cityofboston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston - Thomas M. Menino, Mayor

Locating Towed Vehicles

The process of recovering a towed vehicle depends on the reason it was towed. If you believe your vehicle was towed in Boston, you can locate it using the following:

• Call the Boston Police Tow Line: 617-343-4629

• Call the Transportation Department Tow Lot Line: 617-635-3900

• Search the Online Database by license plate

Additional Important Phone Numbers

• Dispute a tow or boot: 617-635-4410

Towed for Illegal Parking

Vehicles towed for illegal parking are subject to a $90.00 tow fee.  In addition, there is a storage fee of $3.00/hour up to $15.00/day. Payment may be made by cash, Master Card, VISA, ATM card, or debit card.

Payments should be made at 200 Frontage Road.

Frontage Road Hours: 
7:00 AM - 10:30 PM, Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturdays

The parking ticket, which is affixed to the vehicle can be paid at the time of retrieval, online, or by mail after the vehicle is released.

Vehicles Seized for Overdue Parking Violations (Towed/Booted)

Vehicles with outstanding tickets may be towed or booted.  Before a towed or booted vehicle is released, all outstanding parking violations issued to the registration must be paid.  In addition, there is a $90.00 seizure fee.  For towed cars, there is a storage fee of $3.00/hour up to $15.00/day.  Payment may be made by cash, money order, cashier check, Master Card, VISA, ATM or debit card.  Once payment is received, boots are removed within approximately 90 minutes.

Payments may be made in person at Boston City Hall, Room 224 or at 200 Frontage Road. 

Boston City Hall CashierHours:
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday

Frontage Road Hours: 
7:00 AM - 10:30 PM, Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturdays

*Payments made after 7PM are subject to 'next-day' boot removal.

Towed For Abandonment

Vehicles declared abandoned and tagged with a green sticker should be removed from the public way and the reason(s) the vehicle was deemed abandoned be corrected immediately.  Abandoned vehicles not removed from the public way are towed to 200 Frontage Road.

Abandoned vehicles of substantial value may be kept longer and are therefore subject to tow and storage charges and sale at auction after 30 days.

To inquire about your vehicle, have either the VIN number from the vehicle or AVR number from the ticket ready.  If you wish to recover an abandoned vehicle that has not yet been disposed of, tow and storage fees must be paid in full. Abandoned vehicles that are disposed of will be subject to additional fines and fees. Vehicles may be claimed with a valid driver's license.

Frontage Road Hours: 
7:00 AM - 10:30 PM, Monday through Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturdays

Towed for Street Sweeping

Towing for street sweeping violations is overseen by the Public Works Department. Such vehicles are towed by privately-owned tow trucks to private lots, which is different from towing done by the Boston Transportation Department. Though the ticketing step is handled by BTD, the towing step is handled by PWD. 

Towed From A State Road

Vehicles towed from a state road in Boston (those maintained by the state) are not traceable by Boston Police.  In such cases, you will have to inquire with the State Police.