Cameron County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from Cameron County Sheriff in Cameron County, Texas.
*Estimated fees shown for Cameron County. Actual fees may vary.
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The First 48 Hours
After a DWI arrest in Cameron County, your vehicle is likely towed to an impound lot. Storage fees accumulate daily, making time your biggest enemy.
Retrieval Timeline
- 1
Vehicle Towed
Usually within 30 minutes of your arrest.
- 2
Lot Notification
Fees and admin processing start immediately upon arrival.
- 3
Daily Accrual
Fees start at state averages in Cameron County.
- 4
Final Notice
After 30 days, the lot may begin the auction process.
Required Documents
- Valid Photo ID (License or State ID)
- Vehicle Registration or Title
- Current Proof of Insurance
- Full Payment (Cash/Credit)
- Release Authorization (if not owner)
Owner Not Present?
If the registered owner is in custody, you will need a notarized power of attorney or specific written authorization and a copy of their ID to retrieve the vehicle.
Lot Details & Map
Current storage facility information for Cameron County. Verify your vehicle's location before traveling.
Cameron County Sheriff
Accepted Payments
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no county impound lot in Cameron County. Each city and the Sheriff use a rotation of private wrecker companies, so your first move is to call the arresting agency's non-emergency dispatch, Brownsville police at (956) 548-7000 or Harlingen police at (956) 216-5401, give them your plate or VIN and where you were stopped, and they'll tell you which company towed the car.
What it costs
The state tow cap is about $255, but Harlingen's ordinance allows $300. Storage is $22.85 a day, and there's a $50 notification fee plus a roughly $23 impound fee. Storage compounds at midnight, so timing matters. If you arrive at 4:45 PM and the paperwork isn't finished by the 5:00 close, the lot can stop for the day and push your release into tomorrow, adding another day of storage. Get there by 3:30 PM.
Small lots on the rotation also lock up for lunch, noon to 1. Call the specific lot before you drive over to confirm someone is actually there to process a release.
What you need
A valid photo ID and proof of ownership, meaning the title or registration matching your ID. You do not need proof of insurance. State rules bar a storage lot from requiring insurance to release a vehicle, so if an operator tries, tell them so.
Harlingen tow rules worth knowing
Under Harlingen's 2024 towing ordinance, a wrecker on a non-consent tow is not allowed to solicit your business or steer you toward a particular shop or storage yard. If an operator pressures you at the scene, report it to the Harlingen Chief of Police; it can cost the company its city registration.
Fighting the tow
If you think the tow lacked probable cause or the fees broke the local ordinance, you can request a hearing. The written request has to be filed before the 14th business day after the car reached the lot, weekends and holidays not counted. In Cameron County it's filed at the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 Place 2, 974 E. Harrison Street in Brownsville. The filing fee is $20, payable only by cashier's check or money order.
Need Help Beyond Impound?
If you're dealing with a recent arrest, here are immediate resources for release and legal help:
Legal Representation
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