Car towed in Nixa

1Find who towed your car

No record of a tow anywhere? Report the car to police as possibly stolen.

2What they can charge

We have not verified local maximum rates for Nixa yet. Ask the tow company for its rate sheet. It must give you one on request.

Estimate your bill

3What to bring

• The owner or the holder of a valid security interest can reclaim the car by proving ownership or the security interest and paying the reasonable towing and storage charges.
• The storage lot must accept cash for towing and storage and keep enough money on site to make change. State law does not require it to accept credit or debit cards. Call ahead to ask which types the lot takes.

Paperwork locked inside the car? The company must either release your belongings or let you inspect the car and give you an itemized receipt of what is inside. It is strictly liable for the condition and safe return of those items. Prescription medication must be released on request.

RSMo 304.155.8; RSMo 304.158.7; RSMo 304.155.9

4Getting it back

• Inspect the car before you drive away, and photograph any damage.

Before you sign anything: The tow company is responsible for damage it causes during towing and storage, and for towing a car other than the one the property owner named. You can also recover damages from whoever caused the removal.

RSMo 304.158.2-3

5Was the tow legal?

Common problems with private tows in Missouri include refusing to release the car when you came back before it left.

Check my towSale deadlinesEvidence checklistDispute letter

Tow-away sign rules in Missouri

These apply to private property; without a sign the owner must notify police and wait 10 hours (small owner-occupied homes of four units or fewer) or 96 hours (other private property).

• Where: In plain view at all entrances.
• Size: at least 17 by 22 inches.
• Lettering at least 1 inch tall.
• Must show: the tow and storage charges.
• Must show: a warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed.

RSMo 304.157.4 (opens in a new tab)

6How to dispute a tow

1. Collect evidence. Photograph the lot entrances and any signs, keep every receipt, and write down times and names.
2. Ask for an itemized invoice. Missouri sets no statewide maximum tow price for private-property tows. The sign at the lot must state the maximum fee for all towing and storage charges.
3. File a complaint.
   • Missouri Attorney General Consumer Protection
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • Kansas City 311
   • Local police non-emergency line
4. Go to court if needed. If you think the tow was improper, you can file a petition in the associate circuit court in the county where the car is stored within 10 days of the company's notice. You can have the car released by posting a bond or other security equal to the towing and storage charges.
5. Consider small claims or a chargeback. Missouri small claims court hears money claims up to $5,000, not counting interest or costs. You can also sue for the double or four-times damages the towing statute allows if the rules were broken. 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.

7Deadlines to watch

Missouri deadlines, counted from the law

• Registered owner and lienholder must be told in writing within: 5 business days (see the law for when the count starts). RSMo 304.158.1-2 (opens in a new tab)
• Company can apply for title if unclaimed after notice mailed: 30 days after the tow company's notice, if no hearing requested. RSMo 304.156.7, 304.155.12 (opens in a new tab)

See the dates for your tow

Common questions

Not verified yet for Nixa

We only publish details we could confirm from an official source. These are still missing, so ask the agencies above:

• Addresses and hours of the tow lots that hold police tows
• An official online lookup for towed cars
• Local maximum rates for private-property tows
• City-specific documents needed to pick up a car
• Local rules for someone else picking up your car
• Local auction schedules for unclaimed cars