Oregon towing laws
Oregon does not set statewide tow rates.
More about Oregon
Cities and counties may set maximum rates for tows from private lots, and Portland does. State law requires a tower to release your car for free if you show up before it is hooked up, and for no more than its posted hookup charge if hookup is complete.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, light vehicle1DetailsState law allows only just and reasonable charges and lets each city or county set maximum rates. A tower may not charge more than the prices it discloses in writing. | Set by city or county |
Daily storage, private-property tow1DetailsSet by the city or county where one has set rates. Storage stops accruing after three business days if the tower has not sent the owner notice. | Set by city or county |
Drop fee (hookup complete, car not yet towed)1DetailsNo more than the tower's own written hookup charge for that type of tow. Free if the hookup is not complete. | Up to 100% of the tow fee |
Local rates. Under ORS 98.859 a city or county may set maximum rates for tows from private property, and city rates override county rates inside city limits. Towers then need a city or county license.
Portland
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private property impound, Class A hookup fee3DetailsPBOT rule TRN-17.03, effective February 15, 2026. Includes hookup, dollies, 30 minutes on scene, dispatch and photo fee. | Up to $202 |
| Towed mileage, Class A and B, up to 8 miles3 | Up to $6 / mile |
| Storage per 24 hours3After a four-hour grace period. $41 a day for vehicles over 20 feet long. | Up to $32 / day |
| After-hours release or gate fee3Not allowed if the tower arrives more than 30 minutes after the agreed release time. | Up to $50 |
Lien filing fee, vehicle valued over $2,500 or out of state3DetailsOnly after five days in storage. $50 for vehicles valued under $1,000 and $75 for $1,001 to $2,500. | Up to $175 |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (1 fees)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private property impound, Class B hookup fee3 | Up to $286 |
What will I owe in Oregon?
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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 are there before the hookup is complete, the tower must release the car at no charge. If hookup is complete, it must still release the car and may charge no more than its listed hookup charge.1
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
You can get emergency items such as medicine, glasses, ID, wallet, clothing and child car seats, plus the license plates, without paying. Only a gate fee may apply at night, on weekends and on holidays.1
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
For a tow ordered by police or another public agency, you can ask that agency for a hearing on whether the tow was valid and the charges reasonable. The request must be in writing within five business days of the notice mailing date. There is no state hearing for private-lot tows.2
Payment they must take
The tower must tell you in writing which payment methods it accepts. It may take cash only if it gives exact change by the end of the next business day.1
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tower must tell local police where the car is within one hour of storing it. It must mail or give notice to the owner and lienholders within three business days, or it cannot charge storage after that point.1
Storage rules
The tower must use its closest lot with space in the same county. You can redeem or inspect the car from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on business days and within 60 minutes of asking at other hours. For police tows, you never pay more than 60 days of storage.12
What to bringTo get the car released
The tower must give you a written statement of all its prices, the storage location, how to reach it and payment methods. It must take a photo before the tow and give you a free copy and the signed tow authorization on request.12
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
A tower may not tow from a parking lot unless a sign in plain view clearly prohibits or restricts public parking. Driveways of single-family homes and duplexes and places where parking is plainly not allowed need no sign.1
Other deadlines
- Unclaimed police-towed car may be sold: A car towed by police that is not reclaimed within 30 days may be sold or disposed of.2
By situation
Oregon cities
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Oregon, 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 Oregon?
Oregon 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 Oregon if I get there first?
If you are there before the hookup is complete, the tower must release the car at no charge. If hookup is complete, it must still release the car and may charge no more than its listed hookup charge.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Oregon?
You can get emergency items such as medicine, glasses, ID, wallet, clothing and child car seats, plus the license plates, without paying. Only a gate fee may apply at night, on weekends and on holidays.
How do I contest a tow in Oregon?
For a tow ordered by police or another public agency, you can ask that agency for a hearing on whether the tow was valid and the charges reasonable. The request must be in writing within five business days of the notice mailing date. There is no state hearing for private-lot tows.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Oregon?
The tower must tell you in writing which payment methods it accepts. It may take cash only if it gives exact change by the end of the next business day.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Oregon Revised Statutes ch. 98, towing from private property (ORS 98.805 to 98.862), Oregon Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Oregon Revised Statutes ch. 819, custody and towing of vehicles by public agencies (ORS 819.110 to 819.210), Oregon Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- TRN-17.03 Fees for Private Property Impound Towing and Storage in the City of Portland (Portland City Code 7.24 and administrative rule TRN-17.03 (eff. Feb. 15, 2026)), Portland Bureau of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.