Vermont Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: 23 V.S.A. 2151-2152 (abandoned motor vehicles) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Vermont has very little towing-specific consumer law. The main statute is the abandoned motor vehicle law (23 V.S.A. 2151 and following), under which a registered vehicle generally is not 'abandoned' until it has sat on someone's property for more than 48 hours without consent; unregistered vehicles or those with obscured VINs can qualify sooner. A landowner may remove an abandoned vehicle (or have police do it) without civil liability, but must immediately notify the police agency with the vehicle's plate, VIN, and description. Beyond that framework, immediate trespass tows from private lots are largely unregulated at the state level.

Vermont sets no statewide caps on towing or storage fees, no drop-fee rule, no statewide signage standard for tow-away lots, and no dedicated hearing process to challenge a tow, and no verified requirement that towers accept credit cards. That puts most fee disputes into the realm of negotiation, small claims court, and Vermont's general consumer protection law against unfair and deceptive practices, which the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program administers. Municipal ordinances and police-rotation tow policies may add local rules, so check with the town where the tow happened.

If your car vanishes from a lot or driveway in Vermont, call the local or state police first — landowners must notify police immediately when they have a vehicle removed, so dispatch should know where it went. Ask the storage garage for an itemized bill and whether the vehicle actually met the abandoned-vehicle criteria (48 hours for registered vehicles). If charges seem excessive or the removal looks improper, document everything, pay under protest to avoid mounting storage fees, and contact the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program or bring a small claims action.

Vermont towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Vermont

1. Call local or state police to confirm the removal — landowners must immediately report vehicle removals to a police agency.
2. Ask on what basis the vehicle was removed; a registered vehicle generally must sit more than 48 hours without consent to be 'abandoned' under 23 V.S.A. 2151.
3. Locate the towing garage, bring ID and proof of ownership, and get an itemized bill before paying.
4. Pay promptly (under protest if you dispute the tow) to stop storage charges from accruing, and keep all receipts and photos.
5. Contact the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program or file in small claims court if you believe the tow or the fees were improper.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Vermont Attorney General, Consumer Assistance Program handles towing complaints in Vermont. 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 Vermont 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.