Oklahoma Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: 47 O.S. §§ 953.1, 953.2, 954A; Nonconsensual Towing Act of 2011 (47 O.S. § 966) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Oklahoma splits towing oversight between two agencies. The Department of Public Safety licenses wrecker operators and enforces its wrecker manual, while the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) has regulated the prices of nonconsensual tows since House Bill 1743 took effect in 2011. Any tow you did not ask for, including one from a private lot, must be billed within the OCC's published maximum rates, and the tower must be a licensed operator.
The OCC's current maximum-rate chart took effect June 1, 2024, alongside new rules requiring itemized invoices, and statutory limits on fees and storage charges appear in 47 O.S. §§ 953.1 and 953.2. That means every line on your bill can be checked against a public rate schedule. Other protections common elsewhere, such as an explicit drop fee, kickback ban, signage mandate, or credit card requirement, are not clearly verified at the state level.
If your car is towed in Oklahoma, call local police to confirm the tow and identify the wrecker company. Demand the itemized invoice the OCC requires and compare it to the current OCC rate chart before paying. Pay to recover the car, keep the invoice, and file a rate complaint with the OCC Transportation Division; licensing or conduct issues go to DPS Wrecker Services at (405) 425-2312.
Oklahoma towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Yes — The Oklahoma Corporation Commission sets statewide maximum rates for nonconsensual tows (current rate chart effective June 1, 2024), and 47 O.S. §§ 953.1-953.2 govern maximum fees and storage charges. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Unclear / not verified |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Unclear / not verified |
| Notice requirement | Nonconsensual tows must be performed by wrecker operators licensed by the Department of Public Safety and billed at Corporation Commission rates with itemized invoices; specific owner-notice timelines are set in DPS wrecker rules. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | Unclear / not verified |
| Hold period before sale | unclear |
How to get your car back in Oklahoma
- Call local police to confirm the tow and get the wrecker company's name.
- Verify the operator is DPS-licensed and ask for the required itemized invoice.
- Check every charge against the OCC's nonconsensual towing rate chart (effective June 2024).
- Pay, document the car's condition, and keep the invoice and receipt.
- File overcharge complaints with the OCC; report conduct issues to DPS Wrecker Services.
Recent law changes (2024–2026)
The Corporation Commission adopted a new maximum-rate chart and itemized invoicing requirements for nonconsensual tows effective June 1, 2024; a towing bill, HB 1261, was also considered during the 2025 legislative session.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Transportation Division (rates); Oklahoma DPS Wrecker Services (licensing) handles towing complaints in Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma 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