Illinois Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: 625 ILCS 5/18a-100 et seq. (Commercial Relocation of Trespassing Vehicles Law); 625 ILCS 5/18d (Commercial Safety Towing Law) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Illinois splits towing oversight in two. In counties with populations over one million — effectively Cook County and the Chicago area — private-property 'relocation' towing is licensed and rate-regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Commercial Relocation of Trespassing Vehicles Law (625 ILCS 5/18a). Relocators must hold ICC licenses, post their rates, and follow strict operating procedures, and the Commission investigates consumer complaints against them. Elsewhere in the state, general Vehicle Code provisions and local ordinances control, and the City of Chicago separately regulates towing within its limits, so your protections depend heavily on where the tow happened.
In ICC-regulated territory the Commission controls relocation towing rates and charges, and complaints about overcharging go directly to the ICC. Statewide, the Commercial Safety Towing Law (625 ILCS 5/18d) targets 'wreck-chasers' who monitor scanners and show up at crash scenes uninvited. Enforcement is getting sharper: Public Act 104-0133 (SB 2040), signed August 1, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, lets the ICC impound violators' tow trucks, revoke plates over unpaid fines, stop repeat offenders from re-registering under new names, restrict where cars may be taken, and bar liens on essentials like car seats, medical devices, and personal documents.
If you are towed from a private lot in the Chicago area, the tower should be an ICC-licensed relocator. Call the local police non-emergency line to confirm where the car went, then pay, collect an itemized receipt, and photograph the lot, the signage, and your parking spot. If rates look inflated or procedures were skipped, file a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates relocation towing; outside ICC territory, complain to your municipality and the Illinois Attorney General. Move quickly — storage accrues daily, and same-day documentation is your best leverage in any dispute.
Illinois towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Partial — The Illinois Commerce Commission licenses relocators and regulates relocation-towing rates and charges (625 ILCS 5/18a arts. V-VI) in covered counties of 1,000,000 or more population (the Chicago area); there is no comparable general statewide cap elsewhere. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Unclear / not verified |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Warning signage is required before relocation tows in ICC-regulated areas; outside those counties, requirements depend on local ordinance (Chicago has its own towing rules). |
| Notice requirement | In ICC-regulated counties relocators must follow reporting requirements so police can direct owners to their vehicles; exact statewide timelines are unclear. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | Yes — The Illinois Commerce Commission takes and investigates complaints against licensed relocators in regulated counties and can pursue violations; no equivalent statewide process exists elsewhere. |
| Hold period before sale | unclear |
How to get your car back in Illinois
- Call the local police non-emergency number to confirm the tow and learn which lot has your car.
- Photograph the parking lot, any warning signs (or their absence), and the spot you were parked in before leaving the scene.
- Verify the tow company is ICC-licensed if you were towed in Cook County or the Chicago area.
- Pay the charges, demand an itemized receipt, and note the rates against any posted rate schedule.
- File overcharge or misconduct complaints with the Illinois Commerce Commission (Chicago-area relocation tows) or the Illinois Attorney General elsewhere.
Recent law changes (2024–2026)
SB 2040 was signed August 1, 2025 as Public Act 104-0133, effective January 1, 2026: the ICC gains power to impound violators' tow trucks, revoke license plates for unpaid fines, block repeat violators from re-registering under new business names, restrict tow destinations to registered lots or licensed repair shops, and prohibit liens on essentials such as car seats, medical devices, and documents.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Illinois Commerce Commission (relocation towing); Illinois Attorney General elsewhere handles towing complaints in Illinois. 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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