– Know Your Rights Before You Need Them
Towing Laws
By State
Towing regulations vary dramatically across the country — from strict fee caps and mandatory notification windows to states with virtually no consumer protections at all. Here’s what the law says in your state.
This page is for general informational purposes and reflects laws as of 2025. Towing regulations change frequently and vary by city and county. For specific legal situations, consult a consumer attorney or your state’s consumer protection office.
Jump To State
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C
D – F
G – I
K – M
N
O – R
S – V
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Fee Cap States
Many states set hard limits on what towing companies can charge for non-consent tows and storage. Know if your state is one of them.
Notice Requirements
Most states require towing companies to notify law enforcement within 1–2 hours of a non-consent tow. Some states extend additional rights to vehicle owners.
State Variation
Iowa has no rate cap at all. Florida overhauled its entire towing law in 2024. Virginia caps non-consent hook-up fees at $210. No two states are alike.
A
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Fee Regulation
Rates must be reasonable and customary per ALEA standards
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Governing Body
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency approves towing and recovery service rates as reasonable based on what is customary in the industry. There is no specific hard-dollar cap, but operators must comply with ALEA-approved rate schedules.
📋 Statute: Ala. Code r. 760-X-1-.25
Regulated Rates
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Owner Notification
Within 7 working days of tow
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Who Must Be Notified
Registered owner and primary lienholder
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Unless a vehicle has already been reclaimed by the owner, Alaska law requires the possessing party to notify the registered owner and primary lienholder within seven working days after the initial towing or storage of the vehicle.
📋 Statute: Alaska CSHB 251
SEVEN DAY NOTICE
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LE NOTIFICATION WINDOW
Within 1 hour of non-consent tow
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STORAGE FEE CAP
$15 dollars per day (additional fees may apply)
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A person who tows a vehicle into a public space without the owner’s permission must notify law enforcement within one hour. The law enforcement agency enters the information into the Arizona Crime Information Center database. The vehicle owner is responsible for all towing and storage charges. Storage fees are limited to $15 per day at the basic rate.
📋 Statute: AZ HB 2269
1-HOUR LE NOTICE
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LE NOTIFICATION WINDOW
Within 2 hours of non-consent tow
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STORAGE FEE TIMING
Cannot charge until after LE notification
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If a vehicle is towed without the owner’s authorization, the towing company must notify local police within two hours. Critically, the towing company cannot charge storage fees until after that notification has been made. This prevents operators from running up storage charges before the owner is informed.
📋 Statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 12-8-106(a)(2)
2-HOUR LE NOTICE
C
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DISPUTE WINDOW
30 days from tow date to request hearing
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TOW AUTHORITY
Vehicle Code 22651 VC
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California’s Vehicle Code 22651 authorizes towing in specific circumstances. If a vehicle is towed, the owner can dispute the validity of the tow by scheduling a hearing within 30 days of the tow date. Initial towing fees in urban California commonly exceed $200. Counties may set additional local rate regulations.
📋 Statute: CA Vehicle Code 22651 VC
STRONG PROTECTIONS
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RECENT LEGISLATION
HB 24-1051 (2024)
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PROTECTIONS
Fee caps, documentation requirements, consumer protections
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Colorado passed several bills in 2024 to regulate towing companies and protect consumers from predatory practices, including regulation of fees and documentation requirements for non-consent tows. House Bill 24-1051 represents one of the more recent comprehensive updates to the state’s consumer towing protections.
📋 Statute: CO HB 24-1051
2024 REFORM
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LE NOTIFICATION
Within 2 hours of tow or removal
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UNCLAIMED VEHICLE
May be disposed per § 14-150 after specified time
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When a motor vehicle is towed by a licensed wrecker, the operator must notify the local police department within two hours. If the vehicle is not claimed within specific time periods, the wrecker or storage facility may dispose of it in accordance with Connecticut statutes.
📋 Statute: CT Gen Stat § 14-145
2-HOUR LE NOTICE
D – F
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MAX STORAGE FEES
Cannot exceed $500 total
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DOCUMENTATION
Photographic evidence of tow required
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Delaware enacted strong consumer protections that require photographic evidence of the tow taking place, regulation of rates, and a hard cap on storage fees that cannot exceed $500 total. This is one of the clearest storage fee limitations in the country.
📋 Statute: Delaware HB 351
$500 STORAGE CAP
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REQUIREMENTS
Licensing, towing control numbers, manufacturer tow compliance
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FEE RESPONSIBILITY
Vehicle owner responsible for all associated fees
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D.C. regulates towing through licensing requirements, mandated towing control numbers, and requirements for compliance with vehicle manufacturer towing instructions. Towing companies must maintain safe vehicle storage and vehicle owners are responsible for all associated fees.
📋 Statute: Code of D.C. § 50–2201.21
LICENSED OPERATORS
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MAJOR 2024 LEGISLATION
HB 179 — effective July 1, 2024
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NEW REQUIREMENTS
Published rate sheets, tow database, 3-year record-keeping
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Florida enacted one of the most significant towing law overhauls in decades with HB 179 (July 1, 2024). Towing operators must now maintain a published rate sheet listing all fees, post it at their place of business, and provide it upon request. The law created a centralized database for non-consent tows so owners can quickly locate their vehicle. Operators must maintain records of all transactions for at least three years. Counties had until July 1, 2025 to implement rate caps; where county regulations weren’t established, Florida Highway Patrol maximum rates apply by default.
📋 Statute: Florida HB 179 (2024)
PUBLISHED RATE SHEETS
G – I
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CURRENT TARIFF
Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 (Effective June 17, 2024)
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PERMIT REQUIREMENT
State-issued permit required for private property tows
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Georgia’s Department of Public Safety adopted Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 in June 2024, governing rates for non-consensual towing from private property. Towing companies must have a state-issued permit to remove a vehicle from private property without the owner’s consent. Storage facilities must be fenced, lighted, and secured.
STATE PERMIT REQUIRED
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base tow fee cap
$65 + $7.50/mile
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Storage fee cap
$25/day (first 7 days); $20/day after
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Hawaii sets specific fee limits: towing companies can charge up to $65 for a tow plus $7.50 per mile, $25 per day for the first seven days of storage, and $20 per day thereafter. Additional fees are permitted for difficult hookups ($30 surcharge) and overnight tows ($15 for tows between 6 PM and 6 AM). All tow companies must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in combined single limit liability insurance.
📋 Statute: Hawaii HB 1577
$65 BASE TOW CAP
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DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION
Within 72 hours of tow from posted property
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VEHICLE RELEASE
Must release to owner upon request after fee payment
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A towing company in Idaho must notify the state department of the names and addresses of all persons with an interest in the vehicle within 72 hours of towing from posted property. The towing company must release the vehicle to the owner or their authorized agent upon request, unless the owner or agent refuses to pay the legitimate towing fees.
📋 Statute: Idaho Title 49, Chapter 18
72-HOUR OWNER NOTICE
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PUBLIC PROPERTY TOW
Requires law enforcement order
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INVOICE REQUIREMENTS
Must itemize all fees and document vehicle condition
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Towing from public property in Illinois requires law enforcement to order the tow — typically for vehicles left unattended too long or constituting a hazard. Towing companies must provide a final invoice that itemizes all costs including towing, storage, and any other fees. Importantly, the invoice must also document any damage to the vehicle identified when taken and when returned, providing consumer protection against disputed damage claims.
📋 Statute: Illinois Ch. 95, Sec. 4-203
LE ORDER REQUIRED
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INDIANAPOLIS TOW CAP
$150 maximum tow fee
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DAILY IMPOUND CAP
Cannot exceed $30 per day
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Indiana towing companies must document and itemize fees and notify local law enforcement after towing a vehicle. In Indianapolis specifically, the maximum tow fee is $150, plus a daily impound rate that cannot exceed $30. Towed vehicles must be available for pickup within a specified timeframe and returned to the owner after fees are paid.
📋 Statute: Indiana Towing Regulations (In.gov)
$30/DAY IMPOUND CAP
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RATE CAP
None — no state law cap on towing rates
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PERSONAL ITEMS
No guarantee of access to personal items after tow
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Iowa has some of the least protective towing laws in the country. There is no state law cap on towing rates, meaning companies can charge what the market allows. There is also no guaranteed right for the vehicle owner to access personal belongings after the vehicle is towed. Owners in Iowa should be especially careful to ask for a written estimate before any tow is authorized.
📋 Statute: Iowa Code 321-309
MINIMAL PROTECTIONS
K – M
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STORAGE NOTICE
Written notice required that storage fees will be charged
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MILEAGE RATE
$3/mile for round-trip mileage over 20 miles
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Kansas requires towing services to provide written notice to the driver that a storage fee will be charged. For longer distances, the service can charge $3 per mile for any round-trip mileage over 20 miles. This transparency requirement helps prevent surprise storage fee disputes.
📋 Statute: Article 11-8-1103 Article 11-8-1103
WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED
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LE NOTIFICATION
Within 2 hours of private property tow
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VEHICLE SECURITY
Must secure vehicle and prevent damage or theft
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Kentucky towing companies must notify law enforcement within two hours of towing a vehicle from private property. They are also required to secure the vehicle and take active steps to prevent damage or theft while in their possession — establishing a duty of care for the towed vehicle.
📋 Statute: Ky.gov 281.920-936
2-HR LE NOTIFICATION
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TOW AUTHORIZATION
Written contract required between property owner and tow company
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STORAGE LIMIT
Final notice to owner after 45 days
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Louisiana requires property owners and tow truck companies to have a written contract defining parking rules and reasons for towing. Towing or storage facilities cannot withhold removable personal items from the owner. After 45 days of storage, the facility must send the vehicle owner a final notice stating that the vehicle may be sold or dismantled if outstanding charges are not paid or the vehicle claimed.
📋 Statute: La. RS 32:1715
45-DAY FINAL NOTICE
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INSURANCE COVERAGE
Auto liability policies must cover up to $500 for towing (from July 1, 2024)
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STORAGE CAP
Cannot exceed $900 for a 30-day period without owner notification
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Starting July 1, 2024, all motor vehicle liability policies issued or renewed in Maine must provide coverage for towing and storage charges up to $500 per accident when a law enforcement officer requests the tow. Storage fees beyond three days require notification to the vehicle owner and lienholder, and total storage cannot exceed $900 for a 30-day period without notification.
📋 Statute: Maine Title 29-A, § 1605
INSURANCE COVERAGE 2024
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LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
Fee regulation for non-consensual tows
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PROTECTIONS
Multiple bills passed to combat excessive fees
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Maryland has passed multiple bills aimed at regulating excessive fees for non-consensual tows, addressing predatory towing practices. The legislative framework focuses on ensuring fees are reasonable and transparent for vehicle owners in non-consent towing situations.
📋 Statute: Maryland § 21–10A–04
ANTI-PREDATORY LEGISLATION
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AUTHORIZED TOW SCENARIOS
Stolen vehicles; disabled vehicles obstructing traffic
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GOVERNANCE
Law enforcement authorized removal policy
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Massachusetts authorizes law enforcement officers to remove or cause the removal of vehicles found on roads when the vehicle was stolen, taken without the owner’s consent, or is disabled and constitutes an obstruction to traffic or obvious hazard. The state towing policy governs how these removals are handled.
📋 Statute: Mass.gov Towing Policy
LE AUTHORITY GOVERNED
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PROPERTY NOTICE
Must be prominently displayed for 24 hours before tow
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STOLEN VEHICLE CHECK
Required before removing any vehicle
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Michigan requires that towing from private property can only happen when the property owner posts a notice including the towing service’s contact information, displayed prominently for at least 24 hours before the vehicle is towed. Towing agencies must check if a vehicle has been reported stolen before removing it. If the owner does not redeem the vehicle within 7 days, police must be notified. These combined requirements make Michigan one of the more consumer-friendly states.
📋 Statute: MCL § 257.252
STRONG PROTECTIONS
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CITATION GRACE PERIOD
4 hours after citation before tow from public property
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LE-REQUESTED TOWS
Creates a lien on the vehicle for towing, storage, and cleanup costs
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In Minnesota, a ticketed vehicle cannot be towed from public property for four hours after the citation is issued — unless the vehicle is blocking a driveway, fire hydrant, bus sign, stop sign, or taxi stand. When law enforcement requests a tow and storage, the towing company acquires a lien on the vehicle for the cost of towing, storage, and any accident site cleanup.
📋 Statute: Minn. Rev. Code 168B.035
TOW LIEN CREATED
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FEE STANDARD
Liable for “reasonable price” of towing and storage
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APPLIES TO
Owner-requested tows, LE-directed tows, and private property tows
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Mississippi law holds vehicle owners liable for the reasonable price of towing and storage when the tow was at their request, at the direction of law enforcement, or requested by a property owner whose property the vehicle was left on without permission. “Reasonable” is the operative standard, without specific hard-dollar caps.
📋 Statute: Mississippi SB 2635
REASONABLE FEE STANDARD
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BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS
Verifiable address visible from street; 10+ hours open daily
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FEE LIMITATION
Storage fees cannot exceed what is charged for consent tows
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Missouri requires towing companies to have a verifiable business address visible from the street and be open to customers for a minimum of ten hours per day. For abandoned property towed without the owner’s consent, storage charges may not exceed what is charged for vehicles towed with the owner’s consent on a negotiated basis.
📋 Statute: R.S.Mo. § 304.156.2 / Chapter 304.153
REASONABLE FEE STANDARD
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NOTICE METHOD
Certified letter within 15 days of tow
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VEHICLE RELEASE
Owner or lienholder must pay towing and storage before reclaiming
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After towing a vehicle in Montana, the tow truck operator must send a certified letter to the vehicle owner or lienholder within 15 days. The owner cannot reclaim the vehicle until towing and storage costs are paid. Disputes over fee reasonableness require exhaustion of administrative remedies through the Montana Towing Board before a court will rule on the costs.
📋 Statute: Montana Title 61, Chapter 8-913
15-DAY CERT. MAIL NOTICE
N
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NOTICE METHOD
Certified letter to all lienholders and owners within 15 days of tow
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VEHICLE Disposal
Towing company can dispose of vehicle to satisfy lien after 90 days
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In Nebraska, the owner is charged the reasonable cost of towing and storage. The towing company may retain possession of the vehicle until charges are paid or, after 90 days, may dispose of the vehicle to satisfy the lien. Upon payment, the company must return the vehicle to the owner, lienholder, or other lawfully entitled person.
📋 Statute: Nebraska Chapter 60-2410
90-DAY LIEN PERIOD
In Nevada, vehicles in residential or public parking lots, or inoperable vehicles, cannot be towed without the owner’s consent. Vehicle owners must be issued a warning before their vehicle can be towed — giving the owner an opportunity to move the vehicle before removal.
📋 Statute: Nevada Assembly Bill No. 303
WARNING REQUIRED FIRST
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MAX TOW FEE
$175 for towing
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MAX STORAGE FEE
$50 per day; $50 after-hours release fee
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New Hampshire sets clear fee caps: towing companies cannot charge more than $175 for the tow, or more than $50 per day for storage. A service fee of up to $50 may be charged for releasing a vehicle at off-hours, but the owner must sign an acknowledgment of that charge.
📋 Statute: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 106-B:31
$50/DAY STORAGE CAP
New Jersey requires towing companies to notify the vehicle owner, operator, lessor, and lienholder within 30 days of towing the vehicle. If the towing company fails to provide timely notification, they may only charge a maximum storage fee of $750 — a financial penalty for failing to notify that incentivizes compliance.
📋 Statute: NJ HB A5038
30-DAY OWNER NOTICE
New Mexico restricts non-consent towing to situations where there is a valid public safety reason. Towing services may charge a reasonable extra fee for requests made outside of 7 AM to 7 PM local time, and cannot charge storage for periods of less than 24 hours.
📋 Statute: N.M. Admin. Code § 18.3.12.14
PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRED
New York has no state-level regulation of towing fees for private property tows. A property owner with proper unauthorized vehicle towing signage can have vehicles towed at the owner’s expense. Note: New York City has its own local towing regulations that differ from the state baseline. A 2025 legislative proposal (A8858) seeks to establish fee caps, but as of 2025 no statewide cap is in effect.
NO STATE FEE CAP
North Carolina requires towing companies to obtain written authorization from the property owner or lessee before towing from private property. Nonconsensual towing businesses must obtain a permit from the Division and renew it annually. Occupied vehicles cannot be towed or attached to a towing vehicle under any circumstances.
📋 Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20‑219.2
WRITTEN AUTHROIZATION
If a commercial towing service in North Dakota violates state towing law, they must return the vehicle to the registered owner at no charge and cannot collect a storage fee. The owner can reclaim the vehicle within 30 days of receiving notice by paying all legitimate towing and storage charges. This penalty provision is a meaningful deterrent against wrongful tows.
📋 Statute: N.D. HB 1218
WRONGFUL TOW RETURN
O – R
Ohio law allows property owners to establish private tow-away zones, but only if specific conditions are satisfied as outlined in O.R.C. Section 4513.601. These conditions typically involve proper signage, notification requirements, and limits on when towing can occur from such zones.
📋 Statute: O.R.C. Section 4513.601
PRIVATE TOW ZONE RULES
Oklahoma enacted the Nonconsensual Towing Act in 2011, defining nonconsensual tows broadly to include transport without the knowledge of the owner. The Act covers towing under lawful circumstances for public interest, by law enforcement, and removal from public or private property due to abandonment or unauthorized parking. The comprehensive definition creates a clear framework for what constitutes a regulated non-consent tow.
📋 Statute: Oklahoma Nonconsensual Towing Act of 2011
NONCONSENSUAL TOWING ACT
📋 Statute: ORS 98.810
3-BUSINESS-DAY-NOTICE
Pennsylvania’s 2024 Act 43 gives vehicle owners and operators the right to summon the tow truck operator of their choice in consultation with law enforcement, and to designate the destination. This is a significant consumer protection — the driver is not forced to use a tow company selected unilaterally by law enforcement or a property owner.
📋 Statute: Pennsylvania 2024 Act 43
TOW COMPANY CHOICE
The vehicle owner in Rhode Island is responsible for towing, storage, and incidental costs. The owner can contest the towing within 10 days of receiving notice by filing a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission and posting security with the complaint. If the owner does not file a complaint or retake the vehicle, it will be sold at auction.
📋 Statute: R.I.G.L. § 39-12.1-12
10-DAY DISPUTE WINDOW
S – V
Before towing from private property in South Carolina, the operator must obtain written authorization from the property owner. Within 30 minutes of towing without the owner’s permission, the operator must call police to report the tow. Storage fees can only be charged for up to seven business days before the towing company is required to send notice to the owner and lienholder.
📋 Statute: SC Code § 56-5-5635 (2023)
30-MINUTE LE NOTICE
If a removal agency in South Dakota removes an unattended vehicle from a public road without the owner’s permission, they must report the removal to the owner within 24 hours. If they fail to report as required, they cannot collect any towing or storage fees — a strong enforcement mechanism that incentivizes timely notification.
📋 Statute: S.D. Codified Laws § 31-8-15.1
24-HOUR NOTICE
In Tennessee, a property owner or landlord may have an unauthorized vehicle towed from residential property by giving 10 days written notice posted on the vehicle. For storage, a towing business cannot charge storage fees beyond 21 days without the consent of the owner or lienholder — unless the owner and all lienholders have been notified by registered mail of intent to continue charging.
📋 Statute: T.C.A. § 55-23-103 / § 66-28-519
21-DAY STORAGE MAX
Texas limits non-consent towing from private property to vehicles that are illegally parked or abandoned. Before towing, operators must post state-regulated warning signs at the property’s entrance and exit. Homeowners can authorize towing of unauthorized vehicles from their property without notifying law enforcement if signage meets Section 2308.252 requirements. Texas has comprehensive regulations governing the towing industry through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
📋 Statute: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308
STATE REGULATED SIGNAGE
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LIGHT DUTY (POLICE NON-CONSENT)
Regulated per UDOT annual fee schedule
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STORAGE (OUTSIDE)
Regulated daily rate per vehicle class
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Utah publishes an annual non-consent towing fee schedule through the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), setting maximum rates for police-generated and private property tows across light, medium, and heavy duty vehicle classes. Rates are updated annually and apply to both tow truck service charges and daily storage fees.
📋 Statute: UDOT Non-Consent Towing Fee Schedule
UDOT FEE SCHEDULE
Vermont courts apply a reasonableness standard to towing and storage fees. In a notable case, a Vermont Superior Court judge found that most towing, recovery, and storage charges — including a $50/hour storage rate — met the reasonableness threshold. Disputes are resolved through the courts based on whether fees were reasonable under the circumstances.
📋 Standard: Judicial reasonableness review
REASONABLENESS STANDARD
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MAX HOOK-UP FEE
$210 for non-consent passenger car tow
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AFTER-HOURS SURCHARGE
Up to $30 additional (max 2 fees per tow)
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Virginia law sets a hard cap of $210 on the initial hook-up and towing fee for non-consent tows of passenger cars from private property. For towing between 7 PM and 8 AM, or on weekends and holidays, an additional fee of no more than $30 may be charged — but no more than two such fees can be charged for any single tow. Local governing bodies may set different limits by ordinance.
📋 Statute: Va. Code § 46.2-1233.1 (2024)
$210 HOOK-UP CAP
W
Washington State has comprehensive towing regulations covering licensing requirements, maximum fee schedules for non-consent tows, notification requirements, and consumer rights. The Washington State Patrol and Utilities and Transportation Commission jointly regulate the towing industry. Fee schedules are updated periodically and vary by region.
📋 Statute: RCW Chapter 46.55
STRONG PROTECTIONS
West Virginia regulates towing companies through the Division of Motor Vehicles, which sets standards for licensing, vehicle condition, and fee transparency. Towing companies performing non-consent tows must comply with DMV regulations governing notification and fee disclosure to vehicle owners.
📋 Statute: WV Code Chapter 17A
DMV OVERSIGHT
Wisconsin requires towing companies to notify law enforcement when a vehicle is towed without the owner’s consent. Towing from private property must follow notification procedures, and towing companies must be licensed to operate in the state. Fee regulations apply to non-consent tow situations.
📋 Statute: Wis. Stat. § 349.13
LE NOTIFICATION REQUIRED
Wyoming applies a general reasonableness standard to towing and storage fees without state-mandated hard-dollar caps. Towing operators must be licensed and comply with notification requirements when towing without consent. Local municipalities may impose additional regulations.
📋 Statute: Wyo. Stat. § 31-13
REASONABLE FEES STANDARD
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