How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Downtown St. Paul?
A plain-English guide to impound and storage costs in Downtown St. Paul: release fees, daily storage, the paperwork you need, and how to get your car back for less.
Why impound & storage fees costs what it does in Downtown St. Paul
In St. Paul the fees are published by the city and they aren't ours. A snow-emergency tow totals $246 if the car is retrieved the same day before midnight, made up of towing $143.89, administration $80.00 and sales tax $22.11, then $15 per day storage after that. A separate $56 parking ticket is paid to the Minnesota courts, not to the lot. The regular impound lot is at 830 Barge Channel Rd, open every day 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but a snow-emergency tow goes to the lot at 1129 Cathlin St near the fairgrounds, so ask which one has your car.
A downtown St. Paul city tow goes to the St. Paul lot, and during a snow emergency it goes to the fairgrounds lot instead, so ask which one has your car before you drive over. A City of St. Paul tow has published fees: a snow-emergency tow totals $246 if you retrieve the car the same day before midnight, made up of towing $143.89, administration $80.00 and sales tax $22.11, then $15 per day storage. A separate $56 parking ticket is paid to the Minnesota courts, not the lot. The regular impound lot is at 830 Barge Channel Rd, open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and a snow-emergency tow goes to 1129 Cathlin St near the fairgrounds instead, so confirm which lot has your car. Bring photo identification, proof of ownership and payment in full.
How we work Downtown St. Paul
Downtown St. Paul runs from the Mississippi River up to the Capitol complex, with the Xcel Energy Center, the RiverCentre and the Ordway drawing event crowds and I-94 and I-35E meeting at its edge. Kellogg, Wabasha, Robert and Seventh carry the downtown traffic. Wild games, concerts and Capitol-session parking all stack posted and unposted restrictions on top of the everyday enforcement, and a St. Paul snow emergency runs a Night Plow phase from 9 p.m. and a Day Plow phase from 8 a.m. that clears downtown first. The St. Paul Police impound lot is at 830 Barge Channel Rd, open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; a snow-emergency tow instead goes to the lot at 1129 Cathlin St near the fairgrounds, so ask which one has your car. Operators cover the downtown core, the ramps and the river flats below.
Cost details for Downtown St. Paul
These details cover applicable pound or municipal fees in Downtown St. Paul. If the vehicle needs a tow after release, the operator quotes that separate job before dispatch based on the vehicle, access, distance, and requested service.
For applicable pound or municipal fees, use the details above. If you need a tow after release, call (952) 900-4065 for the operator's separate quote before dispatch.
Common Downtown St. Paul cost questions
How much does it cost to get my car out of impound in Downtown St. Paul?
If the City of St. Paul towed it, the fees are published. A snow-emergency tow totals $246 if you retrieve the car the same day before midnight, made up of towing $143.89, administration $80.00 and sales tax $22.11, then $15 per day storage after that. A separate $56 parking ticket is paid to the Minnesota courts. The regular lot is at 830 Barge Channel Rd, open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but a snow-emergency tow goes to 1129 Cathlin St near the fairgrounds, so call and confirm which lot has your car.
What do I need to get my impounded car back in Downtown St. Paul?
Bring valid photo identification for everyone claiming the vehicle, proof of ownership such as the title or a current registration card, and payment for the fees in full. If you're claiming it for someone else, bring written authorization from the owner. If you plan to drive it out, bring a valid driver's license and proof of current insurance. Confirm the exact list with the lot before you go, because requirements can change.
What happens if I don't pick up my car in Downtown St. Paul?
A vehicle at a St. Paul lot keeps accruing $15 a day in storage after the first day, so the earlier you call the less it costs. Under Minnesota Statutes 168B.051 an unauthorized vehicle in St. Paul may be sold 15 days after notice, or 45 days if you file a statement of intent to reclaim within that first 15-day window. The city sends notice within five business days. If it is never claimed it can be sold at auction, and you still owe the fees.
Can Quick Tow Minneapolis get my car out of impound in Downtown St. Paul?
No, and it's worth being straight about that. We connect drivers with private tow and roadside operators; we aren't the impound lot, the city or the police department holding your car, so we can't waive anyone's fees or release it faster. What we can do is help you work out who has it and what the process is, and line up an operator to move it once it's released. Call (952) 900-4065.
Related towing info for Downtown St. Paul
Impound & storage fees in the rest of the St. Paul Core area
Need a tow after release in Downtown St. Paul?
Call the line for the operator's separate onward-tow quote before dispatch.