What Vehicle Storage Fees Cost and How They Add Up

Vehicle storage fees are daily charges that begin the moment your car enters an impound lot and continue until you retrieve it

Once a vehicle is towed and impounded in South Carolina, the towing company or impound facility charges you a daily storage fee. This is separate from the towing fee itself. The daily rate varies by facility and by county — there is no statewide cap — but typically ranges from $15 to $50 per day. The longer your vehicle sits, the more you owe. A car impounded for two weeks can accumulate $210 to $700 in storage charges alone, on top of the towing cost and any administrative fees.

Storage fees begin accruing immediately after the vehicle arrives at the lot, even if you do not know it has been towed yet. They continue every single day, including weekends and holidays, until you or an authorized person physically retrieves the vehicle. If you do not retrieve it within a certain period — usually 30 to 90 days depending on the facility — the lot may have the legal right to sell the vehicle to cover unpaid fees, though they must follow specific notice procedures first.

Key Takeaways

• Storage fees start the day your vehicle enters the lot and run every day until you pick it up, including weekends.
• Daily rates vary by facility and county, typically between $15 and $50 per day, with no state-imposed maximum.
• You can reduce total storage costs by retrieving your vehicle as quickly as possible after locating where it was towed.
• If you cannot pay storage fees immediately, ask the facility about payment plans or whether fees can be waived or reduced in hardship cases.
• After 30 to 90 days of non-payment, the lot may sell your vehicle to recover unpaid towing and storage charges.

How storage fees are calculated and what affects the daily rate

The daily storage fee is set by the towing company or impound facility, not by the state or county government. This means the rate depends entirely on which facility is holding your vehicle. A facility in one town may charge $20 per day while another charges $40. Some facilities charge a flat daily rate; others charge different rates based on vehicle size or type (motorcycle versus SUV, for example).

The total storage bill is straightforward math: multiply the daily rate by the number of days the vehicle is in storage. If a facility charges $25 per day and your car sits for 10 days, you owe $250 in storage fees. This amount is separate from and in addition to the towing fee (usually $75 to $300), any administrative or gate fees the facility charges, and any citation fines or court costs related to why the vehicle was towed in the first place.

Some facilities offer reduced rates if you retrieve your vehicle within the first 24 or 48 hours, though this is not standard. A few facilities in South Carolina allow payment plans for large storage bills, but you must ask — most require full payment before release of the vehicle.

Finding out where your vehicle is and what you owe

The first step is locating which facility has your vehicle. Call the police department or sheriff's office in the jurisdiction where your car was towed. They maintain records of all tows and can tell you the facility name, address, and phone number. You can also search online for "[your city] impound lot" or "[your county] towing" to find facility contact information.

Once you have the facility's number, call and provide your vehicle's license plate number or VIN. The facility will tell you the exact storage fee owed, the towing fee, any other charges, and the total amount due. Ask whether they accept cash, card, or check, and whether they have extended hours or a weekend schedule. Some facilities are only staffed during business hours, which can delay your retrieval.

Request an itemized receipt showing the towing fee, storage fee (with the number of days charged), and any other charges. This protects you if there is a dispute later about what you were charged.

Retrieving your vehicle and stopping storage fees from accumulating

Storage fees stop accruing the moment you or an authorized person takes possession of the vehicle. You do not have to drive it away immediately — once you have paid and signed the release paperwork, the facility's responsibility ends and so do the daily charges. If you cannot drive it yourself, you can authorize someone else to pick it up on your behalf, or you can arrange for a tow truck to move it to a repair shop or your home.

The faster you retrieve your vehicle, the lower your total storage bill. If you know your car has been towed, prioritize getting to the facility within the first few days. Even a delay of one week can add $105 to $350 in storage charges depending on the daily rate.

If the facility is far away or you cannot retrieve the vehicle immediately, ask whether they will hold it without additional charges for a short period (a few days) while you arrange transportation. Some facilities will; most will not. Storage fees continue to accrue regardless of your circumstances.

What happens if you cannot pay storage fees right away

If you cannot afford to pay the full amount immediately, contact the facility directly and explain your situation. Some facilities will negotiate a payment plan, especially if you can pay a portion upfront. Others will not release the vehicle until full payment is received. There is no legal requirement in South Carolina that facilities offer payment plans, so the answer depends on the individual facility's policy.

If the facility refuses to work with you and you believe the charges are excessive or incorrect, you can file a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs or contact your local police department's non-emergency line. However, complaints do not stop storage fees from accruing while your vehicle remains in the lot.

In some cases, if the tow was improper or illegal, you may have grounds to dispute the charges in small claims court or through a demand letter from an attorney. This is rare and requires evidence that the tow violated state law or local ordinance. Consult with a local attorney if you believe your vehicle was towed without legal cause.

Storage fees and vehicle sales by the impound lot

If you do not retrieve your vehicle or pay storage fees within a certain period, the impound facility may sell the vehicle to recover unpaid towing and storage charges. South Carolina law requires the facility to send you written notice before selling your vehicle, but the notice period is short — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the facility's contract with the towing company.

The facility must make a reasonable effort to notify you at the address on your vehicle registration. If you move and do not update your registration, you may not receive notice. Once the vehicle is sold at auction, you lose ownership and any equity in the car. The sale proceeds go first to cover towing and storage fees; any remainder may go to lienholders (like a bank that financed the car) or back to you, though this is rare.

To avoid this outcome, retrieve your vehicle or contact the facility in writing before the notice period expires. If you cannot pay the full amount, ask in writing whether they will accept a partial payment or payment plan to delay the sale.

Reducing or disputing storage charges

Storage fees are not always negotiable, but it is worth asking. Explain your situation to the facility manager — job loss, medical emergency, or other hardship — and ask whether they will reduce or waive fees. Some facilities, especially smaller local ones, will work with you. Large corporate towing companies rarely do.

If you believe you were overcharged, request an itemized invoice and compare it to the facility's posted rate schedule. Ask to see the rate schedule in writing. If the charge exceeds the posted rate, dispute it with the facility manager and, if necessary, file a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

If the tow itself was improper — for example, your vehicle was towed from private property without proper notice, or the tow was not authorized by law — you may have grounds to dispute all charges, including storage. This requires evidence and often legal help. Contact a local attorney or legal aid organization for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do storage fees keep adding up on weekends and holidays?

Yes. Storage fees accrue every single day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The facility does not stop charging because it is closed or because you cannot retrieve your vehicle on that day. The only way to stop fees is to retrieve the vehicle or authorize someone else to do so.

Can I negotiate the storage fee amount?

The daily rate itself is set by the facility and is not negotiable. However, you can ask the facility manager whether they will reduce the total bill due to hardship, waive a day or two of fees, or offer a payment plan. The answer depends on the facility's policy. Large corporate towing companies rarely negotiate; smaller local facilities sometimes do.

What if I cannot afford to retrieve my vehicle right now?

Contact the facility immediately and explain your situation. Ask about payment plans or whether they will hold the vehicle without additional charges while you arrange funds. If they refuse, ask about the deadline before they sell the vehicle. You may have 10 to 30 days to pay before that happens. Consult a local attorney if you believe the tow was improper.

Can the impound lot sell my car if I do not pay storage fees?

Yes, after a set period (usually 30 to 90 days) and written notice to you, the facility can sell your vehicle at auction to recover unpaid towing and storage charges. Once sold, you lose ownership. Contact the facility in writing before the notice period expires if you cannot pay the full amount.

Who sets the storage fee rate in South Carolina?

Each towing company and impound facility sets its own daily rate. There is no state-imposed cap or standard rate. Rates typically range from $15 to $50 per day but vary by facility and location. Call the facility directly to learn the exact rate for your vehicle.