Boot Removal Fee

The boot removal fee is a $136 charge that must be paid in addition to all outstanding judgment debt to have a wheel boot removed from a vehicle or to release a towed vehicle from a city pound. This fee is non-negotiable and applies regardless of the total judgment amount — whether you owe $350 or $5,000, the removal fee is the same.

The $136 fee is paid to the NYC marshal or Sheriff's Office that applied the boot or ordered the tow. Payment is typically required in the form of a money order, certified check, or credit/debit card — cash and personal checks are generally not accepted. The removal process can take several hours after payment, as the marshal or deputy must physically return to the vehicle location to remove the boot.

For fleet operators, the boot removal fee is just the tip of the iceberg. The real cost of a boot is the operational downtime: a delivery van immobilized for 4–8 hours while waiting for removal costs far more in missed deliveries and disrupted routes than the $136 fee. Prevention through timely judgment payment is always more cost-effective than paying removal fees after the fact. Clear Plates calculates total boot-risk exposure including the $136 fee in its fleet-wide cost projections.