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

If your car was just towed in Nevada - from a Las Vegas parking lot, a mountain highway, or a crash scene - 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 Nevada statutes and regulator pages, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Nevada

The Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) regulates tow cars and handles towing complaints. You can submit a Tow Complaint form electronically through hal.nv.gov, with supporting documents emailed to nta@nta.nv.gov, or file by mail or hand delivery to NTA offices in Las Vegas or Reno. An investigator is required to acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 15 days.

What a tow can cost

Nonconsensual tow rates and charges in Nevada must be spelled out in a tow car tariff approved by the NTA, with rate categories set under NAC 706.406. For tows requested by private parties - Category C - storage charges only begin after the 48th hour, per NRS 706.4477. An off-hook release, where the truck stops before hauling your car away, can't cost more than 60% of the hookup rate.

Rates vary by operator and jurisdiction because each is filed as its own NTA-approved tariff. For example, an NTA-approved SNAP Towing tariff for LVMPD urban-area Class A impounds lists $235.15 for a daytime hookup and $270.47 at night, covering the first 10 miles; a separate NLVPD tariff lists the same Category A hookup rates, plus secured storage at $45.50 per 24 hours and a law-enforcement administrative fee of $25.75. Ask the tow company which tariff applies to your bill, and use our towing cost calculator to sanity-check the total.

Getting your car back from impound

Under NRS 108.270, a garage or storage operator has a lien for labor, materials, storage, or services, along with the right to detain your vehicle until that lien is satisfied. Before any sale, the operator must notify the registered and legal owner of the amount due and the intent to sell, as required under NRS 108.2725, and the sale itself must follow the process set out in NRS 108.310.

If you're towed from private property

A Nevada property owner or person in lawful possession can only have an unauthorized vehicle towed after giving oral notice to local police or the sheriff. The tow itself must be carried out by an operator regulated by the Nevada Transportation Authority - not just any driver with a truck.

After an accident

Nevada requires drivers to file Form SR-1 within 10 days when a crash wasn't investigated at the scene and caused injury, death, or more than $750 in damage. The form is available through the Nevada DMV.

The Move Over law

Nevada's Move Over law (NRS 484B.607, per the Nevada Department of Transportation) requires drivers to slow down, proceed with caution, and move to the far lane when possible when passing stopped emergency response vehicles, NDOT vehicles, or any traffic incident - including a stalled or towed vehicle. Drivers found guilty of a violation can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Chains & winter traction

Under Nevada's chain-control regulations (NAC 484.240), vehicles under 10,000 pounds GVW must use snow tires or an approved traction device when controls are in effect, while vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW must chain their driving wheels and trailer braking wheels. At the strictest control level, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles running four mud-and-snow (M-S) tires, and special restrictions apply on Tahoe-area highways.

FAQ

Is there a statewide maximum tow fee in Nevada? No single flat rate - nonconsensual tow rates are set through individual NTA-approved tariffs per operator, with categories defined under NAC 706.406. For private-party tows, storage charges don't start until after the 48th hour.

How do I complain about a Nevada tow company? File a Tow Complaint form with the Nevada Transportation Authority through hal.nv.gov, or by mail or hand delivery to its Las Vegas or Reno offices. An investigator must acknowledge your complaint within 15 days.

Do I need chains for Nevada mountain driving? It depends on your vehicle's weight and the control level in effect. Vehicles under 10,000 pounds GVW may use snow tires or approved traction devices, while heavier vehicles must chain their driving and trailer braking wheels; at the strictest level, only four-wheel-drive vehicles with four M-S tires are exempt from chains.

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