South Dakota towing laws
South Dakota has no statewide maximum towing or storage rates, only a lien for reasonable costs.
More about South Dakota
A tow company must send the owner and lienholders a certified letter within 45 days, and storage stops after day 10 until it does. A tow from a public street that was not requested by the owner or police must be reported within 24 hours or the company loses the right to any fees.
At a glance
Fee limits
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Tow, light vehicle1DetailsState law allows a lien only for the reasonable costs of taking custody and storing the vehicle. No dollar limit is set. | No state cap |
| Daily storage, light vehicle1Storage must be reasonable. No dollar limit is set. | No state cap |
What will I owe in South Dakota?
Estimate your bill
Got your receipt? Check it for overcharges
Type what the lot charged for each line. We flag anything above a confirmed legal cap.
Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
South Dakota has no statewide rule requiring a tow company to release a car for a drop fee. The state towing and abandoned vehicle laws do not address it.12
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The tow company has a lien on the car's contents, but it cannot exceed $500. No lien applies to clothing, food or the tools a person uses for work.1
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
State law has no hearing process for contesting a tow or its charges.12
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tow company must send a certified letter to the registered owner and lienholders within 45 days of the removal, on a state form, saying where the car is held and how to reclaim it. If a tow company removes an unattended car from a public street without a written request from the owner or police, it must report the tow to the owner within 24 hours, or to the sheriff or police chief if it cannot reach the owner. If it does not, it may not charge any towing or storage fees.234
Storage rules
If the tow company does not mail the owner notice within 10 days of the removal, it cannot charge storage after day 10 until the notice is mailed.2
What to bringTo get the car released
The registered owner or lienholder may reclaim the car within 30 days after the notice is sent. The tow company has a lien for its reasonable towing and storage costs, so expect to pay them before release.12
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
We found no sign requirement. A tow company may not remove an abandoned vehicle from private property without the written permission of the landowner or tenant.2
Other deadlines
- Reclaim the car before title passes to the tow company: Title to the vehicle passes to the tow company 30 days after the notice is sent unless the owner or lienholder reclaims it. The owner or lienholder must tell the state in writing within 30 days that they intend to reclaim it.2
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in South Dakota, 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota 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 South Dakota if I get there first?
South Dakota has no statewide rule requiring a tow company to release a car for a drop fee. The state towing and abandoned vehicle laws do not address it.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in South Dakota?
The tow company has a lien on the car's contents, but it cannot exceed $500. No lien applies to clothing, food or the tools a person uses for work.
How do I contest a tow in South Dakota?
State law has no hearing process for contesting a tow or its charges.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in South Dakota?
State law does not say which forms of payment a tow company must accept.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- SDCL 32-30-18 Lien for costs of removal and storage of vehicle (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-18), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- SDCL ch. 32-36 Abandoned, derelict and junk motor vehicles (S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-36-2, 32-36-4.1, 32-36-8, 32-36-9), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- SDCL 32-30-3.1 Removal of unattended vehicle, reporting requirements (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-3.1), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- SDCL 32-30-3.2 Removal agency failing to report not entitled to fees (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-3.2), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- SDCL 32-36-4.1 Removal from private property needs written permission (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-36-4.1), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.