Mississippi towing laws
Mississippi law lets a tow company charge a reasonable price for towing and storage and hold the car until it is paid, but it sets no dollar caps for cars and light trucks.
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Since July 1, 2026 the tow company must report the tow to local police within 24 hours and send the owner a certified letter through a state-approved notice vendor by the seventh day. If it skips the required steps, or fails to record who asked for the tow, it can lose the right to charge for towing and storage.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, light vehicle1DetailsState law says the owner is liable for the reasonable price of towing. No dollar figure is set in the statute. | No state cap |
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Daily storage, light vehicle1The statute allows reasonable storage charges but does not set a daily amount. | No state cap |
Local rates. Some cities and counties may set rates for police rotation tows by ordinance or contract. We have not confirmed any local rates yet.
What will I owe in Mississippi?
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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
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
For commercial vehicles of 15,000 pounds or more, a tow company may not charge a drop fee to unhook the vehicle after it is hooked up but before it leaves private property. This commercial vehicle law is set to expire July 1, 2029. We have not found a drop rule for regular passenger cars.2
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tow company must report the tow to local police within 24 hours, along with who asked for it. If the owner has not called within two business days, the company must look up the owner and lienholder and send them the amount due by certified mail through a state-approved notice vendor, postmarked by the seventh day after the tow. Failing to make a good faith effort at these steps bars the company from charging for towing and storage.1
Storage rules
Storage charges must be reasonable, and the tow company can keep the car until towing and storage are paid. It may not charge storage or towing at all if it does not make a good faith effort to give the required notice, or if it did not record the name and contact details of the person who asked for the tow.1
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
A car may be towed only at the request of its owner, a police officer, or the property owner or someone acting for them. For commercial vehicles of 15,000 pounds or more, the property must post a sign at each entrance with the towing symbol at least 4 by 4 inches, mounted 5 to 8 feet high. We have not found a sign rule for regular passenger cars.123
Not verified Get your belongings out, Right to a hearing, Payment they must take, What to bring. We have not confirmed these in Mississippi law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Pay before the sale process starts: If the bill is not paid within 30 days of the tow, the company sends a second certified letter about a sale through the notice vendor. It may start a public auction if the car is not redeemed within 10 days after that letter is mailed, after posting the notice online and in a local paper for two weeks.1
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi 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 Mississippi if I get there first?
For commercial vehicles of 15,000 pounds or more, a tow company may not charge a drop fee to unhook the vehicle after it is hooked up but before it leaves private property. This commercial vehicle law is set to expire July 1, 2029. We have not found a drop rule for regular passenger cars.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Senate Bill 2848 (2026), as sent to the Governor and approved April 8, 2026, amending Miss. Code 85-7-251, effective July 1, 2026 (Miss. Code Ann. § 85-7-251, as amended by Laws 2026, ch. 503 (SB 2848)), Mississippi Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Senate Bill 2635 (2024), commercial vehicle nonconsensual towing, approved April 19, 2024 and codified in Miss. Code chapter 63-37 (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-37-1, 63-37-13 (Laws 2024, ch. 384)), Mississippi Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Mississippi Code 63-3-915, who may authorize towing from private property (2025 code) (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-915), Justia (reprint of Mississippi Code). Checked Nov 15, 2026.