Towed Vehicle Reclaim from Marshal or Sheriff

If you're the registered owner of the vehicle, bring:

• Your valid driver's license
• Your insurance card
• The vehicle's original registration stub or title

If you're not the registered owner of the vehicle, bring:

• Your valid driver's license
• Your insurance card
• A notarized letter from the registered owner saying you're allowed to pick up the vehicle

If the vehicle is a rental, bring:

• Your valid driver's license
• Your rental agreement
• Keys to the vehicle

If the vehicle is a company vehicle, bring:

• Your valid driver's license
• Your company identification
• Keys to the vehicle

To get your vehicle back, you must pay following fees and violations:

• $10 a day storage fee for 3 days and $15 a day after regular vehicles
• $25 a day storage fee for oversized vehicles
• $80 Marshal/Sherriff execution fee
• $140 tow fee
• $136 booting fee
• Fines, penalties, and interest for all tickets and camera violations in judgment. If they have been in judgment for less than a year, you can also dispute them at a Finance Business Center. 

To get a list of Finance Business Centers, go to the Department of Finance Business Centers page.

Different types of payment are accepted by phone and in person.

By Phone

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Electronic check
• Pre-paid card with a credit card logo

In Person

• Cash
• Money order
• Certified check
• Visa, Discover, MasterCard, or American Express credit card in the name of the registered owner of the vehicle
• Visa, Discover, MasterCard, or American Express debit card

The lien- or title-holding financial institution that is interested in recovering a booted and/or towed vehicle must prove its legal standing.

To prove your legal standing, you must send documentation with original copies overnight to the Parking Enforcement Unit.

Mail to:

Parking Enforcement Unit
Legal Affairs Division
NYC Department of Finance
210 Joralemon Street, 9th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201

The lienholder or titleholder is required to pay fees to redeem the vehicle. Liability for the judgment debt is determined based on the facts and circumstances of each case after all documentation is submitted for review.

Once the documentation is approved, a Notice to Release will be issued and emailed to the lienholder and its agent, as well as to the Marshal/Sheriff restraining the vehicle. Upon receipt of the Notice to Release, the Lienholder can visit any Finance Business Center to pay the fees. After payment has been made, the lienholder will be issued a receipt. In order to redeem the vehicle, the lienholder should take the receipt and the Notice to Release to the tow pound.

You should send the documentation showing you are the lien holder or title holder by mail before calling. When calling, have the plate number and vehicle description ready.

The Parking Enforcement Unit can be reached by phone:

If your vehicle is auctioned by the Sheriff's Office because you didn't reclaim it within 10 days, the money earned is paid toward your judgment debt and fees. You're responsible for any remaining debt. You're also subject to further enforcement actions until you settle the debt.

After the vehicle is auctioned, the license plates are destroyed. You can request a Letter of Destroyed License Plates by going to any DOF Business Center.

You must bring:

• Your driver's license
• The vehicle's registration

The letter will be mailed to you. Please allow 10 days to receive the letter. 
 

If you see your vehicle being towed by a Marshal or Sheriff, you can stop it by calling the Booting Program immediately and paying your judgment debt and fees over the phone. You will be charged a tow dispatch fee of $70, but you will not have to pay the full tow fee.