Pennsylvania towing laws
Pennsylvania has no statewide cap on the tow itself.
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A property owner may remove a car from a posted lot at the owner's reasonable expense, cities and towns may set rates by ordinance, and where the town has not set storage charges, storage is capped at $25 a day. Philadelphia caps private-lot tows at $175 plus $25 a day and requires a police ticket and photos before the tow, while state law gives extra rules for crash tows and a 30-day notice and hearing process for abandoned vehicles.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, light vehicle1DetailsNo statewide number. State law says the cost must be reasonable and lets cities, boroughs, towns and townships set removal rates by ordinance. | Set by city or county |
Daily storage where the municipality has not set a rate1DetailsDefault cap for cars removed from private property. A municipal ordinance can set a different storage rate. | Up to $25 / day |
| Drop feeNo state law on drop fees was found. | Not verified |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fee to reclaim a car processed as abandoned5Paid to the salvor on top of towing and storage. Half goes to PennDOT. | $50 |
Local rates. Pennsylvania municipalities may set tow and storage rates by ordinance. Philadelphia caps private-lot tows, caps crash tows under its rotational program, and sets fees for Parking Authority tows. Pittsburgh requires lot owners who tow to hold a limited towing license under City Code Chapter 763, but we found no published Pittsburgh tow or storage fee schedule.
Philadelphia (private lots, private property, driveways)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, under 11,000 lb13DetailsFrom the city's 2018 summary of Philadelphia Code 9-605(11). No other fees may be added by the tower or the property owner. | Up to $175 |
| Storage per 24 hours, under 11,000 lb13A partial day is charged in proportion to the hours stored. | Up to $25 / day |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (4 fees)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private-property tow, 11,000 to 17,000 lb13 | Up to $250 |
Storage per 24 hours, 11,000 to 17,000 lb13DetailsA partial day is charged in proportion to the hours stored. | Up to $40 / day |
| Private-property tow, 17,000 lb and over13 | Up to $360 |
Storage per 24 hours, 17,000 lb and over13DetailsA partial day is charged in proportion to the hours stored. | Up to $75 / day |
Philadelphia rotational towing (crash and disabled-vehicle tows)
Philadelphia Parking Authority tows
What will I owe in Pennsylvania?
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Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
No Pennsylvania law requires a tower to release your car for a drop fee if you return before it is towed away. Philadelphia's towing code summary has no drop-fee rule either, and it bans any charges beyond its tow and storage caps.11317
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
No state law lets you take belongings out of a towed car without paying. For a car processed as abandoned, the notice says you may reclaim the car and its contents within 30 days after paying the charges, and unclaimed contents can be disposed of with the car.4817
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
There is no statewide hearing for private-lot tows. If your car is processed as abandoned, you have 30 days from the mailing of the notice to ask for a hearing before a civilian municipal officer, and if the car is found not abandoned you can take it within 48 hours without paying the fees. In Philadelphia, Parking Authority tows and their fees are disputed at the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication.2414
Payment they must take
There is no statewide payment rule for private-lot tows. After a crash tow, the tower must accept cash, a common credit card, or an insurance company check. In Philadelphia, private-lot towers must take cash, credit and debit cards with no card surcharge.101315
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
No state law makes a private-lot tower notify you or the police after a tow. After a crash tow, the tower must give the owner at the scene a contact for where the car will be stored. For cars processed as abandoned, the salvor reports to PennDOT within 48 hours and PennDOT mails the owner and lienholders a certified notice. In Philadelphia, police must ticket the car before a private-lot tow, and the tower must photograph the plate, the violation and the sign.23410121317
Storage rules
The tower has a lien for the reasonable cost of removal plus storage, and storage is capped at $25 a day where the town has not set a rate. After a crash, a tower may not charge storage for any time it refused to let you get or inspect the car during posted hours, and it may not have you sign for more than 24 hours of storage before the tow.110
What to bringTo get the car released
After a crash tow, the tower must release the car during posted hours once you pay, and all charges must be itemized in writing. In Philadelphia, a private-lot tower must give you free printed copies of its photos before taking payment. Parking Authority impounds need the documents below plus payment of all tow, storage and ticket balances.101314
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
A car may be towed from a private lot only if the lot is posted. PennDOT rules call for a sign at each entrance facing incoming traffic, with the restriction in letters at least 3 inches high and reflective or lit at night. Philadelphia also requires a sign at least 36 by 36 inches listing the tow company, charges, redemption address and hours, and payment by cash, credit or debit card.11113
Other deadlines
- Car at a salvor's lot can be processed as abandoned: A car left at a salvor's lot for 20 days can be reported and processed as abandoned, which starts the notice and sale process.9
- Reclaim an abandoned car before sale: You have 30 days from the mailing or publication of the abandoned-vehicle notice to reclaim the car. After that, PennDOT can authorize disposal, and a car with value is sold at public auction, which ends the owner's and lienholders' rights.467
- Claim a PPA-impounded car before auction: Philadelphia Parking Authority sells cars not claimed within 21 days at an online public auction.14
- Sue over an illegal Philadelphia tow: In Philadelphia, if you are overcharged or towed when the code does not allow it, you can sue the tow company for actual damages, $2,000 in exemplary damages, and attorney's fees. No filing deadline is set in the code summary.13
By situation
Pennsylvania cities
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
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Guides: how to fight a tow · what to bring · impound costs by city
Questions
Is there a limit on towing fees in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania municipalities may set tow and storage rates by ordinance. Philadelphia caps private-lot tows, caps crash tows under its rotational program, and sets fees for Parking Authority tows. Pittsburgh requires lot owners who tow to hold a limited towing license under City Code Chapter 763, but we found no published Pittsburgh tow or storage fee schedule.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Pennsylvania if I get there first?
No Pennsylvania law requires a tower to release your car for a drop fee if you return before it is towed away. Philadelphia's towing code summary has no drop-fee rule either, and it bans any charges beyond its tow and storage caps.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Pennsylvania?
No state law lets you take belongings out of a towed car without paying. For a car processed as abandoned, the notice says you may reclaim the car and its contents within 30 days after paying the charges, and unclaimed contents can be disposed of with the car.
How do I contest a tow in Pennsylvania?
There is no statewide hearing for private-lot tows. If your car is processed as abandoned, you have 30 days from the mailing of the notice to ask for a hearing before a civilian municipal officer, and if the car is found not abandoned you can take it within 48 hours without paying the fees. In Philadelphia, Parking Authority tows and their fees are disputed at the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Pennsylvania?
There is no statewide payment rule for private-lot tows. After a crash tow, the tower must accept cash, a common credit card, or an insurance company check. In Philadelphia, private-lot towers must take cash, credit and debit cards with no card surcharge.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Pennsylvania Vehicle Code 75 Pa.C.S. 3353 Prohibitions in specified places (75 Pa.C.S. § 3353(b), (c)), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Vehicle Code 75 Pa.C.S. 3352 Removal of vehicle by or at direction of police (75 Pa.C.S. § 3352(d)), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7304 Reports to department of possession of abandoned vehicles (75 Pa.C.S. § 7304), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7305 Notice to owner and lienholders of abandoned vehicles (75 Pa.C.S. § 7305), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7306 Payment of costs upon reclaiming vehicle (75 Pa.C.S. § 7306), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7307 Authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles (75 Pa.C.S. § 7307), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7308 Public sale of unclaimed vehicles with value (75 Pa.C.S. § 7308), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7309 Processing of nonrepairable or salvage vehicles (75 Pa.C.S. § 7309(d)), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 7311.1 Reports by private property owners of abandoned vehicles (75 Pa.C.S. § 7311.1), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act (Act 110 of 2012, crash-scene tows) (73 P.S. § 1971.3), Pennsylvania General Assembly. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 67 Pa. Code § 212.115 Posting of private parking lots (67 Pa. Code § 212.115), PennDOT (Pennsylvania Code). Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- 67 Pa. Code Chapter 253 Salvors (67 Pa. Code §§ 253.1-253.7), PennDOT (Pennsylvania Code). Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- City of Philadelphia, Summary of Philadelphia Code provisions governing towing activity (rev. Sept. 20, 2018) (Phila. Code § 9-605(4), (11), (17)), City of Philadelphia. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Philadelphia Parking Authority, Booted and Towed Vehicles, Philadelphia Parking Authority. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- AG Sunday's Bureau of Consumer Protection: Philadelphia Towing Group Breaking Court Order by Unlawfully Towing Vehicles, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- City of Pittsburgh, Towing License (limited towing license for parking lots) (Pittsburgh Code ch. 763), City of Pittsburgh. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- PennPIRG Education Fund, Pennsylvania Towing Protections (May 2021), PennPIRG Education Fund. Checked Nov 15, 2026. Secondary source.