Maine towing laws
Maine law says towing and storage charges must be reasonable but sets no dollar cap on the tow itself.
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Storage is limited to 1,500 dollars for any 30-day period, and the lot cannot keep your personal effects such as medicine, clothing, mail or a child car seat. If the lot is late telling the Secretary of State it has your car, it can charge no more than 14 days of storage.
At a glance
Fee limits
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private-property or police-ordered tow6State law only says towing charges must be reasonable. No dollar cap was found. | No state cap |
Daily storage4DetailsDaily storage must be reasonable, and total storage cannot be more than 1,500 dollars for a 30-day period. | No state cap |
Local rates. The state sets no tow fee amounts. Local towing rules and rates were not reviewed yet.
What will I owe in Maine?
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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
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The lot may hold the car until reasonable charges are paid, but not the owner's personal effects. These include medications, medical equipment, clothing, mail and child car seats. Items attached to the car and business tools do not count.6
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
Whoever holds a towed car must notify the Maine Secretary of State in writing, and the Secretary of State then mails the owner and any lender with the charges owed and the date ownership will pass. If the lot waits more than 14 days to notify, it can collect no more than 14 days of storage. The same notice rules apply when police have a car towed.1347
Storage rules
Daily storage must be reasonable and total storage cannot be more than 1,500 dollars for a 30-day period. A lot that is late or fails to notify the Secretary of State may collect only 14 days of storage.4
Not verified Release for a drop fee, Right to a hearing, Payment they must take, Tow-away signs. We have not confirmed these in Maine law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Pick up the car before it is treated as abandoned: A towed car is treated as abandoned if the owner or lender does not pick it up and pay reasonable charges within 14 days after the Secretary of State sends its notices, and ownership can then pass to the lot.23
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Maine, 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 Maine?
The state sets no tow fee amounts. Local towing rules and rates were not reviewed yet.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Maine?
The lot may hold the car until reasonable charges are paid, but not the owner's personal effects. These include medications, medical equipment, clothing, mail and child car seats. Items attached to the car and business tools do not count.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Abandoned vehicles, application (29-A M.R.S. § 1851), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Abandonment defined (29-A M.R.S. § 1852), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Notification of vehicle owner (29-A M.R.S. § 1854), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Limits on storage fees (29-A M.R.S. § 1857), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Removal of vehicle (29-A M.R.S. § 1859), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Holding vehicle and its accessories (29-A M.R.S. § 1861), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Authority to remove an improperly parked vehicle (29-A M.R.S. § 2069), Maine Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.