CA • San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) & AutoReturn
Where Was My Car Towed in San Francisco?
Complete SFMTA & AutoReturn towed car recovery guide for San Francisco. Check 7th Street impound lot hours, calculate the highest tow fees in the nation ($575+ tow + $76/day storage), verify required documents, and submit SFMTA citation protests.
Standard Tow Rate
$575.00
Passenger vehicles
Daily Storage Fee
$76.00
Assessed per 24 hours
Sweeping Citation
$85.00
City parking ticket
Dispute Deadline
21 Days
Administrative hearing
San Francisco Municipal Auto Pound Facilities
Search by ward or neighborhood to locate the designated impound lot holding your vehicle.
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Quick Filter by Area / Division:
AutoReturn SFMTA Central Impound Facility
24/7 OPEN📍
450 7th Street (between Bryant & Harrison), San Francisco, CA 94103
🕒Open 24 Hours / 7 Days a Week / 365 Days a Year
🚇Walking distance from Civic Center BART / Muni station. Near Muni bus lines 14, 27, and 47.
Primary Service Areas / Wards
District 1 (Richmond / Presidio)District 2 (Marina / Pacific Heights)District 3 (North Beach / Chinatown / Financial District)District 4 (Sunset / Parkside)District 5 (Western Addition / Haight-Ashbury)District 6 (SoMa / Tenderloin / Mission Bay)District 7 (Twin Peaks / West Portal)District 8 (Castro / Noe Valley)District 9 (Mission District / Bernal Heights)District 10 (Bayview / Potrero Hill)District 11 (Excelsior / Ingleside)
Accepted Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Debit Card
SFMTA AutoReturn Bayshore Long-Term / Heavy Yard
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Weekends)📍
2650 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94134
🕒Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Weekends)
🚇Near Bayshore Caltrain station and Muni T-Third line.
Primary Service Areas / Wards
Oversized commercial vehiclesLong-term vehicle storage overflowHeavy construction and recreational vehicles
Accepted Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Debit Card
COST ESTIMATOR
San Francisco Tow & Impound Fee Calculator
Estimate your exact vehicle release costs based on municipal tow rates and daily storage accrual in San Francisco.
1 day
0 days (Pickup same day)7 days14 days
Vehicle & Violation Options
Estimated Municipal Fee Breakdown
Base Municipal Tow Fee (Standard Passenger)$575.00
Daily Storage Fee (1 day @ $76.00/day)$76.00
Municipal Street Cleaning Parking Citation$85.00
City Administrative Release Processing Fee$320.00
Total Estimated Release Cost:$1056.00
⚠️Storage charges compound every 24 hours. Retrieve your vehicle as soon as possible to avoid increasing fees.
WHAT TO BRING
Required Documents Checklist for Vehicle Release
Bring all required items to the San Francisco impound lot counter to avoid being turned away.
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Valid Government Photo Identification (Mandatory)
Current driver's license, passport, or state ID.
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Current DMV Vehicle Registration (Mandatory)
Valid DMV registration card showing owner name. If temporary movement permit, owner title must also be provided.
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Proof of California Auto Insurance (Mandatory)
Electronic or printed insurance card meeting California minimum liability standards.
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SFMTA Delinquent Citation Settlement
If your vehicle has 5 or more past-due SFMTA parking tickets, full payment or an approved low-income payment plan is required before release.
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Payment of SFMTA Tow and Storage Fees (Mandatory)
Cash, debit card, or major credit cards. SFMTA accepts electronic payment at the counter.
LEGAL CONTESTATION GUIDE
How to Contest a Wrongful Tow in San Francisco
You have a statutory right to an administrative hearing to challenge improper towing and request a full fee refund.
Administrative Hearing Process (21-Day Deadline):
- Retrieve vehicle from 450 7th St immediately to prevent accumulating $76.00/day in storage costs.
- File a formal Administrative Review protest online via sfmta.com or by mail to 11 South Van Ness within 21 calendar days of the tow.
- Provide time-stamped photographs, sign surveys, or GPS evidence demonstrating wrongful tow.
- If upheld, you can request an Administrative Hearing with an independent hearing examiner. Upon a favorable ruling, SFMTA issues a full tow and storage refund.
Hearing Agency: SFMTA Customer Service & Citation Hearing Division (11 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103)
Recognized Grounds for Fee Reversal:
- Street cleaning signage was obscured by foliage or vandalized beyond recognition.
- Temporary no-parking signs were not posted with verified SFMTA 72-hour notice logs.
- Vehicle broke down or had a flat tire (with documented towing or repair service receipt).
- Driver was experiencing an acute medical emergency.
🚨 NEVER GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN
Protect Your Vehicle From Future San Francisco Towing
A single municipal tow costs $575 plus a $85 parking citation. For just $24.99 / year (less than $2.08/mo), get automated 8:00 PM text alerts sent directly to your phone the night before street sweeping.
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Frequently Asked Questions: San Francisco Towing
How do I find out where my car was towed in San Francisco?
Visit www.autoreturn.com or call AutoReturn dispatch at (415) 865-8200 or dial 311. Nearly all standard passenger vehicles towed within San Francisco are held at the Central AutoReturn facility at 450 7th Street (between Bryant & Harrison).
Why are San Francisco tow fees so expensive?
San Francisco has the highest municipal towing rates in the US. A standard street sweeping tow is approximately $575.00 to $618.00 (which includes the administrative release fee), plus an $85.00 street sweeping citation, and $76.00 per day for storage after the initial 4 hours.
Does SFMTA offer low-income discounts on towing?
Yes. SFMTA provides a first-time tow discount of up to $200, and individuals enrolled in Medi-Cal, SNAP/EBT, WIC, or SSI can qualify for the SFMTA Low-Income Tow Waiver, reducing tow and storage fees substantially.