Tow Threshold

The tow threshold is the $2,500+ in unpaid judgment debt that makes a vehicle eligible for towing by NYC marshals or the Sheriff's Office. While booting can begin at $350, towing is reserved for vehicles with substantially higher outstanding balances — indicating a pattern of prolonged non-payment that the city treats as a serious enforcement priority.

When a vehicle is towed, it is removed to a city-operated tow pound where daily storage fees of $20/day begin immediately. To retrieve the vehicle, the owner must pay the full judgment balance, the $136 boot/tow removal fee, and all accumulated storage charges. For commercial vehicles, a towed delivery van means cancelled routes, missed deliveries, and potential contractual penalties on top of the city fees.

Fleet operators should treat the $2,500 tow threshold as a critical red line. Once a vehicle crosses this level, the risk of losing it for days is real and immediate. Proactive payment of judgment-status violations well before reaching this level is the best prevention strategy. Clear Plates tracks each vehicle's total judgment debt and alerts you when any vehicle approaches the tow-eligible threshold.