El Paso Tow and Impound Cost Ceiling Estimator
The most a tow company may charge for a tow you did not ask for, inside and outside El Paso city limits.
If your car was towed without your consent, police-ordered, after a crash, or from private property, this tool shows the most you can lawfully be charged. Pick where it happened. Inside El Paso city limits, City Code 12.54.020 caps apply. Outside the city in Texas, TDLR maximums apply. New Mexico follows its own rules. This isn't a quote. A tow you request yourself is priced by the operator you hire.
What are the legal caps on a nonconsent tow?
Light duty covers most cars, SUVs and pickups under 10,000 lb GVWR. Heavy duty covers box trucks, buses and semis.
| Where the tow happened | Light duty | Medium duty | Heavy duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside El Paso city limits | $100 max | $350 max | $450 max | City Code 12.54.020, any truck. Up to $25 for dollies. Half the fee if hooked but not towed. |
| Police tow to the city lot | + $20 + $20 | + $20 + $20 | + $20 + $20 | City Code 12.54.060: police fee and impoundment fee, plus storage. |
| Outside city limits in Texas | $272 max | $380 max | $489 per unit | TDLR statewide maximum outside El Paso city limits; up to $978 total for heavy units. |
| New Mexico side | NM rules | NM rules | NM rules | Texas caps do not apply. Ask the agency or company that towed it. |
| A tow you request yourself | Quoted | Quoted | Quoted | The operator you hire sets the price. Ask for the total first. |
Estimate the most you can be charged
Pick where it happened and what happened next. The result is a legal ceiling, not a quote.
What about roadside help and specialty tows?
These are jobs you ask for, so the operator you hire quotes them. Ask for the total before work starts.
| Service | Who sets the price | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle tow | Operator quote | Ask for a flatbed with a wheel chock and soft straps. |
| EV tow (Tesla and others) | Operator quote | Ask for a flatbed; put the car in transport mode first. |
| Winch-out (stuck vehicle) | Operator quote | Price depends on terrain; ask before the cable comes out. |
| Lockout | Operator quote | Ask whether entry is non-destructive. |
| Jump start | Operator quote | Ask whether a battery test is included. |
| Tire change | Operator quote | Uses your spare; a new tire costs extra. |
| Fuel delivery | Operator quote | Enough to reach the nearest station; fuel may be billed on top. |
| Free highway help | TxDOT HERO | On I-10, Loop 375 and US 54 in set hours: 915-790-HERO (4376). |
What changes the final number?
Where it happened
Inside El Paso city limits the City Code 12.54 caps govern. Outside the city in Texas the TDLR maximums do. New Mexico has its own rules.
Vehicle weight
The cap follows the factory weight rating (GVWR): up to 10,000 lb is light duty, 10,000 to 25,000 lb is medium, over 25,000 lb is heavy.
Time and storage
Every day at the lot adds storage, up to $22.85 a day for a car 25 feet or shorter. Picking it up within 24 hours avoids the notice fee.
Who asked for the tow
The caps cover tows made without your consent. A tow you call for yourself is quoted by the operator you hire, so get the total first.
What do El Paso drivers ask about tow costs?
How much can a tow company charge for a police-ordered tow in El Paso?
Inside El Paso city limits, City Code 12.54.020 caps the tow fee at $100 for light duty, $350 for medium duty, and $450 for heavy duty. Add up to $25 for dollies. For vehicles over 10,000 lb, up to $55 per hour beyond two hours on scene. A police-ordered tow also adds a $20 fee to the police department and a $20 city-lot impoundment fee.
What are the TDLR maximums for a nonconsent tow outside El Paso city limits?
Outside El Paso city limits in Texas, TDLR maximums apply: $272 for vehicles 10,000 lb or less, $380 for over 10,000 and under 25,000 lb, and $489 per unit up to $978 for over 25,000 lb. A drop fee maximum applies if fully hooked but not yet gone. These figures do not apply inside El Paso city limits.
How much can storage cost after a tow in Texas?
At a licensed vehicle storage facility in Texas, storage is capped at $22.85 per day for vehicles 25 feet or less, and $39.99 per day for over 25 feet. If stored under 12 hours, no more than one day can be charged. A notification fee up to $50 is allowed, but not if you reclaim within 24 hours. At the city lot, a 1.98% card fee applies.
Does this estimator cover New Mexico tows?
No. New Mexico, including Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral, and Anthony NM, follows its own rules under the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code and 18.3.12 NMAC. No New Mexico dollar figure is published here. Call the agency or lot that handled the tow for the charges that apply.
Need a tow you are asking for?
Call and get connected with an independent local operator, who quotes the job before work starts.