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Towed from your apartment complex in Hawaii

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. If the car is towed, the most a company may charge for a private-property tow of a car in Hawaii is $75, plus storage.

Checked Nov 15, 2026 against the Hawaii statute and regulator pages.

What to do now

  1. Call the property office or check the tow-away sign at the lot entrance. It must name the tow company and its phone number in most states.
  2. Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
  3. Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
  4. Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
  5. Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
  6. If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.

Hawaii rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

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

Notice

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

Drop fee release

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

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

Related

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.

Questions

Can my apartment tow my car without warning?

In many states yes, if proper tow-away signs are posted at each entrance. Some states and leases require a warning sticker first for things like expired tags. Check your state rules and your lease.

Who do I call if my car was towed from my apartment?

Start with the tow company named on the posted sign or the property office. In Houston and Harris County you can also search FindMyTowedCar. Police usually get a report of private tows within a few hours.

Sources

Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. 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.