Hawaii towing laws
Hawaii state law caps private-property tow charges at $75 for a tow, $7.50 per mile, and $25 per day for storage, and lists these as the only charges allowed.
More about Hawaii
These state caps do not apply in a county that has adopted its own towing ordinance, so check the county rules first. If you show up before the truck drives away, the car must be released with no fee.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private-property tow1$85 if a dolly is used. Does not apply in a county with its own towing ordinance. | Up to $75 |
| Mileage1Per mile towed. | Up to $7.50 / mile |
Drop fee1DetailsNo fee may be charged if you arrive while the car is being hooked up, up to when the truck drives away. | Not allowed |
| Daily storage, first 7 days1$25 per day or part of a day for the first seven days, then $20 per day. | Up to $25 / day |
Night or weekend tow surcharge1DetailsOvertime charge for tows between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights and from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. A $30 surcharge applies to a difficult hookup in a multilevel garage and up to $35 more for an overturned vehicle. | Up to $15 |
Local rates. The state caps do not apply in any county that has adopted ordinances regulating towing. Check the county where the car was towed to see whether its own rates apply.
What will I owe in Hawaii?
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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 arrive while your car is being hooked up, up to the moment the tow truck drives away, the tow company must release it at a safe spot with no fee.1
Payment they must take
Tow companies must accept cash, credit card, and debit card, and cannot send you to an on-site ATM instead of taking a card.1
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tow company must mail notice by registered or certified mail to the legal and registered owners within 15 days after the tow. If it does not, the owner can get the car back without paying tow or storage fees.1
Storage rules
Storage is capped at $25 per day or part of a day for seven days and $20 per day after that. In counties over 500,000 people, tow companies must release stored cars 24 hours a day, every day.1
What to bringTo get the car released
When you get the car back, you must get a receipt listing the maximum charges allowed by law and the state consumer information phone number.1
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
Signs must say in light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high that unauthorized cars will be towed at the owner's expense, and give the name, address, and phone of the storage facility. They must be visible from each space, or posted at each entrance if the whole lot is restricted.1
Not verified Get your belongings out, Right to a hearing. We have not confirmed these in Hawaii law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Recover the car before it is deemed abandoned: If the car is not recovered within 30 days after the notice is mailed, it is treated as abandoned and can be sold or junked.1
- Claim leftover sale money: Money left after a sale goes to the owner. If held by the state unclaimed property program, a claim must be filed within one year of the sale.1
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Hawaii, 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 Hawaii?
Yes. Private-property tow: up to $75. Storage: $25 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Hawaii if I get there first?
If you arrive while your car is being hooked up, up to the moment the tow truck drives away, the tow company must release it at a safe spot with no fee.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Hawaii?
Tow companies must accept cash, credit card, and debit card, and cannot send you to an on-site ATM instead of taking a card.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- HRS § 290-11, vehicles left unattended on private and public property, sale or disposition of abandoned vehicles (official text, last amended by Act 60 of 2024, no 2025 or 2026 amendment found) (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-11), Hawaii State Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.