Car towed in Kent

1Find who towed your car

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

2What they can charge

Washington has no flat dollar cap. A tow company's filed hourly tow rate and daily storage rate may each be no more than 135% of the State Patrol's rates for the same service (RCW 46.55.118). Tows are billed by the hour. The cap applies when the car was parked, upright, with all wheels and no accident.

The rates below may have changed since this schedule was published. Check the official source before relying on them.

See the official rates (opens in a new tab).

Estimate your bill

3What to bring

• The registered or legal owner, someone with the owner's written permission, the owner's insurer, or a buyer holding proof of ownership can redeem the car. Family members or drivers with the owner's permission may also qualify if the tow company verifies it.
• The tow company must accept cash, major bank credit cards, or an in-state personal check backed by two IDs. It may refuse a check it cannot verify. Call ahead to ask which types the lot takes.

Paperwork locked inside the car? Personal belongings must be returned on request with a driver's license or other ID for 20 days after the tow, and personal property must be released without charge from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. You can ask the company to store belongings for 30 days by signing a storage request form.

RCW 46.55.120(1)(a); RCW 46.55.120(1)(f); RCW 46.55.090(3); WAC 308-61-125(3)

4Getting it back

• Normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Outside those hours the lot must post a phone number for releasing vehicles.
• Tow companies must keep staff reachable 24 hours a day who can release an impounded car within 60 minutes.
• With proof of ownership or written permission from the owner or insurer, you may view the impounded car free during business hours. The car and belongings must come back in substantially the same condition as when towed.
• Inspect the car before you drive away, and photograph any damage.

Before you sign anything: Photograph the car and write any damage on your paperwork before leaving, because the law requires the car to be returned in substantially the same condition. Washington has no rule that bars the company from asking for a damage waiver, so read what you sign.

WAC 308-61-125(1)-(2); WAC 308-61-125(2); RCW 46.55.090(2), (5); RCW 46.55.090(2)

5Was the tow legal?

Common problems with private tows in Washington include missing tow-away signs, and refusing a payment type the law requires.

Check my towSale deadlinesEvidence checklistDispute letter

Tow-away sign rules in Washington

These apply to non-residential private property (residential property such as apartment lots is exempt).

• Where: Near each entrance and in a clearly visible spot on the property.
• Size: at least 15 by 24 inches.
• Must show: the hours parking is enforced.
• Must show: the towing company's name.
• Must show: the towing company's phone number.

RCW 46.55.070(1); RCW 46.55.010(14)(b) (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. Each tow company files its fee schedule with the Department of Licensing and cannot charge more than the filed fees. Your invoice must itemize each fee.
3. File a complaint.
   • Washington Department of Licensing (tow truck operator complaints)
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • Washington State Patrol Tow and Wrecking Program
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • District or municipal court impound hearing
4. Go to court if needed. You can ask the district or municipal court of the area where the car was towed for a hearing on whether the tow was valid and whether the charges were right. The request must be in writing on the company's form, reach the court within 10 days of when you were given the notice, and arrive more than 5 days before any auction, with a filing fee.
5. Consider small claims or a chargeback. Washington small claims court handles money-only claims up to $10,000 when brought by an individual, and $5,000 for other claimants such as businesses. 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

Washington deadlines, counted from the law

• Car can be sold at public auction after notice mailed: 15 days after the tow company's notice. RCW 46.55.120(4); RCW 46.55.130(1); WAC 308-61-168(1) (opens in a new tab)

See the dates for your tow

Common questions

Not verified yet for Kent

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
• City-specific documents needed to pick up a car
• Local rules for someone else picking up your car
• Local auction schedules for unclaimed cars

Other cities in King County

• Auburn
• Bellevue
• Burien
• Des Moines
• Federal Way
• Issaquah
• Kirkland
• Maple Valley