Louisiana Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: La. R.S. 32:1711 et seq. (Towing and Storage Act) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Louisiana regulates the towing industry through the Towing and Storage Act (La. R.S. 32:1711 et seq.), administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, with field enforcement through the Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit. Tow operators, tow trucks, and storage facilities must be licensed and carry substantial insurance, and R.S. 32:1714 directs the state to adopt rules ensuring no towing business shows up at an accident scene without being called by police or the vehicle's owner — a direct strike at wreck-chasing. Detailed rules for private-property non-consent tows sit mainly in administrative regulations and local ordinances such as New Orleans' towing code.

On fees, what we could verify is limited: the Department of Public Safety is authorized to adopt a schedule of maximum fees for the notifications tow and storage companies must send after a tow, but no general statewide dollar cap on towing or storage rates could be confirmed — assume posted rates and local rules control, and verify before paying. The Act requires post-tow notifications to owners before storage charges can ripen into a sale of the vehicle, though the precise deadlines are unclear at the state level. Signage, drop-fee, and credit-card practices are likewise not clearly fixed by statute, so demand justification for each line item.

If you are towed in Louisiana, call the local police or parish sheriff to confirm the tow and get the storage facility's name. Ask the facility for an itemized bill and its state license information — operators and storage facilities must be licensed by the Department of Public Safety. Photograph the lot and any posted signs. Pay what is required to stop storage from accruing and keep every receipt. If the tow looked predatory — for instance, an operator who appeared at a crash scene uninvited — or the charges seem abusive, file a complaint with the Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit and consider the Attorney General's consumer protection section as well.

Louisiana towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Louisiana

1. Call the local police or parish sheriff to confirm the tow and identify the storage facility.
2. Ask the facility for its Department of Public Safety license information and an itemized bill before paying.
3. Photograph the lot, any signage, and your parking spot in case you dispute the tow.
4. Pay promptly to stop storage charges, keep all receipts, and retrieve your belongings from the car.
5. Report predatory conduct or overcharges to the Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Louisiana State Police - Towing and Recovery Unit handles towing complaints in Louisiana. 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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