Towing Laws in New Jersey: Your Rights, Costs & Impound Rules

If your car was just towed in New Jersey - from a parking lot, a repair shop, 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 New Jersey statutes and state agency pages, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in New Jersey

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the Predatory Towing Prevention Act and handles towing complaints. You can call 1-800-242-5846 (toll-free within New Jersey), call 973-504-6200, or file a complaint online at NJConsumerAffairs.gov.

What a tow can cost

Under the Predatory Towing Prevention Act, towing fees must be "reasonable" - meaning no more than 25% greater than the same company's fee for a vehicle-owner-approved tow of the same type of vehicle, or no more than 50% above the fees charged by other towing companies in the community. Towing and storage charges also can't exceed the rates set by local town ordinance where one exists.

Since the cap is tied to comparable local rates rather than one statewide number, ask the towing company for their fee schedule and compare it against what other companies in your area charge. Our towing cost calculator can help you check whether a bill falls within those bounds.

Getting your car back from impound

A vehicle left in the same public location for at least three consecutive days is considered abandoned under New Jersey law, and unclaimed vehicles on public property must either be offered for sale at public auction or junked, under N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 et seq. A vehicle left at a repair facility for more than 60 days without consent - or more than 60 days after the owner was notified that repairs are complete - can also be treated as abandoned, under N.J.S.A. 39:10A-9 et seq.

If you're towed from private property

New Jersey prohibits private-property towing unless specific statutory conditions are met. One concrete protection applies at the moment of the tow itself: a towing company must release your vehicle if it's already hooked or lifted but hasn't yet been removed from the property.

After an accident

New Jersey requires drivers to immediately notify police of a crash causing injury, death, or damage over $500 to any one person's property, and to send a written report within 10 days unless police already filed one. If you need a copy of the official report afterward, the New Jersey crash portal sells non-toll-road crash reports for $13.00; reports are available for 6 years and delivered by email download.

The Move Over law

New Jersey requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles or tow trucks displaying flashing lights to make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the vehicle, if possible. If a lane change isn't possible, drivers must reduce speed below the posted limit and be prepared to stop. The fine for a violation is not less than $100 and not more than $500.

FAQ

What counts as a "reasonable" tow fee in New Jersey? Under the Predatory Towing Prevention Act, a fee is reasonable if it's no more than 25% greater than the same company's fee for an owner-approved tow of a similar vehicle, or no more than 50% above what other local companies charge - and it can't exceed any local town ordinance rate.

Can a New Jersey tow company still take my car once it's hooked up? No - if the truck has already hooked or lifted your vehicle but hasn't removed it from the property yet, the company is required to release it rather than complete a prohibited private-property tow.

What's the fine for not moving over for a tow truck in New Jersey? Between $100 and $500, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

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