Utah towing laws
Utah sets statewide maximum fees for every non-consent tow.
More about Utah
For 2026 a private-property tow of a car or light truck is capped at $211, storage at $42 a day outside, and the drop fee at $105.50. Tow companies must take cash and debit or credit cards and must report the tow to the state impound system before they can collect payment.
Checked Nov 14, 2026 · Regulator: Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division
At a glance
Utah state towed-car search
Run or named by a state agency. Check what it covers: most miss some kinds of tows.
State impounds and removals by police, plus tows done without the owner's knowledge, which tow operators must enter when they reach the lot. Search by VIN, plate or State Impound Form number, then get a DMV release letter before going to the lot.456
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private-property tow, 10,000 lb or less12UDOT 2026 schedule. Fuel surcharge may apply under R909-19-16. | Up to $211 |
| Drop fee, private-property tow, 10,000 lb or less12 | Up to $105.50 |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Outside storage, 10,000 lb or less12Inside storage is capped at $47 a day. Same cap for police and private-property tows. | Up to $42 / day |
| Administrative fee12 | Up to $44 |
| After-hours fee1 | Up to $75 |
Trucks and heavy vehicles (1 fees)
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Private-property tow, 10,001 to 26,000 lb1 | Up to $352 | Private lot (apartment, store) · Medium trucks |
What will I owe in Utah?
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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
For a private-property tow of a car or light truck, the drop fee is capped at $105.50 in 2026.1
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
Once the towing fee is paid, the owner may enter the car during normal business hours and remove personal property not attached to it, unless it is held as evidence.3
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
You can file a complaint with UDOT about overcharges or other violations of the towing rules.2
Payment they must take
Tow companies and impound yards must accept cash and debit or credit cards. They may add a card processing fee of 3%.13
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
For tows not ordered by police, the tower must enter the tow in the state impound vehicle system as soon as it reaches the lot and notify local police. Within two business days it must send a certified letter to the owner and lienholders. You can check at tow.utah.gov.23
Storage rules
Storage is capped by UDOT. For private-property tows the lot must answer the phone 24 hours a day and release the car within one hour of your call. If the lot cannot show it sent the required certified letter, you may demand the car back without paying towing or storage fees.13
What to bringTo get the car released
You can ask for proof that the tow was entered in the state impound system and when storage began.2
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
Each entrance needs a 24 by 18 inch sign in the state format showing who may park and the tow details. Without a compliant sign, the owner must leave a written notice on the car 24 hours before towing, except in fire lanes, disabled spaces and similar spots.3
Other deadlines
- Car considered abandoned: A car is treated as abandoned if no one with an interest in it acts within 30 days after the certified notice is sent.3
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Utah, 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 Utah?
Yes. Private-property tow, 10,000 lb or less: up to $211. Drop fee: up to $105.50. Storage: $42 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Utah if I get there first?
For a private-property tow of a car or light truck, the drop fee is capped at $105.50 in 2026.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Utah?
Once the towing fee is paid, the owner may enter the car during normal business hours and remove personal property not attached to it, unless it is held as evidence.
How do I contest a tow in Utah?
You can file a complaint with UDOT about overcharges or other violations of the towing rules.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Utah?
Tow companies and impound yards must accept cash and debit or credit cards. They may add a card processing fee of 3%.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- UDOT 2026 Non-Consent Towing Fee Schedule (Utah Admin. Code R909-19), Utah Department of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Utah Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing, 10,000 lbs. and less (effective 1/1/2026), Utah Department of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Utah Code 72-9-603 Towing notice requirements, cost responsibilities, maximum rates (Utah Code Ann. § 72-9-603), Utah Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Find a Towed Vehicle, Utah Highway Patrol. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Impound Vehicle Search instructions, Utah State Tax Commission. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Utah Code § 72-9-603, Towing notice requirements (Utah Code § 72-9-603(1)(a)), Utah Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.