Ohio towing laws
Ohio caps what a tow company can charge when it tows from a private tow-away zone.
More about Ohio
For a car or light truck the limits are $144 to tow and $22 a day for storage, set by PUCO rule effective January 1, 2026. If you get back before the car is hauled away, the tower must offer to release it for half the tow fee.
Checked Nov 14, 2026 · Regulator: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, vehicle under 10,001 lb13DetailsPUCO limit effective January 1, 2026. Applies to tows from private tow-away zones and residential or farm property. | Up to $144 |
| Drop fee (owner returns before the car is removed)14The law caps it at half the PUCO tow fee. Half of $144 is $72 for a light vehicle. | Up to 50% of the tow fee |
| Daily storage, vehicle under 10,001 lb13 | Up to $22 / day |
Processing fee once owner and lienholder notices are mailed34DetailsOnly charged if the certified-mail notices have been sent. PUCO lists it as an administrative fee. | Up to $25 |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Police-ordered tow, light vehicleThe PUCO limits cover private-property tows. Police tow rates were not confirmed. | Not verified |
Any kind of tow
Trucks and heavy vehicles (4 fees)
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Private-property tow, 10,001 to 26,000 lb13 | Up to $247 | Private lot (apartment, store) · Medium trucks |
| Private-property tow, over 26,000 lb13 | Up to $410 | Private lot (apartment, store) · Heavy trucks |
| Daily storage, 10,001 to 26,000 lb1 | Up to $38 / day | Private lot (apartment, store) · Medium trucks |
| Daily storage, over 26,000 lb1 | Up to $82 / day | Private lot (apartment, store) · Heavy trucks |
Local rates. For tows ordered by a sheriff or police chief from residential or farm property, a city that has set its own removal and storage fees can use those instead of the PUCO limits.
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Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
If you arrive after the car is hooked up but before it leaves the lot, the tower must tell you that you can pay no more than half the PUCO tow fee and get the car released on the spot.34
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
With proof of ownership you can take personal items out of the car without paying any fee and without taking the car. Items attached to the car do not count.4
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
There is no state tow hearing. When you pick up the car the lot must give you written notice that you may be able to sue under Ohio's tow law if you think the tow was unlawful. You can also file a complaint with PUCO.345
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tower must tell the local sheriff or police within two hours of the tow. Within three business days it must look up the owner, then mail certified notices to the owner and any lienholder if the car is still unclaimed.4
Storage rules
The car must reach the storage lot within two hours of the tow. The lot must take calls for release, have someone available within three hours of your call, and be open 9 a.m. to noon the day after it takes in a towed car.46
What to bringTo get the car released
You get the car back by showing proof of ownership and paying the allowed fees. The tower must take dated photos of the car and show them to you if you dispute the tow.4
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
The property needs a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, visible from every entrance, saying it is a tow-away zone, who may park, any enforcement hours, and the phone number and address where towed cars can be recovered.4
Not verified Payment they must take. We have not confirmed these in Ohio law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Lot may seek title to an unclaimed car: Sixty days after a certified notice is received, the tower or lot may start the process to take title to an unclaimed car.4
By situation
Ohio cities
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Ohio, 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 Ohio?
Yes. Private-property tow, vehicle under 10,001 lb: up to $144. Drop fee: up to Unknown. Storage: $22 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Ohio if I get there first?
If you arrive after the car is hooked up but before it leaves the lot, the tower must tell you that you can pay no more than half the PUCO tow fee and get the car released on the spot.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Ohio?
With proof of ownership you can take personal items out of the car without paying any fee and without taking the car. Items attached to the car do not count.
How do I contest a tow in Ohio?
There is no state tow hearing. When you pick up the car the lot must give you written notice that you may be able to sue under Ohio's tow law if you think the tow was unlawful. You can also file a complaint with PUCO.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-24-03 Fees for towing and storage (Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-24-03 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)), PUCO. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-22-06 After-hours retrieval fee (Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-22-06), PUCO. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- PUCO Towing fee limits, PUCO. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Ohio Rev. Code 4513.601 Private tow-away zones (Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.601). Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Ohio Rev. Code 4513.611 Civil actions against tow operators (Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.611). Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Ohio Rev. Code 4513.69 Storage facility hours and release (Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.69). Checked Nov 14, 2026.