Hawaii Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-11 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Hawaii regulates private-property (non-consent) towing primarily through HRS § 290-11, one of the more consumer-friendly frameworks in the country. Before a car can be towed, the property must display signs with light-reflective lettering at least two inches high stating that unauthorized vehicles will be towed and giving the name, address, and phone number of the facility where the car will be stored. The law defines 'vehicle owner' broadly — rental-car drivers and family members with the registered owner's permission count — and it caps nearly every fee a tow company can charge, which makes overcharges relatively easy to spot.
Hawaii sets hard dollar caps: $65 for the tow itself, $7.50 per mile, $75 if a dolly is needed, and storage of $25 per day for the first seven days then $20 per day after that. A $15 surcharge is allowed for weekday tows between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and $30 for a difficult hookup in a multilevel facility. Critically, if you reach your car before it has been hauled away — the rule works within a 50-foot radius of the scene — the company must unhook it and cannot charge you any fee.
If your car disappears from a lot in Hawaii, first check the posted sign to identify the tow company and storage facility, and call the county police non-emergency line to confirm the car was towed rather than stolen. Retrieve the car quickly to limit daily storage charges, pay under protest if the bill exceeds the statutory caps, and keep the itemized receipt. Overcharges and improper tows can be reported to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Office of Consumer Protection, which accepts online complaints and can be reached at (808) 587-4272.
Hawaii towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Yes — HRS § 290-11 caps charges at $65 per tow, $7.50 per mile, $75 for a dolly, $25 per day of storage for the first seven days then $20 per day, plus limited surcharges ($15 for weekday tows between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., $30 for a difficult multilevel-garage hookup). |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Yes — If you return before the truck leaves the immediate area (within a 50-foot radius of the tow scene), the company must unhook the car and charge you nothing. |
| Kickback ban | No |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Signs with light-reflective letters at least two inches high on a contrasting background must warn that unauthorized vehicles will be towed and give the name, address, and phone number of the storage facility. |
| Notice requirement | Required lot signage must identify where the vehicle will be stored; statutory post-tow notification timelines are unclear. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | No — No administrative tow hearing; disputes go through the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection or the courts. |
| Hold period before sale | unclear |
How to get your car back in Hawaii
- Check the posted tow-away sign in the lot for the tow company's name, address, and phone number — HRS § 290-11 requires this information on the sign.
- Call the county police non-emergency line to confirm the tow and the storage location.
- If the truck is still at the scene, ask for your car back — the company must unhook it at no charge before it leaves the area.
- Pay only the capped fees ($65 tow, $7.50/mile, capped storage) and demand an itemized receipt.
- If overcharged, file a complaint with Hawaii's Office of Consumer Protection at cca.hawaii.gov/ocp or (808) 587-4272.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Hawaii DCCA Office of Consumer Protection handles towing complaints in Hawaii. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.
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