Kansas towing laws
Kansas does not set statewide towing prices.
More about Kansas
Any city or county that allows towing from private property must set a maximum tow and storage rate in its own ordinance, give owners 48 hours to get their belongings, and require the tower to tell police within 2 hours. State law has no drop-fee, sign, payment, or tow-hearing rule, but the tow company must warn the driver in writing that storage will be charged or it loses its lien for storage.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, light vehicle2DetailsA city or county that allows private-property towing must set the maximum rate in its ordinance or resolution. | Set by city or county |
| Daily storage after a private-property tow2The maximum storage fee is set by the local ordinance or resolution. | Set by city or county |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Police-ordered tow, light vehicle2DetailsState law gives the tower a lien for its reasonable or agreed charges but sets no dollar amount. Cities and counties set or contract for police tow rates. | No state cap |
Local rates. Each city or county that authorizes towing from private property sets its own maximum tow and storage rates. Check the ordinance where the car was towed. Some cities, such as Salina and Kansas City, Kansas, also offer a municipal court hearing to contest a police tow.
What will I owe in Kansas?
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
State law has no rule requiring a tow truck to release your car for a drop fee. Some cities cap an on-site release fee, such as 90 dollars in Salina.26
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
Where a city or county allows private-property towing, the owner must get access to personal property for 48 hours after the tow and it must be released. Otherwise belongings can be held until charges are paid, except personal medical supplies, which must be released on request.2
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
State law gives no statewide hearing to contest a tow. Some cities do. In Kansas City, Kansas, you can ask for a tow hearing at municipal court and post a cash bond to get the car back first. In Salina you must ask within 5 business days of the impound notice.1267
Payment they must take
State law does not say which forms of payment a tow company must accept. A lien sale of an unclaimed car must be a public auction for cash.25
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
At the time of the tow the company must give the driver, if present, written notice that storage will be charged. If the owner is known, the tow company must notify the owner within 15 days that the car is held for a lien. Under local private-property tow rules, the tower must report the car's location to police within 2 hours.2
Storage rules
If the tow company fails to give a required notice, storage fees stop until it gives that notice. If the driver was not given written notice of storage fees at the time of the tow, the lien for storage is invalid.24
What to bringTo get the car released
To get back a car impounded by a public agency, you must show proof of valid registration and ownership. The agency may also require payment of towing and storage costs first.1
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
State law sets no sign rules for private-lot towing. It leaves private-property towing to city ordinances and county resolutions.2
Other deadlines
- Pay before the lien sale: A tow company can sell a car left with it for 30 days, after a certified-mail notice saying it will be sold if not paid within 15 days of mailing.23
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Kansas, 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 Kansas?
Kansas 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 Kansas if I get there first?
State law has no rule requiring a tow truck to release your car for a drop fee. Some cities cap an on-site release fee, such as 90 dollars in Salina.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Kansas?
Where a city or county allows private-property towing, the owner must get access to personal property for 48 hours after the tow and it must be released. Otherwise belongings can be held until charges are paid, except personal medical supplies, which must be released on request.
How do I contest a tow in Kansas?
State law gives no statewide hearing to contest a tow. Some cities do. In Kansas City, Kansas, you can ask for a tow hearing at municipal court and post a cash bond to get the car back first. In Salina you must ask within 5 business days of the impound notice.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Kansas?
State law does not say which forms of payment a tow company must accept. A lien sale of an unclaimed car must be a public auction for cash.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- K.S.A. 8-1102, abandoned and impounded vehicles (K.S.A. 8-1102), Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- K.S.A. 8-1103, towed vehicle liens, notice and private-property towing ordinances (K.S.A. 8-1103), Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- K.S.A. 8-1104, sale of vehicles and notice (K.S.A. 8-1104), Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- K.S.A. 8-1108, stopping of storage fees (K.S.A. 8-1108), Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- K.S.A. 8-1105, sale at public auction (K.S.A. 8-1105), Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Salina Ordinance 25-11241, parking on private property and impound hearings (passed April 28, 2025) (Salina Code 38-42, 38-56), City of Salina. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Towed Vehicles (Unified Government Code 35-201), Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. Checked Nov 15, 2026.