New Hampshire towing laws
New Hampshire has no statewide dollar cap on towing or storage.
More about New Hampshire
Fees must be reasonable, and an owner can pay to get the car back and then ask the Commissioner of Safety to review the fee. A 2026 law (ch. 274) stops license suspensions for unpaid tow bills and, starting January 1, 2027, gives owners 30 days from the invoice to seek review and requires police-tow invoices to explain how.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow36DetailsFees must be reasonable and may reflect distance, vehicle size and weight, time, special equipment, and staff costs. | No state cap |
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Daily storage3Storage charges must be reasonable. No dollar limit is set. | No state cap |
What will I owe in New Hampshire?
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Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
New Hampshire law does not address drop fees or releasing a car before it is towed away.37
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The storage company may hold most items found in the car until fees are paid, but not wallets, purses, essential clothing, mail, legal documents, car seats, eyeglasses, medicine, medical equipment, or house keys. Unclaimed items may be disposed of after 20 days of unpaid fees, rising to 30 days on January 1, 2027.3
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
To challenge the fee, the owner may pay the charges to get the car released and then ask the Commissioner of Safety in writing for a review within 15 days of release. Starting January 1, 2027 the window is 30 days from receiving the invoice.3
Payment they must take
State law does not say which forms of payment a tow or storage company must accept. You can pay the charges to get the car back and then ask for a fee review.37
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
A property owner who has a car towed must tell a peace officer as soon as reasonably possible. Whoever directs the removal must try to notify the registered owner of the tow and where the car went. Starting January 1, 2027, invoices for police-ordered tows must explain how to appeal the charges.268
Storage rules
Storage fees must be reasonable and may reflect things like the size of the car and how long it is held. State law sets no daily dollar cap.3
What to bringTo get the car released
The owner or person entitled to the car can get it back by paying all reasonable towing and storage charges. Since August 31, 2026, the state may not suspend your driver's license over unpaid towing and storage fees, though it may hold up a renewal until they are paid.17
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
If a car is towed from a parking lot or garage, removal and storage charges cannot be charged to the owner unless the lot posts a conspicuous notice that illegally parked cars may be towed at the owner's expense.6
Other deadlines
- Request a hearing on a police-ordered tow: For a police-ordered tow, the owner may pay to get the car back and ask in writing for a hearing on whether the tow was justified within 15 days of the tow. Starting January 1, 2027 the window is 30 days from receiving the invoice.1
- Claim the car before it can be sold: If a towed car is not claimed, the storage company may dispose of it after 20 days if it is more than 5 model years old, or after 30 days if newer, after giving notice of sale. A car worth under $1,000 or fit only for salvage may be disposed of after 15 days.45
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire if I get there first?
New Hampshire law does not address drop fees or releasing a car before it is towed away.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in New Hampshire?
The storage company may hold most items found in the car until fees are paid, but not wallets, purses, essential clothing, mail, legal documents, car seats, eyeglasses, medicine, medical equipment, or house keys. Unclaimed items may be disposed of after 20 days of unpaid fees, rising to 30 days on January 1, 2027.
How do I contest a tow in New Hampshire?
To challenge the fee, the owner may pay the charges to get the car released and then ask the Commissioner of Safety in writing for a review within 15 days of release. Starting January 1, 2027 the window is 30 days from receiving the invoice.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in New Hampshire?
State law does not say which forms of payment a tow or storage company must accept. You can pay the charges to get the car back and then ask for a fee review.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- RSA 262:33 Procedure for removal and impoundment (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:33), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- RSA 262:34 Notice of removal (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:34), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- RSA 262:35-a Review of fees for removal and impoundment (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:35-a), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- RSA 262:36-a Disposal by storage company (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:36-a), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- RSA 262:38 Notice of sale (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:38), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- RSA 262:40-a Vehicles removed from private and state property, conspicuous notice in parking lots (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 262:40-a), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 274 (SB 617), towing fee review and license changes (2026 N.H. Laws ch. 274), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- RSA 262:35-b Notice of right to dispute towing and storage charges (effective 2027-01-01) (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 262:35-b), New Hampshire General Court. Checked Nov 15, 2026.