TowPound
Independent guide. Not a government site, tow company or law firm. About

Idaho towing laws

Idaho has one statewide towing law that local governments cannot override, but it does not set dollar caps.

More about Idaho

Tow companies must file a rate sheet with the state for police-ordered tows and cannot charge more than that sheet. Personal property in a towed car is never held for payment, and owners can dispute a tow through the state transportation department.

Checked Nov 14, 2026

At a glance

Tow fee limitNot verifiedWe could not confirm a statewide figure.Storage per dayNo state capAsk for a written rate sheet before you pay.Release if you get there first?PartlyFor police-ordered tows the tower must release the car at the scene if the owner asks.Get your belongings?YesNo lien may be placed on personal property in the car.Deadline to contest10 daysCalendar days from the notice.Payment rulesNot verifiedNot in the law we checked yet.
  1. Find the carOfficial state search
  2. Check the billFee calculator
  3. Contest itWithin 10 days

Idaho state towed-car search

Run or named by a state agency. Check what it covers: most miss some kinds of tows.

Idaho DMV online portal (abandoned vehicle status)

Status of law-enforcement-directed and private-property tows that tow companies must report to ITD within 24 hours. You may need to log in or create a DMV online account, and owner-requested tows are not included.910

Fee limits

Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses

FeeAmount
Private-property tow, light vehicleNot confirmed yet.Not verified

Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests

FeeAmount
Police-ordered tow, light vehicle7
DetailsNo state dollar cap. Each tow company files its own rate sheet with the Idaho Transportation Department, and charging more than the sheet is excessive.
No state cap

Any kind of tow

FeeAmount
Daily storage7No state dollar cap. Storage charges stop at 60 days from the tow.No state cap

Local rates. State law is uniform statewide and local rules may not conflict with it. Cities, counties and the Idaho State Police keep their own lists of approved tow companies for police calls.

What will I owe in Idaho?

Estimate your bill

Who had it towed?

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

Partly

Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away

For police-ordered tows the tower must release the car at the scene if the owner asks. If the car is not yet hooked up, the tower may charge only one-way mileage and the operator's usual fee, and if it is hooked up it may charge the regular tow fee. We have not found a rule for private-lot tows.5

Yes

Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first

No lien may be placed on personal property in the car. The lot must hand it over to the registered owner on demand during business hours at no charge.7

Yes

Right to a hearingTo contest the tow

After a police-ordered tow you can request a tow hearing in writing to the Idaho Transportation Department within 10 days of the first notice, and it must be held within 48 hours. For any tow you can also file a declaration of opposition within 20 days of the first notice to dispute fees, then sue within 10 days.34

Yes

Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police

The tow company must report the tow on the state towed-vehicle portal within one business day. The state then notifies the owner and lienholders by email or first class mail, with follow-up letters if the car is not claimed.2

Yes

Storage rules

Storage charges are limited to 60 days from the tow. If the tow company is late reporting the tow to the state portal, storage fees cannot start until it does. You may inspect the car during business hours at no charge.7

Yes

What to bringTo get the car released

You can get the car back any time before it is sold by proving ownership and paying the towing and storage costs. The tower must give you an itemized bill.6

Yes

Tow-away signsRequired on private lots

A private lot must have a clearly visible sign in large print saying unauthorized vehicles will be towed or booted at the owner's expense and naming the tow company.1

Not verified Payment they must take. We have not confirmed these in Idaho law yet. Why

Other deadlines

By situation

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Idaho, 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 Idaho?

Idaho has no statewide cap on the main towing fees. Cities and counties may set their own.

Does a tow truck have to release my car in Idaho if I get there first?

For police-ordered tows the tower must release the car at the scene if the owner asks. If the car is not yet hooked up, the tower may charge only one-way mileage and the operator's usual fee, and if it is hooked up it may charge the regular tow fee. We have not found a rule for private-lot tows.

Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Idaho?

No lien may be placed on personal property in the car. The lot must hand it over to the registered owner on demand during business hours at no charge.

How do I contest a tow in Idaho?

After a police-ordered tow you can request a tow hearing in writing to the Idaho Transportation Department within 10 days of the first notice, and it must be held within 48 hours. For any tow you can also file a declaration of opposition within 20 days of the first notice to dispute fees, then sue within 10 days.

Sources

Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. Idaho Code 49-1806, removal or booting from real property (Idaho Code § 49-1806), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  2. Idaho Code 49-1807, towed vehicle notification requirements (Idaho Code § 49-1807), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  3. Idaho Code 49-1808, declaration of opposition (Idaho Code § 49-1808), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  4. Idaho Code 49-1809, tow procedure hearing (Idaho Code § 49-1809), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  5. Idaho Code 49-1810, release at the scene (Idaho Code § 49-1810), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  6. Idaho Code 49-1811, claiming of vehicle (Idaho Code § 49-1811), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  7. Idaho Code 49-1814, fees, storage and access to vehicle (Idaho Code § 49-1814), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  8. Idaho Code 49-1817, uniform throughout state (Idaho Code § 49-1817), Idaho Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  9. ITD urges quick action after law enforcement directed tows (March 26, 2026), Idaho Transportation Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  10. Idaho's Abandoned Vehicle Portal expands consumer tools (May 26, 2026), Idaho Transportation Department. Checked Nov 14, 2026.