76,000 vehicles each day are impounded on US roads. The numbers are absolutely staggering when you think about the sheer volume of vehicles that are towed to facilities and locked up while they earn more money each day - just by sitting there. Let’s take a look at the size of the towing industry in the US and what vehicle impound cost consumers annually.
Of the 76,000 vehicles that are impounded each day across the United States, 44% remain on an impound lot for four days or more, and roughly 22% stay for 15 days or longer. The cost to consumers is over $1.1 Billion per year.
While impound-related revenue is a significant segment, it is only a portion of the overall towing industry. The towing industry encompasses impounds, roadside assistance, accident recovery, and other services.
- The U.S. automobile towing industry is valued at approximately $14.5 billion in 2025
- The industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 5.4% from 2020 to 2025.
- Industry profit margins (EBITDA) are projected at about 9.2% of revenue in 2024
Impound and storage yards serve as the infrastructure to keep America’s Roadways free and clear of disabled and damaged vehicles. While privatized, federal and state governments enjoy rapid response service for towing and storage for free! Unfortunately for many, they will pay dearly when their vehicle is towed and impounded. Like nature, the system is very cruel and impartial. If you make a mistake and park your car in the wrong spot, it’s towed and impounded. Criminal activity or uninsured accidents also equal a trip to the impound yard. What can you do? Are there any assistance programs for people that cannot afford to pay these exorbitant fees to get their car or truck returned to them? Sadly, the fast answer is no! There are some sites that suggest you can fight the storage in court? Even if you did try to tackle this yourself, its days and days of time to wade through the process of getting a court date and “months” before your case is heard. At $50-100 per day in storage, your car will be seized and liquidated legally before you ever get in front of a judge. There are no “get out of jail free” cards for a vehicle impound. Once they have the car, you either pay to get it released or the storage grows until you owe more than the car is worth. In some states like Arizona, the storage yard can claim your car in 60 days.
The best resource for assistance is family, friends or your church. If you have no luck getting help with the fees, you will have to sell the vehicle to cover the fees and get the vehicle released. A critical part of this equation is decisiveness. You need to make decisions quickly as to avoid losing the equity in your vehicle. It is very possible to sell your vehicle right from the impound yard to OutPound.com and we will pay the fees and stop the storage bill from growing.
Preserve the equity in your vehicle that you worked hard for! Don’t let the storage yard take your vehicle from you without a fight!
