Bell County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator — Bell County, Texas
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from Temple Towing.
*Estimated fees shown. Actual fees in Bell County may vary. Contact the impound lot directly for exact costs.
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The First 48 Hours Are Critical
After a arrest in Bell County, your vehicle is likely towed to an impound lot. Storage fees accumulate daily, making time your biggest enemy.
What Happens Immediately After Arrest
- 1
Vehicle is towed (usually within 30 minutes of arrest)
- 2
Tow company notifies impound lot (charges start immediately)
- 3
Storage fees begin accruing daily in Bell County
- 4
Administrative fees added (varies by lot)
Documents You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle
- Valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- Vehicle registration or title
- Proof of insurance
- Payment for all fees (see calculator above)
- Release authorization (if not the registered owner)
Can Someone Else Pick Up My Car?
Yes, but they'll need:
- • Written authorization from the registered owner
- • Copy of owner's ID
- • Their own valid ID
- • Proof of insurance in their name or the owner's name
Impound Lot Details
Temple Towing
Call Before You Go
Verify your vehicle is at this lot and confirm the exact amount owed before making the trip. Hours and fees may change without notice.
The Impound “Poverty Trap”
Many people can't afford to get their car out immediately, but waiting only makes it worse.
Here's the vicious cycle:
Can't afford the first 3 days of storage + admin fees
Wait a week to save money → fees double
Can't get to work without car → lose income
Wait 2 weeks → fees triple or quadruple
After 30 days → Car may be auctioned by the lot
What You Can Do
- • Borrow money from family/friends (pay them back later, cheaper than daily fees)
- • Use a credit card (even with interest, cheaper than impound fees)
- • Sell non-essential items quickly
- • Ask your employer for an advance
- • Check if your auto insurance covers towing/storage (some policies do)
The destination of a seized vehicle in Bell County is determined strictly by the arresting agency and their rotational tow list. There is no central "Bell County Impound." Instead, a patchwork of private operators serves specific municipal contracts.
Bell County Vehicle Impound: What to Know
If you've been arrested for DUI in Bell County, Texas, understanding the vehicle impound process is crucial to minimizing expenses and getting your car back quickly. Here's what you need to know:
Primary Impound Facilities
- Temple Towing: 3815 W. Shallow Ford Road. Administrative office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Release operations technically run 24/7, but are subject to rules below.
- Killeen Towing & Recovery: Located on State Highway 195. Dispatch is advertised as "Open 24 Hours", but release hours are subject to rules below.
Keep in mind that Temple Towing generally serves the eastern sector of Bell County, while Killeen Towing & Recovery dominates the western sector.
Impound Fees
The cost to retrieve your vehicle is a combination of statewide caps and local ordinances. Here's a breakdown of the fees you can expect:
- Standard Tow Fee: Capped at $272.00 for light-duty incident management tows. Killeen ordinances may involve additional surcharges for the use of dollies or flatbeds if not included in the base rate.
- Impound Fee: $20.00.
- Daily Storage Fee: $22.85 per day for vehicles under 25 feet; $39.99 per day for vehicles over 25 feet.
- Notification Fee: $50.00 if the vehicle remains unclaimed for more than 24 hours (for certified letter to registered owner and lienholder).
- Administrative Fees: Cities like Temple may impose an additional $150.00 Administrative Fee for vehicles impounded under specific statutes. This fee must be paid separately to the city before the tow yard will release the car.
"Midnight Crossing" Financial Hazard
Be aware of the "Midnight Crossing" rule. While VSFs can charge for any part of a day the vehicle is on the lot, the 12-Hour Rule provides an exception. If your vehicle is stored for fewer than 12 hours, the VSF can only charge for one day of storage, even if the storage period crosses midnight. If storage exceeds 12 hours and crosses midnight, two days of storage may be charged.
Payment Methods
VSFs are legally mandated to accept cash, debit cards, and credit cards. If a VSF's card machine is down, they are prohibited from charging storage fees past the date you attempted to pay with a card.
Operational Friction: The Release Gauntlet
- "One Hour" Availability Gap: VSFs must make vehicles available for release within one hour of a request made between 8:00 AM and Midnight (Monday-Saturday) and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Sunday). However, operators often claim unavailability. VSFs are not required to release on national holidays or if the one-hour notice pushes the release time past midnight, creating a "blackout zone" after 11:00 PM.
- Insurance Verification Trap: VSFs are explicitly not allowed to demand proof of insurance before releasing a vehicle to the owner.
Weekend/Holiday Procedures
Both Temple Towing and Killeen Towing & Recovery advertise 24-hour dispatch. However, vehicle release on weekends and holidays is subject to the "One Hour" availability rule and the "blackout zone" after 11:00 PM, which can significantly delay retrieval. Keep in mind VSFs are not required to release on national holidays.
Contact
Bell County Detention Center: 2405 S. Loop 121, Belton, TX 76513. The phone number is (254) 933-5402.
Sources
Texas Transportation Code
Bell County Towing Regulations
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
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