The following list provides an overview of towing and storage fee regulations across the 48 continental U.S. states, focusing specifically on non-consented vehicle tows, such as those initiated by law enforcement or private property owners. The key distinction examined is whether a statewide numeric cap exists for such fees. These caps, when present, limit how much a towing company can legally charge for towing a vehicle and storing it in an impound lot.
The analysis reveals that only a minority of states impose clear, statewide monetary limits on towing and storage fees. These include states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, where fee amounts are specifically outlined in state statutes or regulatory tariffs. These limits often vary depending on factors like vehicle weight, duration of impoundment, or whether the tow was performed during or after regular business hours.
In contrast, the majority of states have no statewide cap, leaving pricing to be regulated—or not, by local governments, city ordinances, or contractual agreements between property owners and towing companies. In such cases, fees can vary widely within the same state, creating inconsistent financial burdens on vehicle owners and potential risks of predatory towing practices.
In states without caps, the only oversight may come through notice requirements, signage, or procedural safeguards rather than fixed pricing. This patchwork system of regulation highlights a significant disparity in consumer protections nationwide. It also underscores the importance of understanding local laws before parking on private property or in high-enforcement zones.
This alphabetical listing serves as a practical resource for anyone seeking clarity on vehicle towing rights, state level protections, and the financial liabilities that may follow a vehicle impound across the U.S. States with explicit numeric caps statewide: Colorado (law-enforcement only), Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Maine (storage after notice), Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey (under certain conditions), New York City, Ohio, Tennessee (booting), Texas, Virginia, plus third-party rules in West Virginia and some Washington cities.
States without statewide numeric caps: All other continental states—fees are set by local jurisdictions or contractual agreements, often under “reasonable” or notice-based frameworks.
A – C
- Alabama – No explicit statewide numeric cap; rates deemed “reasonable” and locally regulated.
- Arizona – No statewide numeric cap; internal standards apply to DPS-affiliated towers.
- Arkansas – No statewide cap; local jurisdiction sets fees.
- California – No statewide cap; law requires immediate release if driver intervenes before tow.
- Colorado – For law-enforcement tows: statewide caps exist (≈ $240/hr tow, $41/day storage); private-property tows vary locally.
- Connecticut – Caps exist: approximately $125 + mileage towing; $23–37/day storage.
D – K
- Delaware – Caps for non-consensual tows: tow retrieval max ~$250; storage max ~$50/day; overall capped.
- Florida – No statewide cap; some counties (e.g., Miami-Dade) impose local limits.
- Georgia – Statewide caps by weight class, plus specified storage-rate structure.
- Idaho – No statewide numeric cap; local regulation.
- Illinois – No statewide caps; towing companies file rates that depend on local law- enforcement benchmarks.
- Indiana – Caps set: tow max $150; storage max $30/day.
- Iowa – No statewide cap; vehicles auctioned after about 10 days.
- Kansas – No statewide cap; regulated locally.
- Kentucky – No numeric cap; fee reasonableness and notice rules apply.
L – N
- Louisiana – No numeric cap statewide; contractual rules govern non-consensual tows.
- Maine – Insurance-related coverage up to $500; storage fees capped after 3 days following notice.
- Maryland – Excessive fees are regulated, but numeric caps unspecified statewide.
- Massachusetts – State Police-towed vehicles capped: ~$108 towing + $35/day storage.
- Michigan – No numeric cap; procedural protections in place.
- Minnesota – No numeric cap; protected 4-hour grace period after ticketing.
- Mississippi – No statewide cap; licensing now required to combat predatory towing.
- Missouri – No numeric cap; local oversight.
- Montana – No numeric cap; notice required within 15 days of tow.
- Nebraska – No numeric cap; fees must be “reasonable,” vehicles sold after 90 days.
- Nevada – No numeric cap; warning required before non-consensual residential/public lot tows.
- New Hampshire – Caps: tow max $175; storage max $50/day; off-hour release capped.
- New Jersey – Caps tied to posted-rate structures; storage capped if notice not sent.
- New Mexico – No numeric cap; additional “reasonable” fees allowed for off-hours.
- New York – No statewide cap; in NYC: tow capped ~$100 + $4/mi, storage $25/day (<3d), $27/day thereafter.
- North Carolina – No cap; vehicles auctioned once impound costs reach threshold.
- North Dakota – No cap; owner must be notified; some storage fees waived in certain blocking cases.
O – W
- Ohio – Caps apply: tow max ~$129 (<10k lb) or ~$216 (≥10k lb); storage max ~$17 or ~$29/day.
- Oklahoma – No statewide cap; regulated locally.
- Oregon – No statewide cap; some cities set their own limits.
- Pennsylvania – No statewide cap; local ordinances apply.
- Rhode Island – Caps: tow max $100; storage regulated after first hour.
- South Carolina – No statewide numeric cap.
- South Dakota – No statewide cap; limited consumer protections.
- Tennessee – Tow/booting regulated: e.g., boot removal fee capped at $75.
- Texas – Caps apply based on vehicle weight: tow max ~$272–489; storage rate and impound fees capped.
- Utah – No statewide cap; local rules apply.
- Vermont – No statewide cap; minimal protective requirements.
- Virginia – Caps: hookup/tow max $210; off-hour fees up to $60; first 24-hour storage free.
- Washington – No statewide cap; cities like Seattle impose local limits (e.g., ~$210–238 tow; ~$15–18 per 12-hr storage).
- West Virginia – Tow/impound fees regulated via state Public Service Commission for third- party towers.
- Wisconsin – No statewide numeric cap; local ordinances govern.
- Wyoming – No statewide cap; regulated locally.
