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Your rights after a tow in Louisiana

Louisiana law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. One set of maximum rates applies across the state. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Maximum charges in Louisiana

$152.50

Ceiling to tow a standard car from private property under Louisiana (statewide, Public Service Commission) rates; your city may set its own

$34.00

Louisiana (statewide, Public Service Commission) ceiling per day of storage

Other Louisiana (statewide, Public Service Commission) maximums
Charge	Maximum
Administrative fee	$36.00
After-hours or gate fee	$64.50
Private property tow, light duty, when extra equipment or an additional operator is documented	$186.00
Covered storage (per calendar day)	$40.50
Oversize vehicle storage (per calendar day)	$61.50
Gate fee, release outside 8-5 weekdays	$64.50
Retrieving contents outside business hours	$64.50
Stored-vehicle report filing, out of state	$42.00

A standard car towed from a private lot costs at most $152.50 flat, and storage is at most $34.00 per calendar day. A fuel surcharge on a sliding scale and postage on notice letters may also be added, and the Commission re-sets all figures each April. See the official Louisiana (statewide, Public Service Commission) rates (opens in a new tab).

Statewide, the administrative fee to release a car from the tow company's lien cannot exceed $36.00.

Pick your city

Signs, tags and the tow contract

A property owner who has cars towed must post warning signs where drivers enter and leave the property. If only certain areas or spaces are tow zones, those areas or spaces must also be marked, with signs in each area or markings on each space. La. R.S. 32:1736(C) (opens in a new tab)
When the owner has a contract with a tow company, the sign must show the tow company's name, address and phone number in letters at least 2 inches tall. The tow company must also make sure the lot is properly marked before it removes any car. La. R.S. 32:1736(C) (opens in a new tab)
A private-lot tow must either be approved by local law enforcement, or the car must first be tagged with a visible sticker showing the date, time, tow company and the property owner's signed name. A tag is not needed if the lot has a signed tow contract and proper signs, or if the owner signed the bill before the tow. La. R.S. 32:1736(B), (C) (opens in a new tab)
The lot owner and the tow company must have a dated, signed written contract that states the parking rules and reasons for towing, plus start and end dates. Copies must be kept at both businesses and in the tow truck. La. R.S. 32:1736(C) (opens in a new tab)

Reporting and notice after the tow

The storage lot must tell the sheriff or city police for the area where you were towed within 24 hours of the car arriving. That makes the police non-emergency line a good first call to find the car. La. R.S. 32:1718(A) (opens in a new tab)
The lot must also report the car to the state Office of Motor Vehicles within 3 business days, which is how the lot gets your name and address for the notice letter. La. R.S. 32:1719(A) (opens in a new tab)
The lot must mail you (and any lienholder) a notice within 10 business days after the state sends the owner details, or 5 if sent electronically. It must list the lot's address, the charges so far and your rights. La. R.S. 32:1720(A)-(B) (opens in a new tab)

Getting your car back

The registered owner, a lienholder, or someone with written permission from the owner can claim the car. The note must include the helper's name, the owner's signed name and phone number, and the car's year, make, model and color. La. Admin. Code tit. 55, Pt. I, 1941(B) (opens in a new tab)
Towing and storage lots must be staffed and open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except state holidays. They must have a sign at the office and the storage entrance with their hours and an after-hours phone number. La. Admin. Code tit. 55, Pt. I, 1943(B) and 1941(D) (opens in a new tab)
The lot must release the car immediately once you pay, any lienholder requirements are met, and there is no police hold. The rules do not give a set number of hours. La. Admin. Code tit. 55, Pt. I, 1941(B) (opens in a new tab)
Tow companies must accept credit cards. They may add the card processing fee to the bill only as a separate line item. If you pay cash and change is due, they must give change or mail it within 10 days. LPSC General Order 12-20-2024, Sched. V (opens in a new tab)
The lot cannot hold your removable personal items, including the license plate. With photo ID and proof of ownership (or written permission), you can get them during business hours at no charge if there is no police hold. La. Admin. Code tit. 55, Pt. I, 1941(E) (opens in a new tab)
You may look at and photograph the car, without a fee, during business hours before paying. The state does not allow extra charges for finding, viewing or moving it during those hours. No rule against signing a damage waiver was found. La. Admin. Code tit. 55, Pt. I, 1941(E), 1943(C) (opens in a new tab)

What the tow company can charge

The Public Service Commission sets the maximum price for non-consensual tows, including tows from private lots. From April 1, 2026, a standard car pulled from a private lot is capped at $152.50 flat, or $186.00 if special equipment or a second operator is needed and the company documents why. La. R.S. 32:1736(D); LPSC Gen. Order 12-20-2024, Sched. II(A) (opens in a new tab)
Outside storage for a regular car is capped at $34.00 per calendar day. Covered storage is $40.50 and oversize vehicles $61.50. Storage may not be charged past the 90th day. LPSC Gen. Order 12-20-2024, Sched. II(C); La. R.S. 32:1728(A)(3) (opens in a new tab)
A gate fee for releasing a car outside business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays) is capped at $64.50. No gate fee or fee for taking items from the car may be charged during business hours. La. R.S. 32:1734; LPSC Gen. Order Sched. II(F) (opens in a new tab)
A licensed lot may charge up to $36.00 to file the state stored-vehicle report ($42.00 if out of state), plus postage and $5.00 per required mailed letter, backed by receipts. The state storage rule's older lower figures are replaced by the Commission's schedule. LPSC Gen. Order 12-20-2024, Sched. II(G) (opens in a new tab)
You must get an itemized invoice showing the date and time of service, the driver's name, departure time, and each fee. You can ask for a copy even before you pay. La. R.S. 32:1736(B); LPSC Gen. Order Sched. III (opens in a new tab)
In parishes with 300,000 or more people, a tow from private property cannot cost more than the local government would charge for a tow from public property. Check your city page to see whether this applies. La. R.S. 32:1733 (opens in a new tab)
If the car is moved to a lot not owned by the tow company, the second company's surcharge cannot exceed 25 percent of the initial tow charge, including related storage and administrative fees. La. R.S. 32:1732 (opens in a new tab)

If you were overcharged or towed wrongly

There is no release-bond hearing for private-lot tows in the law found. You can complain in writing to the Public Service Commission, and you do not need to pay the invoice first. Storage stops accruing from the date of a written complaint and is not owed if the charges are found excessive. LPSC Gen. Order 12-20-2024, Sched. III(E), VI(A) (opens in a new tab)
If a tow company charges more than the set fee, you can sue to recover the excess, storage costs, reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Gate-fee and contents-fee overcharges give the same right. La. R.S. 32:1736(D), 32:1734(B), (D) (opens in a new tab)
The Commission can order a refund of up to 200 percent of an overcharge. A company that breaks the tow-and-storage law forfeits its towing and storage claims and can be fined up to $500 per violation. LPSC Gen. Order Sched. VI(B); La. R.S. 32:1724 (opens in a new tab)
If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. For billing errors, your written dispute generally must reach the issuer within 60 days of the first bill showing the charge. Whether a tow charge qualifies is up to the issuer. Fair Credit Billing Act (FTC guidance) (opens in a new tab)

If the car sits unclaimed

After 45 days in storage, the lot must send a final notice by certified mail for a car five years old or newer (regular mail otherwise). It may ask the state for a permit to sell 15 days after that notice is mailed. La. R.S. 32:1728(A) (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

Louisiana Public Service Commission, Transportation Division. Takes written complaints about non-consensual tow and storage rates. Phone 1-888-342-5717; mail PO Box 91154, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; email transcomplaint@la.gov. You can also contact your district Commissioner. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Louisiana State Police, Towing and Recovery Unit. Licenses storage lots and enforces the state storage rules, including notices and fees, under the Towing and Storage Act. Contact details were not verified.

Justice of the peace courts hear money claims up to $5,000, not counting interest, costs or attorney fees, alongside district court. City courts have their own, higher limits, and you can also sue for overcharges there.

Check your tow

Sources

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