Vermont towing laws
Vermont has almost no towing rules.
More about Vermont
There is no cap on private-property tow or storage fees, no drop fee rule, no right to get your belongings out, and no rule on payment types, according to the Attorney General's 2024 towing report. The towing statute mainly covers abandoned cars, where the tow fee must be reasonable and a landowner who has a car removed must notify police right away. Towing bills in the 2025-2026 session did not become law.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow of an abandoned vehicle14DetailsThe statute says only that the fee must be reasonable. It covers cars left without consent for more than 48 hours, or for any time if the car has no valid plate. | No state cap |
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Daily storage of an abandoned vehicle4DetailsNo dollar limit. No storage may be charged for the time before the abandoned vehicle form is sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles. | No state cap |
Local rates. Some cities set charges for tows they order for parking violations. We have not yet read a current city rate schedule.
What will I owe in Vermont?
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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
Vermont has no state rule on drop fees. The Attorney General found that apart from a few abandoned-vehicle rules, tow operators set their own rates and practices.46
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
No state law gives you the right to get your belongings out of a towed car. The Attorney General found that tow operators decide whether to allow access.6
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
Vermont has no tow hearing process. You can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program.6
Payment they must take
No state law says which forms of payment a tow company must accept. The Attorney General recommended requiring cash, card and other common forms, and the 2025-2026 towing bills did not pass.56
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
A landowner who removes an abandoned car must immediately notify the local police with its plate number, VIN if available, make, model, and color. For abandoned cars the DMV sends the registered owner and lienholder a certified letter saying where the car is.23
Storage rules
For abandoned cars, storage may not be charged for any period before the abandoned vehicle certification form is sent to the DMV. No other statewide storage rule was found.4
What to bringTo get the car released
For an abandoned car, the owner reclaims it by giving the DMV satisfactory proof of ownership and paying or arranging to pay the towing and storage charges allowed by law.3
Other deadlines
- Reclaim an abandoned car through the DMV: For an abandoned car with plates or a readable VIN, the owner or lienholder has 21 days after the DMV's second notice to reclaim it by showing proof of ownership and paying or arranging to pay the allowed fees. After that the DMV may issue a title to the person who applied.3
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Vermont, 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 Vermont?
Vermont 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 Vermont if I get there first?
Vermont has no state rule on drop fees. The Attorney General found that apart from a few abandoned-vehicle rules, tow operators set their own rates and practices.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Vermont?
No state law gives you the right to get your belongings out of a towed car. The Attorney General found that tow operators decide whether to allow access.
How do I contest a tow in Vermont?
Vermont has no tow hearing process. You can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Vermont?
No state law says which forms of payment a tow company must accept. The Attorney General recommended requiring cash, card and other common forms, and the 2025-2026 towing bills did not pass.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- 23 V.S.A. 2151 Definitions (abandoned motor vehicles) (23 V.S.A. § 2151), Vermont General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- 23 V.S.A. 2152 Authorized removal of abandoned motor vehicles (23 V.S.A. § 2152), Vermont General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- 23 V.S.A. 2154 Identification and reclamation of abandoned motor vehicles (23 V.S.A. § 2154), Vermont General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- 23 V.S.A. 2155 Fees and charges (23 V.S.A. § 2155), Vermont General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- H.768 (2026) towing consumer protection bill, status page, Vermont General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Report to the Vermont Legislature on Towing Practices in Vermont (Act 41 study), Vermont Attorney General. Checked Nov 15, 2026. Secondary source.