Friday night tows cost $225+ in unavoidable storage before lots open Monday

Most impound lots operate Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, but towing happens 24/7, so a car towed Friday night accrues storage fees at $50-$85/day for Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday before the owner can physically retrieve it. This means a $200 tow instantly becomes $425-$455 through no fault of the owner, and for someone living paycheck to paycheck, those three unavoidable days can mean choosing between getting their car back and making rent. The practice persists because municipalities set impound lot hours based on staffing budgets rather than consumer access, towing companies profit from every day the car sits, and there is no legal requirement in most states to offer weekend or after-hours vehicle release.