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

If your car was just towed in Kansas - from a private lot, a crash scene, or somewhere it was left unattended too long - this page explains what state law says about the fees you can be charged, how to get your vehicle back, and where to take a complaint. Every fact below comes directly from Kansas statutes and state agency pages, each cited so you can check it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Kansas

Kansas has no towing-specific state license. The Kansas Corporation Commission's Transportation Division provides regulatory oversight of motor carriers generally, but consumer complaints about towing specifically go to the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, either online or by phone at (785) 296-2215.

What a tow can cost

Kansas doesn't set statewide tow rate caps. Instead, under KSA 8-1103, private-property tows must be authorized by a city ordinance or county resolution, and that local ordinance is what specifies the maximum allowable rates for towing and storage charges. In other words, the applicable cap depends on where you were towed, not on a single statewide number.

Because the maximum rate is set locally, it's worth asking the towing company which ordinance or resolution governs their pricing and checking that against what you were billed. Our towing cost calculator can help you compare your invoice against typical rates while you sort that out.

Getting your car back from impound

KSA 8-1103 requires written notice of storage fees to be given at the time of towing - if that notice isn't given, the storage lien itself is invalid. You're entitled to access your personal property inside the vehicle for 48 hours after the tow, and personal medical supplies must be released to you on request regardless of that window. If the owner is known, the towing company must give notice that the vehicle is being held subject to the lien within 15 days. A vehicle that remains unclaimed 30 days after towing may be sold to cover reasonable or agreed-upon charges.

Separately, an unattended vehicle left for more than 48 hours, or one interfering with highway operations, can be moved. To recover it, you'll need proof of valid registration and ownership, and you may be required to pay reasonable towing and storage costs.

If you're towed from private property

Private-property tows in Kansas must be authorized under a city ordinance or county resolution, per KSA 8-1103, which also governs the notice and lien requirements described above. If you think a tow from a lot skipped a required step - no notice of fees, no access to your personal property - that's grounds for a complaint to the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

After an accident

In Kansas, you're required to report a crash to police when anyone is injured or killed, or when total property damage reaches $1,000 or more. A no-injury crash with less than $1,000 in total damage doesn't require a police crash report.

The Move Over law

KSA 8-1530 requires drivers approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights to change into a lane not adjacent to the vehicle, if that's possible. If it isn't, drivers must proceed with due caution and reduce speed, maintaining a safe speed for conditions. The statute doesn't specify a fine amount in its text.

Chains & winter traction

KSA 8-1742 permits tire chains "of reasonable proportions" on any vehicle when they're needed for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions that tend to cause a vehicle to skid. Studded traction equipment is also allowed, subject to rules set by the secretary of transportation, which may limit its use to certain months or vehicle types.

FAQ

Is there a statewide maximum tow fee in Kansas? No. Kansas doesn't set a statewide cap - private-property tows must be authorized by a city ordinance or county resolution, which is what actually sets the maximum rate you can be charged.

How long do I have before a towed vehicle can be sold in Kansas? A vehicle that remains unclaimed 30 days after towing may be sold, but you're entitled to notice of the lien within 15 days if the owner is known, and access to personal property inside for 48 hours after the tow.

Are tire chains legal in Kansas? Yes. KSA 8-1742 permits tire chains of reasonable proportions when conditions like snow or ice call for them, and studded traction equipment is allowed subject to state transportation rules.

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