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

If your car was just towed in Louisiana - from a private lot, a crash scene, or a storage yard you've never heard of - this page explains what state law says 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 Louisiana statutes and regulator pages, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Louisiana

The Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit licenses and regulates towing and storage businesses under the Louisiana Towing and Storage Act. The unit conducts annual inspections and investigates public complaints against all licensed towing and storage facilities. Complaints can be filed with the Towing & Recovery Unit Headquarters at 225-925-6113 or through its online complaint form.

What a tow can cost

The Louisiana Public Service Commission sets maximum non-consensual towing rates statewide. Under its general order, light-duty standard towing is capped at $142.00 per hour with a 1.5-hour minimum, and light-duty private-property tows are a $142.00 flat rate. Daily storage is capped at $31.50 outside, $38.00 covered, and $57.00 for oversized vehicles, with gate fees capped at $60.00. A more recent Commission rate letter, effective April 1, 2026, lists an updated light-duty private-property tow rate of $152.50 flat, or $186.00 when specified additional equipment or an operator is required, with outside storage at $34 per day - so it's worth checking which rate schedule is currently in effect when you compare a bill.

Since these caps are set by the Public Service Commission rather than by each city, our towing cost calculator can help you check an itemized invoice against the current statewide maximums before you pay it.

Getting your car back from impound

Under RS 32:1728, a storage facility must send a final notice 45 days after the original date of storage, and it can apply for a permit to sell the vehicle 15 days after that final notice is mailed. Importantly, the facility isn't allowed to charge you for storage past the 90th day from the original storage date, which caps how much the bill can grow even if the process drags on.

A private-property storage facility must also notify the sheriff or municipal police within 24 hours of taking in a vehicle, giving the origin and destination locations along with vehicle identifiers - so if you're not sure where your car ended up, local law enforcement is a reasonable place to check.

If you're towed from private property

Private-property towing in Louisiana requires approved Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit signs posted at entrances and exits, and any reserved or restricted spaces must be clearly marked as well. Written towing contracts covering the property must state the parking rules and the causes for towing, and those contracts expire annually on June 13.

After an accident

Louisiana requires immediate notice to local police any time a crash causes injury, death, or property damage over $500. If you need an official copy of the crash report afterward, Louisiana State Police sells reports online for $11.50 plus a $2.50 fee plus 2.5 percent - but you'll need to wait 15 working days after the crash before requesting one.

The Move Over law

RS 32:125 requires drivers approaching a parked emergency vehicle with its warning lights on, on a multi-lane highway, to change lanes away from it if that can be done safely, or to slow to a safe speed if it can't. On two-lane roads, drivers are required to maintain a safe speed as they pass. Violations carry fines of up to $200.

Chains & winter traction

RS 32:362 permits tire chains "of reasonable proportions" on any vehicle when they're needed for safety because of conditions that tend to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. Outside of that allowance, tires generally can't have protuberances made of anything other than rubber projecting beyond the tread.

FAQ

What's the maximum a private-property tow can cost in Louisiana? Under the Public Service Commission's rate schedule, a light-duty private-property tow is a $142.00 flat rate, though a more recent rate letter effective April 1, 2026 lists $152.50, or $186.00 if extra equipment or an operator is required - check which schedule currently applies.

How long can a Louisiana storage facility hold my car before selling it? A final notice goes out 45 days after the original storage date, and the facility can apply to sell the vehicle 15 days after that. Either way, it can't charge you for storage past the 90th day from the original storage date.

Who do I complain to about a Louisiana tow company? The Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit, which licenses and regulates towing and storage businesses and investigates complaints. Reach the unit at 225-925-6113 or through its online complaint form.

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