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Towing rules for property managers in New York

Before you have a car towed from your property in New York, check these rules. They are a summary of state law; your city or county may add more.

Printable checklist

Placement: Displayed prominently and conspicuously
A warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed
The towing company's name
The towing company's phone number

Check your sign

What the sign law says

Applies to: Lots with room for 5 or more cars outside New York City

Outside New York City, a lot with room for 5 or more cars must post a clear notice listing the lot operator's name, address and phone, the same for the tow company, and a statement that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense. The state law says the notice must be displayed prominently and conspicuously but sets no size, height or distance-from-the-entrance rule, and no hours-in-advance rule.

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)

In New York City a different rule applies (N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(b)): the sign lists the tow company name, address and phone, hours for getting cars back, towing and storage fees, and hours when parking is prohibited. No size stated. Additional quoted text comes from: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(2) <https://newyork.public.law/laws/n.y._general_business_law_section_399-v>.

Tow-away signs

Outside New York City, a lot with room for 5 or more cars must post a clear notice listing the lot operator's name, address and phone, the same for the tow company, and a statement that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
The state law says the notice must be displayed prominently and conspicuously but sets no size, height or distance-from-the-entrance rule, and no hours-in-advance rule. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(2) (opens in a new tab)
A lot owner or operator may not tow, or authorize a tow, unless the required notice is posted. If you are towed from a lot without it, you can sue for your actual damages or $150, whichever is greater, and the court can award attorney's fees and, for willful violations, more (up to three times actual damages, capped at $1,000). N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(3), (6) (opens in a new tab)
The state sign rule does not apply in cities of one million or more (New York City). In NYC, the lot must post a sign with the tow company's name, address and phone, its hours for getting cars back, its towing and storage fees, and the hours when parking is prohibited and cars will be towed. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 399-v(5); N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(b) (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

In New York City, if you arrive after the car is hooked up but before it is removed, the driver must unhook it and let you drive away. The fee can be no more than half the tow charge ($62.50) and you must get a receipt. The drivers must carry a copy of this rule. Outside NYC, no statewide drop-fee rule was found. N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(g) (opens in a new tab)
In New York City, a car cannot be towed from private property if anyone is sitting in it. N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(d) (opens in a new tab)

Where your car can be taken and who must be told

In New York City, the car must go straight to the tow company's own secure storage lot inside the city and no more than 10 miles from where it was towed. If none qualifies, it goes to the closest licensed lot in the city. New York State has no distance rule for private-property tows. N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(e) (opens in a new tab)
Statewide, a towing company that removes a car from private property at the owner's request, without your written consent, must notify the local police station right away with the car's description and the time it was removed. N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law 1210(c) (opens in a new tab)
In New York City, the tow company must call the local police precinct within 30 minutes after the car arrives at its lot and give the precinct the storage location, removal time and the name of who authorized the tow. A separate city rule requires a report within 2 hours of any tow. N.Y.C. Admin. Code 19-169.1(f), 20-528 (opens in a new tab)