Car towed in Fernley

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 Fernley yet. Ask the tow company for its rate sheet. It must give you one on request.

Estimate your bill

3What to bring

• A government photo ID and proof you own the car, such as the registration or title.
• A tow company must accept cash, money orders, credit cards, debit cards and electronic transfers. It may offer a discount for paying cash. Call ahead to ask which types the lot takes.

Paperwork locked inside the car? The company may not hold your cargo or personal belongings as security for payment. It must protect your car and belongings from theft and damage.

NRS 706.44793; NRS 706.4467(2), (5)

4Getting it back

• You must be given access to your towed car during normal business hours. The company must also set up a way for you to get in or obtain release when it is not normally open.
• You can inspect and inventory the car before it is released to check for damage or theft. If the company finds or you report damage, it must either settle the claim or give you its insurance carrier and claim steps.
• Inspect the car before you drive away, and photograph any damage.

Before you sign anything: Write any damage or missing items on your receipt before you sign or leave, and take photos. Nevada's tow law does not say damage is waived if you stay silent, but notes and photos help any later claim.

NRS 706.4467(3)-(4); NRS 706.4467(6); NRS 706.4467(6)

5Was the tow legal?

Common problems with private tows in Nevada include missing tow-away signs, refusing to release the car when you came back before it left, storage charged in the first 48 hours, and refusing a payment type the law requires.

Check my towSale deadlinesEvidence checklistDispute letter

Tow-away sign rules in Nevada

These apply to lots where the owner has cars towed for unauthorized parking (not single-family homes).

• Where: In plain view, visible to drivers entering the lot; enough signs to warn everyone using it.

NRS 487.038(1); NAC 706.427(6) (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. A nonconsensual tow can be billed only at rates in the company's tariff approved by the Nevada Transportation Authority. The bill must itemize each charge, and tow rates from private property are one flat rate (extra only for miles beyond 10).
3. File a complaint.
   • Nevada Transportation Authority (tow complaints)
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • Justice court expedited tow hearing
4. Go to court if needed. If you think the tow was unlawful and the car is still in storage, you can file a complaint in the justice court for expedited relief within 21 days. The hearing must happen within 7 days, and if the tow was unlawful the court orders the car released right away.
5. Consider small claims or a chargeback. Nevada justice courts hear small claims for money up to $10,000. You can sue for tow costs there, and the expedited hearing under NRS 487.039 is a separate faster route while the car is still in storage. 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

Nevada deadlines, counted from the law

• Company must mail certified notice (if someone else ordered the tow) within: 15 days (see the law for when the count starts), if someone other than the owner ordered the tow. NRS 706.4479(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
• Charges stop after this many days unless notice was sent: 15 days (see the law for when the count starts), if certified notice not sent. NRS 706.4479(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)

See the dates for your tow

Common questions

Not verified yet for Fernley

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