Start with one phone number: (901) 636-8200. That’s the Memphis Police Department Vehicle Storage Lot, and it’s open every day, all day. If your car disappeared from a Memphis street or parking lot, this is where MPD, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, and Housing and Community Development all send tows. There’s no separate county lot and no online lookup tool. The phone line is how you find your car.
The MPD Vehicle Storage Lot
The lot sits at 465 Klinke Avenue, Memphis, TN 38127, and it’s staffed seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Whether MPD towed you off a street, the Sheriff’s Department towed you, or Housing and Community Development flagged your car, it all lands at this one address. Call before you drive over, especially at odd hours. If your car is being held as part of a criminal investigation, call first to check the hold status before you make the trip.
What it costs
The city charges an impound fee of $135 plus $30 a day in storage, and that’s separate from any winching or additional charges. Cash and credit cards are both accepted at the lot. Storage starts running 24 hours after your car gets impounded, per the city’s own Wrecker Rules and Regulations, so the clock is already moving by the time most people find out where their car went.
What to bring
To get your car back, the registered owner needs three things: proof of ownership (your registration, title, or lease agreement), the plate number or VIN, and a valid photo ID. A licensed driver has to drive the car off the lot, or you can arrange a tow from there for an added fee.
If you’re not the registered owner but you’re picking the car up for someone else, you’ll need a notarized statement from the owner that names you, plus a legible copy of the owner’s photo ID, the plate number or VIN, and the vehicle’s make and year. For a rental car, bring the rental agreement and a photo ID that matches the name on it.
The clock Tennessee law puts on your car
Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-16-105) sets a real timeline once your car goes into custody, and it’s worth knowing so you’re not caught off guard:
- Police have to verify ownership within 3 business days of taking your car.
- You and any lienholder then get notified within 3 business days after that.
- Once you’re notified, you have 10 days from the date of that notice to reclaim the car and pay what’s owed.
If a private tow company is holding your car instead of the city lot, the same 3-business-day notification rule applies to them. If they miss that window, the storage fees they can legally collect from you cap out at 6 days, no matter how much longer the car sits there. Storage rates at the city lot begin accruing 24 hours after impound, per the Wrecker Rules.
If it was a private tow, not the city
A tow company can’t legally remove your car from private property without written authorization from the property owner, and Tennessee law (§ 55-16-112) makes towing without that authorization a Class C misdemeanor. If you think you were overcharged or towed without proper authorization, the city’s remedy is straightforward: a company found guilty either has to reimburse everything you paid, or release the car for free. File a complaint with the Permits Administrator or Wrecker Coordinator at (901) 636-6735 or permits@memphistn.gov. For the full walkthrough on what counts as a legitimate private-property tow, see our private property towing guide.
How the rotation system works
Every wrecker company that operates inside Memphis city limits has to be approved by the Memphis Transportation Commission, and companies on the MPD Wrecker Rotation list (the one dispatch pulls from when a driver has no preference) carry substantial insurance and answer to the city. An emergency wrecker has to reach an accident scene within 30 minutes of dispatch, or the call goes to the next company on the list. Your choice of towing company is honored by default, with three exceptions: the company you want isn’t permitted, can’t respond in a reasonable time, or your vehicle is creating an immediate traffic hazard. Those calls are made by MPD on the scene, not by the tow driver.
What happens if you don’t reclaim it
If a car sits unclaimed past the notice period, Tennessee law routes it toward public auction (§ 55-16-106). The buyer gets clear title, and any sale proceeds left over after covering towing, storage, and auction costs get held for the registered owner or lienholder for 45 days before they go into a special fund. It’s worth reclaiming your car well before that stage, both for the car itself and to avoid the fees stacking up. See our impound lien sale guide for more on how that process runs.
If your car was towed in Southaven or West Memphis
Memphis sits close to two state lines, and if your car was towed in Southaven, Mississippi, it goes through Southaven’s own process, not Memphis’s. Southaven Police Department’s non-emergency line is (662) 393-8652. There isn’t a published impound-lot page for Southaven, so calling that number directly is the fastest way to find out where your car is and what it costs. If you were towed in West Memphis, Arkansas, Arkansas law and a different set of local rules apply, so don’t assume anything from this page carries across the river. In both cases, the practical first step is the same: call the local department that would have authorized or logged the tow, and don’t wait for the situation to sort itself out.
Once you have your car back
If the lot releases your car and it won’t start, has been sitting long enough to need a jump, or just isn’t safe to drive, we can get it home or to a shop. Call (858) 925-5546 and we’ll quote a flat rate before we roll.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call first if my car is missing in Memphis?
Call the MPD Vehicle Storage Lot at (901) 636-8200. It’s open 24/7, and it’s the single point of contact for MPD tows, Shelby County Sheriff tows, and HCD tows. There’s no separate lookup tool, so the phone call is the fastest way to confirm your car is there.
How much does it cost to get my car out of the city lot?
The city charges a $135 impound fee plus $30 a day in storage, not counting winching or other add-on charges. Cash and credit cards are both accepted at the lot.
What do I need to bring to pick up my car?
Proof of ownership (registration, title, or lease), the plate number or VIN, and a valid photo ID. A licensed driver needs to drive it off the lot, or you can arrange a tow from there.
How long do I have before my car gets sold?
Once you’re formally notified, you have 10 days from the date of that notice to reclaim your car. Before notification, police have 3 business days to verify ownership and then 3 more business days to notify you, so the full window from impound to your reclaim deadline runs longer than 10 days in most cases.
What if a private company towed me, not the city?
A private tow off your property, or someone else’s, requires written authorization under Tennessee law. Towing without it is a Class C misdemeanor, and if you were overcharged or improperly towed, the company has to reimburse you or release the car for free. File a complaint with the Permits Administrator at (901) 636-6735.
My car was towed in Southaven or West Memphis. Does this page still apply?
No. A tow in Southaven, Mississippi runs under Mississippi and Southaven PD’s own process (662-393-8652), and a tow in West Memphis, Arkansas follows Arkansas law. Call the local department in either case rather than assuming Memphis’s Tennessee-based rules apply.