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Kentucky towing laws

Kentucky does not set a statewide dollar cap on towing or storage.

More about Kentucky

Instead, each tow company must post one rate sheet that applies to everyone, and any charge above it counts as excessive. State law does require a half-price drop fee, certified-mail notice within 10 days, and that lots take cash and cards.

Checked Nov 14, 2026

At a glance

Tow fee limitNo state capAsk for a written rate sheet before you pay.Storage per dayNo state capAsk for a written rate sheet before you pay.Release if you get there first?YesIf you arrive while your car is being towed from a private tow-away zone, the tower must tell you that you…Get your belongings?PartlyCertain items must be given back on request within 45 days of the tow, even if you have not paid.Right to a hearingNot verifiedNot in the law we checked yet.Must take card?YesThey must accept: cash, credit, debit, insurance.
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Fee limits

Any kind of tow

FeeAmount
Private-property or police-ordered tow136
DetailsNo state dollar cap. The company may not charge more than its own posted rate sheet, and the law speaks of reasonable charges.
No state cap
Daily storage46
DetailsNo state dollar cap. Must match the posted rate sheet. A lot that does not mail the required notice loses storage fees after day 10.
No state cap

Local rates. The state sets no dollar amounts. Local towing rules and rates were not reviewed yet.

What will I owe in Kentucky?

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

Yes

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

If you arrive while your car is being towed from a private tow-away zone, the tower must tell you that you can pay up to half its normal release fee, and must then release the car and give you a receipt.2

Partly

Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first

Certain items must be given back on request within 45 days of the tow, even if you have not paid. These include prescription medicine, medical supplies, school materials, documents and electronic devices, child car seats, checks and cards, and firearms. Other contents are covered by the lot's lien.1

Yes

Payment they must take

The tow company or lot must accept cash, credit card, debit card, money order, a bank-drawn check, or a check from an insurer.5

Yes

Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police

A private-property tower must tell local police within 2 hours after the tow. Within 10 days the tow company or storage lot must mail a certified letter to the owner and any lender with where the car is and an estimated itemized bill.24

Yes

Storage rules

A private-property tow must go to a lot within 25 miles, or the nearest lot if none is that close. The lot cannot charge storage for any day it refuses to let you inspect or release the car during posted hours, and it loses storage fees after day 10 if it fails to send the required notice.247

Yes

What to bringTo get the car released

After all charges are paid, the car must be released to a properly identified owner or lender, or to an insurer's representative with proof of coverage or the owner's approval. You may inspect the car during posted business hours before paying.5

Yes

Tow-away signsRequired on private lots

A property owner who sets up a tow-away zone must post a clearly visible sign saying it is a tow-away zone, with contact information and who may or may not park there.2

Not verified Right to a hearing. We have not confirmed these in Kentucky law yet. Why

Other deadlines

By situation

Kentucky cities

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

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

Kentucky 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 Kentucky if I get there first?

If you arrive while your car is being towed from a private tow-away zone, the tower must tell you that you can pay up to half its normal release fee, and must then release the car and give you a receipt.

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

Certain items must be given back on request within 45 days of the tow, even if you have not paid. These include prescription medicine, medical supplies, school materials, documents and electronic devices, child car seats, checks and cards, and firearms. Other contents are covered by the lot's lien.

What payment do tow lots have to accept in Kentucky?

The tow company or lot must accept cash, credit card, debit card, money order, a bank-drawn check, or a check from an insurer.

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. Lien on motor vehicles and contents for towing and storage charges (KRS 376.275), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  2. Private property towing, signage, drop fee, police notice (KRS 281.924), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  3. Rate sheets, excessive charges, itemized invoices (KRS 281.926), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  4. Required notice to owner and lienholder (KRS 281.928), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  5. Payment and release requirements for towed vehicles (KRS 281.930), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  6. Prohibited fees (KRS 281.932), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  7. Prohibited acts by towing company or storage facility (KRS 281.934), Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.