Quick Summary:
- Confirm towing status with SFMTA, then get tow yard address.
- Call the yard immediately to confirm hours, fees, and required documents.
- Bring licence, rental agreement, and payment method to avoid release delays.
- Retrieve the vehicle the same day to minimise storage charges.
In San Francisco, towing can happen quickly and storage fees can add up by the day. If you are using a car hire vehicle, you also have an extra step: you must follow both tow yard rules and the rental company’s policies, without accidentally authorising charges you should not pay. The aim is simple, locate the vehicle fast, confirm the paperwork once, and collect it before extra storage days begin.
This action plan is written for visitors and locals using car hire in San Francisco. It focuses on what to do in the first hour, what to ask on the phone, what to bring, and how to avoid the most common causes of release delays.
Step 1: Confirm it was towed, not stolen or relocated
Before you travel anywhere, verify what happened. In San Francisco, some vehicles are “courtesy towed” a short distance for construction or events, while others are impounded. If you rush to the wrong place, you lose time and risk missing same day release.
Start with the basics:
Check the exact last parked location. Walk the block, look at adjacent streets, and confirm you are not one street off. In dense areas, it is easy to misremember the cross street.
Look for towing signage and temporary restrictions. Green construction signs and event notices can appear with short notice, and tow-away zones are strictly enforced.
Contact the city towing information service. Use the official San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) tow information phone line or online tool. Have the licence plate number, make, colour, and approximate time it disappeared. They can tell you whether it was towed, where it is, and sometimes the tow reason.
If SFMTA has no record and you are confident on location, treat it as potentially stolen and file a police report. For a car hire vehicle, inform the rental provider as well, since they may need the report number for insurance and recovery.
Step 2: Capture the tow details, then call the tow yard immediately
Once towing is confirmed, write down the key details in one place, tow yard name, address, phone number, tow time, tow authority, and any reference number. Next, call the tow yard straight away. Many delays happen because people show up with the wrong documents or outside release hours.
On the call, confirm:
Release hours and cut-off times. Some yards stop processing releases before closing. Ask, “What is the latest time you will release a vehicle today if I arrive with documents?”
Payment methods and surcharges. Ask whether they accept card, cash, or both, and whether there is a fee for card payments. Also ask if they require the cardholder present.
Daily storage fee timing. Storage fees often accrue by calendar day, not by 24-hour periods. Ask exactly when the next day’s charge begins.
Document requirements for a rental. This is the critical part for car hire. Some tow yards will release only to the named renter on the rental agreement, and some may require a letter of authorisation from the rental company.
If you are planning a trip via SFO and will use a larger vehicle next time, review local options such as SUV hire in San Francisco SFO, which can make hill parking and visibility easier, but the towing rules remain the same.
Step 3: Notify the car hire provider, and ask for an authorisation letter if needed
Many renters lose hours because the tow yard asks for proof they are allowed to take the vehicle. Even if you have the keys and your driving licence, the tow operator may treat the registered owner, the rental company, as the party who must authorise release.
Call the rental company’s roadside or local branch line and explain:
Where the car is impounded and the tow reference number.
What the tow yard says they require for release to you.
Whether the rental company can email or fax an authorisation letter naming you, the renter, and confirming you are permitted to collect the vehicle.
Ask the rental company to confirm which charges you are responsible for. In many cases you will pay tow and storage fees directly to the yard, then the rental company may also charge an administrative fee. Clarify this up front so you are not surprised later. If your car hire was arranged through a brand page, such as Hertz car hire in San Francisco SFO or Budget car hire in San Francisco SFO, keep your booking confirmation accessible, it helps when customer support asks for agreement numbers.
Step 4: Gather documents and plan the fastest route
Your goal is to arrive once, with everything needed, and leave with the vehicle. Use a checklist and do not assume the yard will “make an exception”. Bring:
Your driving licence (physical, not a photo).
Rental agreement and booking confirmation showing you are the authorised driver.
Vehicle details such as plate number, make, model, and VIN if available.
Proof of insurance if your rental company issued a card or document, plus any coverage paperwork you purchased.
Payment method accepted by the yard, and a backup method if possible.
Your phone with enough battery to show emails, and to call the rental company if the yard requests a live confirmation.
Plan your route with traffic in mind. In San Francisco, 30 minutes can turn into 75 minutes quickly. If storage fees reset at midnight, getting there before late afternoon can protect you from another full day charge.
Step 5: At the yard, confirm charges before paying
When you arrive, stay calm and handle it like a paperwork task. Ask for an itemised statement before you pay. Typical charges can include a tow fee, an administrative fee, and storage fees per day. If there was a parking citation associated with the tow, that is often separate from tow yard fees.
Do the following:
Confirm the tow date and time on the invoice. A wrong date can add storage days incorrectly.
Ask what fees are refundable if any dispute is later upheld. Most are not, but it is worth knowing.
Keep receipts and take a clear photo of every page you are given.
Inspect the vehicle before leaving and photograph any new damage, including wheels and bumpers. If you see damage you believe occurred during towing, note it immediately with staff and also tell your rental provider.
Some travellers worry that using a different provider might have different tow processes. Policies vary, but the core documents are similar across brands. If you are comparing options for future trips, pages like Thrifty car hire in San Francisco SFO and National car hire in San Francisco SFO can help you understand the rental terms you will be carrying in your glovebox.
Step 6: Reduce the chance of extra storage days and second tows
Once the car is released, you still need to avoid a repeat incident. San Francisco enforcement is strict, and rental vehicles are not treated differently. To prevent another tow in the same trip:
Move the vehicle to legal parking immediately. Do not stop in a tow-away zone to organise navigation.
Check signs twice. Look for street cleaning times, peak-hour tow-away, and temporary event restrictions.
Use a garage when in doubt. It can be cheaper than a single day of tow plus storage.
Avoid leaving the car in bus zones, driveways, or red curbs, even for a quick errand.
If the tow happened because the vehicle was blocking a driveway or hydrant, accept that disputing it is unlikely to succeed. If you believe it was towed incorrectly, keep all documentation and ask the city about the formal contest process, but treat recovery as the priority, since fees continue to accrue.
Step 7: Handle the rental agreement aftermath
After you have the vehicle back, contact the rental company again to close the loop. Provide:
The tow yard receipt and the reason for tow if listed.
Any citation number and the issuing agency.
Photos if there is damage, and the time you collected the vehicle.
Ask whether the rental company will bill an additional administration fee later, and whether they need anything else from you. If your travel continues through the Bay Area, keep a copy of your agreement and these receipts in a folder on your phone. If you are driving to or from San Jose airport areas on another leg, it may help to know the local pick-up pages such as car hire in San Jose SJC, since support lines can differ by location.
Finally, take two minutes to reset your “parking routine”, photograph parking signs when you leave the car, set a reminder for street cleaning times, and avoid leaving the vehicle overnight in unclear zones. Those small habits are often the difference between a smooth trip and a repeat tow.
FAQ
How do I find out where my car hire vehicle was towed in San Francisco? Start with SFMTA tow information using the licence plate, then call the listed tow yard to confirm the vehicle is there and releasable.
Can a tow yard refuse to release a rental car to me? Yes. Some yards require the renter named on the agreement, and may demand a rental company authorisation letter before release.
What documents should I bring to retrieve a towed car hire? Bring your driving licence, rental agreement, booking confirmation, payment method, and any authorisation letter the tow yard requests.
How can I limit towing and storage fees in San Francisco? Call the yard immediately, confirm release hours, and collect the vehicle the same day if possible, because storage often accrues by calendar day.
What should I do if the towed vehicle has damage when I collect it? Photograph the damage at the yard, note it with staff, keep receipts, and report it to the rental company straight away for guidance on claims.
