Wisconsin towing laws
Wisconsin caps what a tow company can charge for removing a car from private property.
More about Wisconsin
Under rule Trans 319 the limits are $150 for the tow and $25 a day for outdoor storage, plus up to $150 for special equipment or long trips when justified. A city can also require a service fee of up to $35.
Checked Nov 14, 2026 · Regulator: Wisconsin Department of Transportation (sets private-property tow limits by rule)
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, any method1DetailsWis. Admin. Code Trans 319.03. Applies to tows from private property under Wis. Stat. 349.13(3m). | Up to $150 |
Outdoor storage, per 24 hours1DetailsIndoor storage is capped at $35. No storage for any day the lot is open less than 4 hours in a row between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. | Up to $25 / day |
| Round-trip mileage over 20 miles1Counts toward the $150 special charges cap. | Up to $3 / mile |
| Municipal service fee (only if the city requests it)12The tow company collects it for the city and may add its own fee of the same amount. | Up to $35 |
| Drop fee | Not verified |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Police-ordered tow2Police tow charges are set by local ordinance or contract. | Set by city or county |
Local rates. Police-ordered tow and storage charges are set by city and county ordinance. Cities may also require the $35 service fee on private-property tows.
What will I owe in Wisconsin?
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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
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The lot must release personal property not attached to the car during regular office hours, free of charge, when you show ID. You will be told that the car is then treated as abandoned unless you sign an agreement to pay the full charges.2
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
Before towing from private property, the tow company must notify the local police or sheriff with the car details and where it is going. If it does not try in good faith, it cannot collect any tow or storage charges. Police must give this information to the owner on request.12
Storage rules
Storage is counted in 24-hour periods from when the tow company notifies police. No storage may be charged for a day the lot is open less than 4 straight hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.1
Not verified Release for a drop fee, Right to a hearing, Payment they must take, What to bring. We have not confirmed these in Wisconsin law yet. Why
By situation
Wisconsin cities
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin?
Yes. Private-property tow, any method: up to $150. Storage: $25 per day.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Wisconsin?
The lot must release personal property not attached to the car during regular office hours, free of charge, when you show ID. You will be told that the car is then treated as abandoned unless you sign an agreement to pay the full charges.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. Trans 319 Towing of unauthorized vehicles on private property (Wis. Admin. Code Trans 319.03 to 319.05), Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Wis. Stat. 349.13 Authority to regulate parking, removal of vehicles (Wis. Stat. § 349.13(3m), (5)), Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Checked Nov 14, 2026.