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Your rights after a tow in Nebraska

Nebraska 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

Tow-away signs

A restricted parking lot must be properly posted before a car can be towed from it. State law does not say how many signs or how far apart they must be. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2401, 60-2401.01 (opens in a new tab)
Signs must be easy to see and must state the purpose of the parking, the hours it is restricted, and who to contact about a towed vehicle. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2402 (opens in a new tab)
In Nebraska's biggest cities (metropolitan and primary class), the state towing rule applies only if the city has not passed its own conforming ordinance, so check your city's rules too. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2401, 60-2401.01 (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

Until your car is fully attached to the tow vehicle, the tow operator is not in full possession of it. If you ask, the operator must disconnect it. State law sets no drop fee amount and does not say whether one may be charged. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2407 (opens in a new tab)

After your car is towed

Whoever tows a car from a restricted lot must tell local law enforcement the license number within 24 hours. Call the police non-emergency line to find out whether your car was towed. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2403 (opens in a new tab)
For a car towed as abandoned or trespassing from private property not normally open to public parking, the tow company must report plate, VIN if known, make, model, color and storage location to police within 24 hours. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-1903.02(3) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company may keep your car until the towing and storage charges are paid. Once paid, it must hand the car to the owner, the lienholder, or anyone else lawfully entitled to it who pays. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2410(1) (opens in a new tab)
The tow operator must take reasonable steps to confirm that the person ordering the tow is the owner or tenant of the lot. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2409 (opens in a new tab)
A lot owner or tenant may not ask for or accept a commission, gift or any payment from the tow company for having a car towed. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2411 (opens in a new tab)

Fees, receipts and your rights

State law sets no dollar cap on private-property towing. You may only be charged the reasonable cost of towing and storage, and a city may set its own rules. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2410(1) (opens in a new tab)
When you get your car back, the tow operator must give you a written statement with the name and address of whoever ordered the tow, the legal authority for the tow, and your rights under the towing law. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2408 (opens in a new tab)
Within 15 business days of the tow, the tow company must send the owner and any lienholder on the title a certified letter with the vehicle details, tow date, daily storage fee and amount owed so far, and a warning that it can be sold after 90 days. If it skips this, its lien ranks behind the lienholder's and any sale is void. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2410(2)-(3) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company's lien covers the vehicle, not the things inside it. Anyone storing your car is liable for reasonably foreseeable damage to the car and the personal contents during storage. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2410(1), 60-2406 (opens in a new tab)

Damage and wrongful tows

The tow operator is liable for reasonably foreseeable damage to your car during hookup, towing, or release. Photograph the car before you leave the lot. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2406 (opens in a new tab)
If a lot owner or tenant has your car towed when it was not improperly parked, the car must be returned to you at no charge, and the person who ordered the tow is liable for reasonably foreseeable losses such as loss of transportation. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2405 (opens in a new tab)
For vehicles removed as abandoned, the property owner and occupant are not liable for loss or damage during removal or storage. This does not apply to restricted-lot tows, where the tow operator is liable. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-1906 (opens in a new tab)

Storage, liens and sale

A towed car not claimed within 90 days can be sold or otherwise disposed of by the tow company under the lien process. Before then, the company must re-check with police every 30 days that the car is not reported stolen. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2404, 60-2403, 60-2410 (opens in a new tab)
Before a lien sale, the company must mail written notice by certified mail to the owner and lienholders, and the sale cannot happen until 30 days after mailing. You can redeem the property any time before the sale by paying the lien and notice costs. Neb. Rev. Stat. 52-601.01, 52-605 (opens in a new tab)
A vehicle left on private property without the owner's permission for more than 7 days is legally abandoned. Police can have it removed at the owner's request or the owner can have it towed privately. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-1901(1)(d), 60-1903.02 (opens in a new tab)

Contesting a tow and paying

Nebraska's towing law has no special hearing or bond procedure. To contest a tow, pay to get your car back if you need it, keep the receipts, and then sue for the money in small claims court. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2405, 60-2406, 25-2802 (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)

Where to complain

Nebraska Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. Takes consumer complaints about unfair or deceptive business practices, which may include towing companies. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Local police non-emergency line. Police must be told of a private tow within 24 hours, so they can tell you where your car is. Most cities also handle local towing ordinance complaints.

Nebraska small claims court handles claims up to $7,500 (as of July 1, 2025), not counting interest and costs. You can file in the county where the tow company does business or where the tow happened.

Check your tow

Sources

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