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Your rights after a tow in Kansas

Kansas law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. Counties and cities set the maximum rates. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Pick your city

Who sets the rules

Kansas does not set a statewide price cap for private-property tows. A city or county that allows these tows must write the maximum towing and storage rates into its own ordinance. K.S.A. 8-1103(c)(1) (opens in a new tab)
If your city has no ordinance authorizing towing from private property, the required local protections below may not apply, so look up your city code or call city hall. K.S.A. 8-1103(c) (opens in a new tab)
Anyone running a towing business in Kansas must hold a certificate of public service from the Kansas Corporation Commission. K.S.A. 66-1330 (opens in a new tab)

Finding and reaching your car

Under the state rule, a city or county ordinance for private-property towing must require the tow company to tell local police where your car is within two hours of the tow. Call the police non-emergency line to find it. K.S.A. 8-1103(c)(3) (opens in a new tab)
An ordinance must give you access to belongings in the towed car for 48 hours after the tow, and they must be released to you. Personal medical supplies must be handed over on request. K.S.A. 8-1103(c)(2), (a)(4) (opens in a new tab)
The company may hold other personal property in the car until the reasonable or agreed towing and storage charges are paid or a payment arrangement is made. It only has to take reasonable care of those items. K.S.A. 8-1103(a)(4) (opens in a new tab)
A tow company may not take your car outside Kansas unless you, your motor club, or your insurer consents. K.S.A. 8-1103(d) (opens in a new tab)

Storage fees and notices

At the time of the tow the company must give the driver, if present, a written notice that storage will be charged. If it fails to do so, its lien for storage fees is invalid. K.S.A. 8-1103(b) (opens in a new tab)
If the company knows who owns the car, it must send notice within 15 days that the car is being held until the bill is paid. K.S.A. 8-1103(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)
If the company skips a notice the law requires, it cannot charge storage fees until it gives the notice properly. K.S.A. 8-1108 (opens in a new tab)
The towing company gets a first and prior lien on the car for the value of its service, which lets it hold the car until paid. K.S.A. 8-1103(a)(1) (opens in a new tab)

If the car is not claimed

A car left with the tow company for 30 days after the service may be sold to pay the charges, after the required notices. A court hold for a criminal case can delay this. K.S.A. 8-1103(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)
Before a sale, the company must check Kansas vehicle records for owners and lienholders, then mail certified notice within 15 days of getting that information. The notice says the car will be auctioned if not paid within 15 days of mailing. K.S.A. 8-1104(a)-(b) (opens in a new tab)
A notice of the auction must also be published in a newspaper at least seven days before the sale, and the sale must be a public cash auction. K.S.A. 8-1104(b), 8-1105 (opens in a new tab)
A $20 certification-of-compliance fee can be charged to you if you reclaim the car before it is sold at auction. K.S.A. 8-1109(c) (opens in a new tab)

What this means for you

Because rates are set by city or county, ask the company which ordinance sets its price and compare your bill to that cap. Kansas law leaves the details to each city or county ordinance, so check your local code. K.S.A. 8-1103(c)(1) (opens in a new tab)
The state statutes read do not require tow-away signs; any signage rule would come from a city or county ordinance. K.S.A. 8-1103 (opens in a new tab)
The state statutes read have no right to get your car back if you arrive before it leaves the lot. Any such rule or fee cap would be in a local ordinance. K.S.A. 8-1103 (opens in a new tab)
Kansas towing statutes read here do not give a special hearing to contest a private-property tow. Your route is a claim in small claims court or asking the city to enforce its ordinance. K.S.A. 8-1103; K.S.A. 61-2703 (opens in a new tab)
If you paid by credit card and believe the tow was improper, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer within the time limits it sets. FTC dispute guidance (opens in a new tab)

Abandoned vehicles and police tows

Leaving a vehicle on someone else's private land can be criminal trespass, and the city may remove and dispose of it at the owner's request. K.S.A. 8-1102(b) (opens in a new tab)
To recover a vehicle impounded by a city or county, you must show proof of valid registration and ownership and may be required to pay reasonable impound costs first. K.S.A. 8-1102(e) (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

Kansas Corporation Commission, Transportation. The KCC issues the certificate that tow companies need to operate in Kansas, so it is the state agency to ask about a tow company's authority. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)

Small claims court in Kansas hears money claims up to $10,000, excluding interest and costs, which covers most towing overcharge disputes.

Check your tow

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-17. These are the laws and official pages this page is based on.