Getting your car towed is stressful. Getting it back doesn’t have to be. If your vehicle ended up in impound in El Paso, here’s exactly how to get it out, what it costs, and what to bring so you only make one trip.

Where impounded cars go in El Paso

Most vehicles impounded by city police or city tow contractors end up at the City of El Paso Vehicle Storage Facility. It sits at 11615 Railroad Dr, on the northeast side of town.

The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call ahead at (915) 212-0205 to confirm your vehicle is there before you drive out. That one phone call saves you a wasted trip if your car landed somewhere else.

Always confirm the location first. A car towed after a crash, an arrest, or a parking violation may go to the city lot. A private-property tow can go to a different contractor’s yard entirely.

What it costs to get your car back

El Paso impound fees follow City Ordinance Chapter 12.54. The numbers are set by ordinance, so they’re the same no matter who you talk to.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Daily storage: $20 plus tax per day for a standard vehicle
  • Oversized vehicles: $35 plus tax per day
  • Notification fee: $50, added once your car has been stored more than 24 hours

The storage clock keeps running every day your car sits in the lot. That’s the main reason to move fast. A car you pick up on day two costs a lot less than one you leave for two weeks.

There may also be a separate tow charge depending on who moved the vehicle and why. Ask for the full total over the phone before you head out so nothing surprises you at the window.

Documents you need to bring

The facility won’t release a car to just anyone. You need to prove two things: who you are, and that the car is yours.

Bring these with you:

  • A valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of ownership, like the title or current registration in your name

If you’re picking up a car that’s titled to someone else, you’ll need a notarized power of attorney from the owner authorizing you to claim it. Without that document, the lot can’t release the vehicle to you, even if you have the keys.

Double-check that the name on your proof of ownership matches the name on your ID. A mismatch is the most common reason people get sent home empty-handed.

A note for New Mexico communities

El Paso sits right on the state line, and a lot of our neighbors live just over it. If your car was towed in Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral, or Anthony, New Mexico, the City of El Paso facility and Chapter 12.54 don’t apply.

Those communities fall under Doña Ana County and New Mexico rules instead. The storage location, the fee structure, and the paperwork can all be different. Call the agency or lot that handled your tow before you assume anything, and ask them where the vehicle is and what they charge.

When in doubt, find out which side of the line your car was towed from. That one detail decides which rules you’re dealing with.

Need a tow handled the right way?

If you’re facing a tow, or you need a car moved before it racks up storage fees, we can help. Quick Tow El Paso runs flatbed and wheel-lift trucks across the whole metro, and we’ll give you a flat rate before we roll.

Call us at (858) 925-5546 and we’ll tell you what your options are. No runaround, just a straight answer and a truck on the way.