Storage Fee

A storage fee is the $20 per day charge assessed for every calendar day a towed vehicle remains at a NYC city-operated tow pound. Storage fees begin accruing immediately upon impound — including the day of towing — and continue for weekends, holidays, and any day the owner has not yet completed the release process.

While $20/day may seem modest, it adds up quickly when combined with the other costs of a towed vehicle. A commercial van impounded for 5 days racks up $100 in storage alone, on top of the judgment balance, $136 release fee, and $185+ towing fee. Delays in gathering required paperwork (registration, insurance, proof of ownership) or missing the pound's pickup hours can easily extend an impound by several days.

For fleet operators, storage fees are a compounding cost that makes every day of delay more expensive. The fastest path to minimizing storage fees is having all required documentation ready before visiting the pound and ensuring payment for the full judgment balance is processed in advance. Clear Plates tracks vehicles at tow-risk status and provides judgment balance details so you can prepare payment proactively, minimizing impound duration if a tow does occur.