Idaho Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Idaho Code tit. 49, ch. 18 (§§ 49-1801 et seq.) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Idaho regulates non-consent tows through its abandoned-vehicle chapter, Idaho Code Title 49, Chapter 18 — and a 2025 rewrite (House Bill 174) replaced the entire chapter effective January 1, 2026. Property owners can have unauthorized vehicles removed if a conspicuous, large-print sign warns that violators will be towed or booted, and law enforcement completes notice paperwork at the time of the tow. The new law builds a genuinely statewide framework: an Idaho State Police authorized-tow list with background checks, registration requirements, and uniform provisions that preempt conflicting local rules.
Idaho does not set dollar caps on towing charges, but companies must furnish rate sheets to the state, and charging more than the filed rate sheet 'shall be deemed excessive.' Storage billing is capped at a maximum of 60 days from the tow date. Personal property in or on the vehicle must be given to the registered owner on demand during business hours at no charge. Owners can also fight the tow itself: a hearing process exists under § 49-1809, and the 2026 law adds a declaration-of-opposition process allowing owners to dispute a tow within 20 days.
After a tow in Idaho, contact local law enforcement or the storage facility identified in your notice to locate the car. Ask for the company's filed rate sheet before paying and compare it line by line against your invoice — anything above the sheet is deemed excessive. Retrieve personal property from the car; it must be released free during business hours. If you believe the tow was improper, act fast: hearing requests are due within 10 calendar days and hearings occur within 48 hours. Billing complaints can also go to the Idaho Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Idaho towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Partial — No dollar caps, but tow companies must file rate sheets with the state and charging more than the filed rate sheet is deemed excessive; storage is billable for a maximum of 60 days from the tow date. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Unclear / not verified |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Idaho Code § 49-1806 requires a sign or notice posted in a clearly conspicuous location, in large print, warning that unauthorized vehicles will be removed or booted. |
| Notice requirement | Law enforcement completes a notice form at the time of tow and owners receive state notifications, typically within one business day and again at 5-15 business days (§ 49-1807). |
| Personal property retrieval | Yes |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | Yes — Owners may request a tow procedure hearing within 10 calendar days, and the hearing must occur within 48 hours of the request, excluding weekends and holidays (§ 49-1809). |
| Hold period before sale | 30 days after first notification (under the law effective Jan. 1, 2026); storage charges capped at 60 days |
How to get your car back in Idaho
- Call local law enforcement to confirm the tow and get the storage facility's name — police complete a notice form at tow time.
- Ask the tow company for its state-filed rate sheet and compare it to your invoice; charges above the sheet are deemed excessive.
- Retrieve personal property from the vehicle during business hours — it must be released to you at no charge.
- Pay the invoiced charges, get an itemized receipt, and note the tow date (storage can only be billed for 60 days).
- To dispute the tow, request a tow hearing within 10 calendar days; report overcharges to the Idaho Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Recent law changes (2024–2026)
House Bill 174 (2025) replaced Idaho's towing and abandoned-vehicle chapter wholesale effective January 1, 2026, adding an Idaho State Police authorized-tow list with background checks, rate-sheet transparency, a 20-day declaration-of-opposition process for owners, uniform statewide rules with local preemption, and a 60-day storage cap.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Idaho Attorney General - Consumer Protection Division handles towing complaints in Idaho. 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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