Madison County Vehicle Impound Guide

Madison County uses a rotation of private, police-authorized wreckers for DWI impounds, so the lot a vehicle ends up at depends on the arresting agency and where the stop happened. Madison County Tire & Tow (3532 TX-21 E, Madisonville, 936-348-9113) and ResQ Rangers (979-231-7002) both run 24/7, with Drake's Towing & Service and Squeekys Towing also serving the county. If the arresting officer didn't say where the vehicle went, call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch at (936) 348-2755 with your name, date of birth, and arrest date to track it down.

Texas caps a light-duty tow at $272 and daily storage at $22.85. A vehicle on the lot for parts of two calendar days but less than 12 hours total can only be billed for one day. Out-of-state vehicles — common on this I-45 corridor — get extra protection: if the lot doesn't request the registration from the home state within 5 days, storage charges cap at 5 days total regardless of how long the car actually sits there.

To retrieve a vehicle, the name on a government photo ID has to match one of several accepted ownership documents — a title, registration card, insurance certificate, notarized power of attorney, court order, or TDLR-approved affidavit of right of possession. Even before settling the bill, which typically runs $300 to $700 total, Texas law guarantees access to remove personal property like keys, wallets, or medication from the vehicle. If the owner reaches the car before it's fully hooked up, they can pay a reduced drop fee instead of letting the tow proceed — operators are required to tell citizens about that option.