Rhode Island towing laws
Rhode Island sets maximum rates for police-ordered and private-property trespass tows through a 2021 tariff approved by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
More about Rhode Island
A light-duty tow is $125, which includes the first 24 hours of storage, and release at the scene of a trespass tow is $60. Tow companies must be certificated by the Division, and a trespass tow lot must be within 10 miles and open to release cars the same hours it takes them in.
Checked Nov 15, 2026 · Regulator: Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (Motor Carriers Section)
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Trespass tow released at the scene1DetailsApplies when the owner shows up and agrees to move the car after the tow company has already secured it on the hook or flatbed. | $60 |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Loaded mileage to the tower's lot after five free miles (police-ordered tows)1Trespass tows may not add mileage because the flat fee covers all loaded miles. | Up to $3.50 / mile |
Release of a car or belongings outside business hours (police-ordered tows)1DetailsAllowed only if the lot is open at least 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, and not if staff are already on site. This fee may not be charged on trespass tows. A card processing fee of up to 3 percent and actual tolls may also be added. | Up to $30 |
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Police-ordered or trespass tow to the tower's lot, light duty (up to 8,000 lb)1DetailsIncludes all incidental charges, the first hour of site work, and the first 24 hours of storage. For a trespass tow it also covers all loaded miles. For a police tow it covers the first five loaded miles. Motorcycles may cost $25 more. The tariff applies to tow companies that adopted it, and others charge under their own Division-approved tariff. | Up to $125 |
Daily storage, vehicle up to 20 feet1DetailsA day is each 24-hour period after the first 24 hours, counted from delivery to the lot. Vehicles over 20 feet are $45 per day. Storage stops adding up after day 7 if the tower has not notified the owner as required, and no storage may be charged unless the car is kept in a locked, fenced, and lighted lot or a locked building. | Up to $35 / day |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (1 fees)
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
Police-ordered or trespass tow to the tower's lot, medium duty (8,001 to 15,000 lb)1DetailsIncludes all incidental charges, the first hour of site work, and the first 24 hours of storage. For a trespass tow it also covers all loaded miles. For a police tow it covers the first five loaded miles. | Up to $145 | All tows · Medium trucks |
What will I owe in Rhode Island?
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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 the owner arrives while a trespass tow is in progress and agrees to move the car, the tow company must release it for a flat $60 once the car is secured for towing.1
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The tow company must hand over personal items to the owner or driver right away on request, even if the tow bill has not been paid. A pet in the car must be released at once if the owner is there.2
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
An owner who thinks the tow was improper may file an administrative complaint with the Division to contest it. For a trespass tow, an owner who proves in court that the car was not trespassing can recover the charges from the property owner after paying them.246
Payment they must take
The tow company must accept cash and at least one other form of payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or personal check. If it takes cards it may add a processing fee of up to 3 percent.1
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
A tower removing an abandoned or unattended car must tell the local police within 2 hours. State rules require a registered letter to the owner within 7 days and to lienholders within 14 days, and the same notice rules apply to private-lot trespass tows. Storage stops adding up while the notice is late.124
Not verified Tow-away signs. We have not confirmed these in Rhode Island law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Claim the car before the lien sale process starts: If the car is not claimed within 30 days of the owner notice, the tower may give a second notice and sell it at public auction 10 days after that notice is mailed.45
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island?
Yes. Police-ordered or trespass tow to the tower's lot, light duty (up to 8,000 lb): up to $125. Storage: $35 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Rhode Island if I get there first?
If the owner arrives while a trespass tow is in progress and agrees to move the car, the tow company must release it for a flat $60 once the car is secured for towing.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Rhode Island?
The tow company must hand over personal items to the owner or driver right away on request, even if the tow bill has not been paid. A pet in the car must be released at once if the owner is there.
How do I contest a tow in Rhode Island?
An owner who thinks the tow was improper may file an administrative complaint with the Division to contest it. For a trespass tow, an owner who proves in court that the car was not trespassing can recover the charges from the property owner after paying them.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Rhode Island?
The tow company must accept cash and at least one other form of payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or personal check. If it takes cards it may add a processing fee of up to 3 percent.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- 2021 Non-Consensual Tow Tariff for Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles (Attachment A to Report and Order 24243, Docket 18 MC 94) (R.I. Div. of Pub. Util. & Carriers, Docket 18 MC 94, Order 24243, Attachment A), Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Rules and Regulations Governing Motor Carriers of Property, including towing notice, trespass towing, and release of personal items (815-RICR-50-05-1.13 to 1.13.2), Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (via Secretary of State). Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Division of Public Utilities and Carriers tow slip form with consumer rate notes (posted April 2026), Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Checked Nov 14, 2026. Secondary source.
- R.I. Gen. Laws 39-12.1-4 Notice and processing of abandoned and unclaimed vehicles (R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12.1-4), Rhode Island General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- R.I. Gen. Laws 39-12.1-8 Notice prior to enforcement of possessory lien (R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12.1-8), Rhode Island General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- R.I. Gen. Laws 39-12.1-12 Private trespass towing (R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-12.1-12), Rhode Island General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.