Towing rules in New York
What the state says about towing, with the page each rule comes from. It's a summary of the published rules, not legal advice, and your city or county can have rules of its own.
Updated October 6, 2026
Tow company licensing
New York has no state tow license. New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses tow truck companies and tow truck drivers.1-2
Limits on police and private-property tow fees
Ask for the full price before your car is hooked up, and ask for an itemized receipt.
Storage fees
Ask the tow yard for its daily storage fee and the hours you can collect your car.
Towed from a private lot
If your car was towed from a private lot, ask the property owner or manager which company towed it.
Where to complain
Keep your receipt and photos of your car, and ask the tow company in writing to correct a charge you think is wrong.
Get quotes from tow companies in your county
One request instead of calling tow companies one at a time. It's free, and you don't have to hire anyone. Your request may go to contractors nearby.
Sources
Tow companies in New York
New York has 2,563 tow companies listed, and 2,110 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Browse them by county and call one directly, or schedule a tow and we'll pass it to tow companies near you.
Cite this page
“Towing rules in New York.” FindTowingTruck.com, updated October 6, 2026. https://findtowingtruck.com/ny/rules/