Delaware towing laws
Delaware caps private-property tows of personal cars at $250 for the tow and $50 per day for storage, with no other towing charges allowed on top.
More about Delaware
A drop fee is capped at half the tow fee, and you can get your belongings out for free during business hours. These rules cover nonconsensual tows of vehicles 5,000 pounds or less, not police tows.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, personal car1DetailsApplies to noncommercial and rental vehicles of 5,000 pounds or less. No other towing-related charges may be added. A lower local fee schedule applies if one exists. | Up to $250 |
Drop fee1DetailsNo more than half of the tow fee. No fee at all if you return before the car is attached to the truck. | Up to 50% of the tow fee |
| Daily storage, personal car1No storage fee if the car is retrieved within 24 hours from when the tow began. | Up to $50 / day |
| After-hours access or release1Maximum fee for after-hours access or release. | Up to $50 |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Police-ordered tow, light vehicleNot confirmed yet. | Not verified |
Local rates. A city or local fee schedule can set lower maximums than the state cap. Fees are also presumed excessive if they run more than 50 percent above what other tow companies in the county charge.
What will I owe in Delaware?
Estimate your bill
Got your receipt? Check it for overcharges
Type what the lot charged for each line. We flag anything above a confirmed legal cap.
Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
If you return before the car leaves the lot and ask, the tow must stop. The drop fee can be no more than half the tow fee, which means at most $125 for a personal car, and there is no fee if the car was not yet attached to the truck.1
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
You can get personal items out of the car for free during the storage lot's business hours by showing valid ID. Charging for this is unlawful.1
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
There is no state tow hearing. If a tow broke these rules, you can sue to get back all fees paid plus actual damages, and the court may award attorney fees if you made a fair settlement offer first.1
Payment they must take
The tow company and lot must accept all major credit and debit cards, or have a working ATM with a reasonable fee.1
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
To claim a lien for unpaid fees, the tow company must send certified mail to the owner and any lender within 30 days of the tow with an itemized list of fees. The car must be left unclaimed for 60 days after that notice before a lien can be asserted.1
Storage rules
The lot must have an office open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at least five days a week, be secured and lit, and post how to get after-hours release. No storage or after-hours fee may be charged for a day when you could not get the car within 90 minutes of following the posted steps.1
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
A sign with letters at least 1 inch high must be at every vehicle entrance. It must list when parking is allowed, the tow company's name, address, and phone, the tow and storage charges, and where and when cars can be picked up. The tower must also photograph the car before towing.1
Not verified What to bring. We have not confirmed these in Delaware law yet. Why
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Delaware, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.
Guides: how to fight a tow · what to bring · impound costs by city
Questions
Is there a limit on towing fees in Delaware?
Yes. Private-property tow, personal car: up to $250. Drop fee: up to Unknown. Storage: $50 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Delaware if I get there first?
If you return before the car leaves the lot and ask, the tow must stop. The drop fee can be no more than half the tow fee, which means at most $125 for a personal car, and there is no fee if the car was not yet attached to the truck.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Delaware?
You can get personal items out of the car for free during the storage lot's business hours by showing valid ID. Charging for this is unlawful.
How do I contest a tow in Delaware?
There is no state tow hearing. If a tow broke these rules, you can sue to get back all fees paid plus actual damages, and the court may award attorney fees if you made a fair settlement offer first.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Delaware?
The tow company and lot must accept all major credit and debit cards, or have a working ATM with a reasonable fee.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Removal of Motor Vehicles from Private or Public Property Without Consent of the Motor Vehicle Owner or Operator (21 Del. C. §§ 6901A-6909A), Delaware General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.