New Jersey Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Predatory Towing Prevention Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 56:13-1 to 56:13-23 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
New Jersey has one of the country's most comprehensive towing consumer laws, the Predatory Towing Prevention Act (N.J.S.A. 56:13-1 et seq.), enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. A private lot generally cannot tow unless it has a contract with a towing company and conspicuous 36-by-36-inch signs at every vehicle entrance spelling out the parking rules, the tower's name and address, the charges, and where the car will be stored. Kickbacks are banned outright — towers may not pay or reward anyone for tips about towable vehicles — and 'spotting,' patrolling lots for cars to tow without a specific request, is prohibited.
Fees must follow the state fee schedule and municipal caps, and charges are presumptively unreasonable when they run more than 25% above the company's own consensual rates or 50% above nearby companies' nonconsensual rates. If you return while your car is hooked but not yet moved, it must be released, with any decoupling fee limited by the same reasonableness tests. Towing companies that ordinarily accept payment cards must accept debit, charge, or credit cards for nonconsensual tows, and they must notify the vehicle owner within 30 days, with storage liability limited when notice fails.
If you're towed in New Jersey, the required signage means the tower's name, phone number, and storage lot address should be posted where you parked — photograph the sign (or its absence, which itself is a violation). Call local police to confirm the tow, then retrieve the car promptly, paying by credit card if you choose. Demand an itemized invoice and compare it to the posted charges and municipal fee schedule. If anything is off — cash-only demands, patrol-style towing, inflated decoupling fees — file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs, which can pursue Consumer Fraud Act penalties.
New Jersey towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Yes — The Division of Consumer Affairs director maintains a fee schedule for private-property and other nonconsensual tows; fees are presumptively unreasonable if they exceed the company's consensual rates by more than 25% or other local companies' nonconsensual rates by 50%, and municipal caps also bind. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Yes — If the car is hooked up but not yet moved when the owner returns, it must be released; any decoupling fee is presumptively excessive if more than 25% above the company's usual decoupling charge or 50% above other local nonconsensual fees. |
| Kickback ban | Yes |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Private lots (with limited residential exceptions) need conspicuous 36-by-36-inch signs at all vehicle entrances stating parking rules, tow warnings, the tow company's name, address and phone, towing and storage charges, the storage facility address and hours, and Division of Consumer Affairs contact information. |
| Notice requirement | The towing company must notify the vehicle owner within 30 days of the tow, and storage-fee liability is limited when notice obligations are not met. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Yes |
| Right to challenge the tow | Unclear / not verified — There is no dedicated statutory hearing, but consumers can file complaints with the Division of Consumer Affairs and violations are actionable under the Consumer Fraud Act. |
| Hold period before sale | unclear |
How to get your car back in New Jersey
- Photograph the lot's 36x36 signage (or its absence) — it must list the tow company, charges, and storage location.
- Call the local police to confirm the tow and verify the storage facility address.
- If your car is still hooked but not moved, demand release on the spot — New Jersey law requires it, with only a limited decoupling fee.
- Pay by credit or debit card if the company normally accepts cards, and get an itemized invoice.
- Compare charges to the state schedule and municipal caps, and report violations to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs handles towing complaints in New Jersey. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.
Need a legitimate tow in New Jersey right now?
We connect drivers with vetted local towing operators who quote upfront prices. Find your city or call the number at the top of this page.
Stranded? Help is one call away.
Live dispatcher, 24/7/365. Firm price before the truck rolls.
(725) 242-4545TAP TO CALL NOW