call local law enforcement.
If you are concerned that you’ve been victim to predatory towing practices, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. According to consumer advocacy organization U.S. PIRG, some predatory practices include charging sky-high fees, refusing to let you collect personal items from your vehicle, or not giving you an itemized bill (4). “Only about half of states set any kind of maximum fees for towing or storage of vehicles towed without the driver’s consent,” the organization notes.
Unfortunately, laws around towing vary widely depending on state and municipal laws.
If your car is towed, it’s important to look up the rules for your state, and remember that there may also be additional laws at the city level. This website compiles which states have certain laws and protections around towing.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBS News (1); New York City Police Department (2); Georgia Department of Public Safety (3); U.S. PIRG (4)
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Rebecca Holland is dedicated to creating clear, accessible advice for readers navigating the complexities of money management, investing and financial planning. Her work has been featured in respected publications including the Financial Post, The Globe & Mail, and the Edmonton Journal.
