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Your rights after a tow in Oregon

Oregon 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 and permission

A tow company may not tow from a parking facility unless a sign is displayed in plain view that clearly says public parking is prohibited or restricted. The one exception is a tow you agreed to. ORS 98.854(1) (opens in a new tab)
No sign is needed on 'proscribed' property, meaning places where a reasonable person would see parking is not normally allowed, or a single-family home or duplex parking area. Parking there without permission is still unlawful. ORS 98.805(4); ORS 98.810(2) (opens in a new tab)
Oregon state law does not say how many signs are needed or where they go; it only requires a clear sign in plain view. Cities may add rules, so ask the city or take photos of the lot entrances. ORS 98.854(1) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must be contacted by the property owner or agent at the time of the tow and get signed authorization. It cannot tow if the person authorizing is its own employee, and it must keep the authorization for 2 years and give you a copy free on request. ORS 98.854(2), (4) (opens in a new tab)
For apartments, a landlord can have a car towed without notice only in listed cases, such as blocking emergency access, violating a prominently posted rule, a disabled space, or an unassigned space without a required tag. A car cannot be towed just because its registration is expired. ORS 90.485(2), (7) (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

If you are present, the tow company must release the car at no charge unless the hookup is complete. If it is complete (car loaded or connected so the truck can move), the fee cannot exceed the hookup charge on its written price statement. ORS 98.853(2) (opens in a new tab)
Before towing, the company must photograph the car as it was parked, with date and time, keep the photo for 2 years, and give you a copy free on request. Ask for it; it is your best evidence about signs and parking. ORS 98.853(1) (opens in a new tab)

Where your car can be taken and who must be told

Oregon sets no mileage limit. A company with several storage lots must take the car to its lot with space that is in the same county and closest to where the car was hooked up. ORS 98.853(3) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must tell local law enforcement where the car is within 1 hour after it is placed in storage, or it loses the lien (its right to hold the car for charges). Call the police non-emergency line to find a private tow. ORS 98.812(2) (opens in a new tab)
Oregon sets no statewide tow price. Each city or county may set maximum rates for non-consensual tows, and may require a tow license; where a city sets rates, county rates do not apply inside the city. ORS 98.859; ORS 98.861 (opens in a new tab)

Getting your car back

The company must let you redeem or inspect the car 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on business days (Monday to Friday, not legal holidays). At other times it must do so within 60 minutes after you ask, or within 30 minutes of a time you agree on. ORS 98.858(1)(a); ORS 98.852(1) (opens in a new tab)
Outside 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on business days, your car must be available within 60 minutes after you ask. You can call the company at any time for the car's location and release instructions. ORS 98.858(1) (opens in a new tab)
You may get personal property of an emergency nature (medicine, glasses, ID, wallet, purse, cards, cash, child car seats) and your license plates. No fee may be charged except a gate fee from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on business days or on weekends and holidays. ORS 98.858(1)(c), (2); ORS 98.852(6) (opens in a new tab)
You may inspect the car before redeeming it. The company cannot make you agree not to dispute the reason for the tow, the charges, or its responsibility for damage as a condition of towing or releasing your car or belongings. ORS 98.858(1)(a); ORS 98.854(10) (opens in a new tab)
Write any damage on your receipt before you sign and take photos. Pay under protest if needed, and keep the written price statement and receipt for a small claims case. ORS 98.854(10); ORS 98.856 (opens in a new tab)
The state law does not require the company to accept credit or debit cards; it must disclose the payment methods it accepts. If it takes cash, it must give exact change by the end of the next business day. Portland requires permitted tow companies to accept Visa credit or debit cards. ORS 98.856(1)(d); ORS 98.854(12); Portland City Code 7.24.070(L) (opens in a new tab)

Prices, paperwork and storage

The company must give you a written statement in bold 10-point type listing all its prices, where your car is stored, how to reach it, and the payment methods it takes. It may not charge more than those prices or more than the city or county maximum. Exception: signs at the lot may carry that information. ORS 98.856; ORS 98.854(5), (6); ORS 98.862(1) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company has a lien (right to keep your car until paid) only if it notified police within one hour. Storage charges stop after 3 business days unless it mails or gives notice to you and any lienholder on the title in that time. ORS 98.812(2), (3) (opens in a new tab)
If the company claims storage charges, it must send certified-mail notice within 20 days that storage fees are accruing. If it does not, it can recover only reasonable storage for the first 20 days. ORS 87.176 (opens in a new tab)
In a city or county that sets maximum rates, the tow company must hold that city's or county's tow license. That license can be suspended or revoked for breaking the state towing rules. ORS 98.861(1), (6) (opens in a new tab)

If the car is not claimed

A private-property tow lien is foreclosed under the general vehicle lien rules. The company must keep the car at least 60 days (30 days if appraised $501 to $1,000, 15 days if $500 or less) and mail you notice at least 30 days (15 days for cars worth $1,000 or less) before any sale. ORS 98.812(4); ORS 87.172(1), (3); ORS 87.192(1) (opens in a new tab)
The ORS 819.110 to 819.215 process (notice, 5-day hearing request, sale after 30 days) covers vehicles taken into custody by police or city agencies on public ways, not ordinary private-lot tows. Your towed car may fall under it if a government agency ordered the tow. ORS 819.110; ORS 819.190; ORS 819.210 (opens in a new tab)

Disputing the tow

The statutes read give no administrative hearing for private-lot tows. If the storage lien is $750 or more, you can file a bond or deposit money at 200 percent of the claim with the county to challenge the lien. Many drivers instead pay and sue in small claims. ORS 87.177 (opens in a new tab)
If a police or city agency ordered the tow, you may request a hearing in writing within 5 business days of the mailing date of the notice. A hearing must be set within 72 hours, and if the tow was invalid the charges are refunded. ORS 819.190 (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

City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PPI towing). Portland investigates complaints about private property impound tows, can order refunds or free release, and fines violators. Call 311 or 503-823-4000. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Your city or county towing complaint office. A city or county that sets tow rates must have a process to receive and answer complaints about violations. Check your city or county website.
Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection. Takes consumer complaints about businesses, including tow companies. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Oregon DMV towing business certificates. Tow companies must hold a state towing business certificate (ORS 822.205); an unlicensed operator is operating an illegal towing business.

Oregon small claims court (circuit court small claims department) handles money claims up to $10,000.

Check your tow

Sources

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