Towing Laws in Arkansas: Your Rights, Costs & Impound Rules

If your car was just towed in Arkansas - from a private lot, a highway shoulder, or a crash scene - this page explains what state rules say about the fees you can be charged, how to get your vehicle back, and where to file a complaint. Every fact below comes directly from Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board rules and state sources, each cited so you can check it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Arkansas

The Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board (ATRB) is the state's regulatory agency for the tow and recovery industry. It licenses tow businesses domiciled in Arkansas, permits all tow vehicles used for hire, and is the primary body for handling consumer complaints. Board rules require that complaints be resolved within forty-five (45) calendar days, so if you file one, you shouldn't be left waiting indefinitely.

What a tow can cost

Arkansas doesn't set statewide dollar rate caps. Instead, ATRB Rule 4.1(F) requires each licensee to maintain a copy of its current maximum rate schedule with the Board and to post that schedule in a conspicuous place - meaning the rate ceiling is set business by business rather than by the state. One fee is capped directly, though: charges for sending owner notices can't exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) per notification, or the actual cost of postage if that's less.

Since rates vary by towing company, ask to see the posted rate schedule and request an itemized invoice before you pay. Our towing cost calculator can help you compare what you were charged against typical figures.

Getting your car back from impound

Arkansas gives you a clear window to reclaim a towed vehicle. If it isn't reclaimed within forty-five (45) days, the vehicle must be offered for sale through a non-judicial public sale under A.C.A. 27-50-1210. That sale has to be posted on the tow board's website and in a newspaper at least fifteen (15) days beforehand, so there's advance notice before your car actually changes hands. On the fee side, a notification fee can't be charged until at least two (2) business days after the towing or storage firm takes possession of the vehicle.

If you're towed from private property

A private-property removal in Arkansas requires authorization from the property owner or another responsible party - a tow company can't simply decide to remove a vehicle on its own initiative. Once the vehicle is hooked up, the towing company has to notify the proper law enforcement agency within 2 hours, so there's a record of where your car went even if you weren't there to see it towed.

After an accident

Arkansas requires immediate notice to law enforcement when a crash causes injury or death, or apparent total property damage of at least $3,000. If you need an official copy of the crash report afterward, Arkansas State Police charges $10 for a requester who was involved in the crash and $25 for a requester who wasn't; the Crash Records help line is 501-618-8130.

The Move Over law

Arkansas requires drivers approaching a stopped authorized vehicle displaying flashing, revolving, or rotating lights - including tow trucks, ARDOT vehicles, and utility vehicles - to move to the farthest lane or position away from it. If a lane change isn't safe, drivers must instead exercise caution and reduce speed. Violators face fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, plus the possibility of jail time and loss of driving privileges.

FAQ

Is there a statewide maximum towing rate in Arkansas? No. Each licensed towing business has to maintain and post its own current maximum rate schedule with the ATRB rather than following one statewide dollar figure.

How long before a towed car in Arkansas can be sold? If it isn't reclaimed within forty-five (45) days, the vehicle has to be offered for sale through a non-judicial public sale, with the sale posted on the tow board's website and in a newspaper at least fifteen (15) days in advance.

How much does an Arkansas crash report cost? $10 if you were involved in the crash, and $25 if you weren't. You can reach Arkansas State Police Crash Records at 501-618-8130 for help.

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