Cross-state comparison
Tow or sell: vehicle rules by state
For an outdoor lot, the most valuable question in the whole lien process is whether you can tow a non-paying tenant’s vehicle, boat, or RV off the property instead of running a full lien sale. A tow ends the occupancy problem in an afternoon; a sale takes weeks of notices and advertising. But the tow option is far from universal — some statutes authorize it outright, some gate it behind conditions like a local ordinance, and many never address it at all, which leaves the sale as your only statutory path.
The conditions matter as much as the authorization. Kansas is the sharpest example: towing is allowed only after more than 60 days of default, and only if your city or county has passed an ordinance permitting it — no ordinance, no tow, no matter how long the default runs. And in most states that allow towing, the tow extinguishes your lien: you give up the claim on the property in exchange for your space back.
The table below classifies every state’s tow path from the verified guides. Click through to a state for the full process, deadlines, and notice requirements.
All 50 states
| State | Tow path | Detail | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent the operator may call a licensed and bonded tower for motor vehicles, watercraft, and trailers. Liability shifts to the tower on possession; lien survives the tow. Motor vehicles follow Title 32 Ch. 13; watercraft require a court-petition sale under § 33-5A-4. | Ala. Code §§ 8-15-46(d), 33-5A-4, 32-8-84 |
| Alaska | Not addressed | No tow alternative is provided in AS 34.35.220-34.35.225 or AS 45.07.210. Public auction in the recording district is the only statutory disposal path. Alaska DMV addresses vehicle storage lien sales under the same warehouse-lien framework with no tow-out provision. | AS 34.35.225; AS 34.35.175 |
| Arizona | Authorized | After the 30-day enforcement window opens, operator may contract with a towing company to remove vehicles, watercraft, or trailers after a 10-day towing notice by verified mail or email. On possession by the towing company, operator is released from liability. Post-tow title path is not addressed in the storage statute. | A.R.S. § 33-1704(B)(3), (E), (J) |
| Arkansas | Authorized | After at least 60 days of default, operator may have a motor vehicle, trailer, or watercraft removed by a towing operator instead of conducting a lien sale. Liability for the property shifts to the towing operator on possession. The storage lien survives and attaches to net proceeds after the towing firm satisfies its own first-priority possessory lien. | Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-406(b) |
| California | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent following proper § 21703 notice, operator may arrange towing with a separate 10-day advance first-class mail notice identifying the towing company name, address, phone, and the redemption address. Operator is released from liability once the towing company takes possession. Rent charges stop accruing after day 60. | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 21702.5; Cal. Veh. Code §§ 12520, 22658 |
| Colorado | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent/charges on a vehicle or watercraft, operator may arrange towing by a carrier holding current PUC operating authority. Operator is not liable for the property or any damage once the carrier takes possession. | C.R.S. § 38-21.5-103(1)(g)(II) |
| Connecticut | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid charges, operator may have a motor vehicle, vessel, or trailer towed by an insured tower instead of following the DMV notice-and-title-transfer path. Section 42-160(e) does not address post-tow title mechanics; operators should coordinate with the tower before authorizing removal. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-160(e) |
| Delaware | Authorized | After 60 consecutive days of default, operator may have motor vehicles, boats, trailers, and watercraft towed by a towing company. Before towing, operator must send the towing company's name, address, phone, and the facility's redemption address by verified mail or email (with verified-mail follow-up if delivery unconfirmed). Post-tow title mechanics are not addressed in Chapter 49. | 25 Del. C. § 4904(f) |
| Florida | Authorized | At 60 days past the maturity of the rent obligation, operator may transfer motor vehicles or watercraft to a licensed wrecker instead of running a lien sale. Liability transfers to the wrecker on possession. Wrecker then handles all notices and title transfer under § 713.78. | Fla. Stat. § 83.806(10); Fla. Stat. § 713.78 |
| Georgia | Authorized | After 60 days past the maturity of the unpaid rent obligation, operator may have motor vehicles, trailers, or watercraft towed instead of foreclosing on the lien. Operator is released from all liability for the vehicle once the tow company takes possession. Post-tow title is governed by O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13. | O.C.G.A. § 10-4-213 |
| Hawaii | Not addressed | Part III contains no tow-away authority. Motor vehicles and boats are included in the §507-61 definition of personal property and follow the full three-notice lien-sale process under §§ 507-63 through 507-66. No abbreviated vehicle path exists. | HRS §§ 507-61, 507-62, 507-66 |
| Idaho | Authorized | After 60 days of continuous default, the operator may have a vehicle or trailer towed under § 55-2308 instead of conducting a lien sale. Pre-tow: written cure notice at least 10 days before tow (to lessee) and a copy to any lienholder by U.S. mail. Once the tower takes possession, operator liability ends. | Idaho Code § 55-2308; § 55-2306(1) |
| Illinois | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent or 60 days of default, the operator may have motor vehicles, trailers (added by P.A. 103-1003, eff. Jan. 1, 2025), and watercraft towed instead of holding a lien auction. Once the tower takes possession, the operator is not liable for damage. | 770 ILCS 95/4(G-5); P.A. 103-1003 (eff. Jan. 1, 2025) |
| Indiana | Authorized | For motor vehicles, trailers, and watercraft, the operator may choose to tow instead of auction after the 30-day notice deadline and within the 60-day floor. The notice must conspicuously state that the property will be towed. The act is silent on post-tow title mechanics; operators should confirm with Indiana counsel. | IC 26-3-8-12(c)(7)(B), (d); P.L.93-2023, SEC.3 |
| Iowa | Authorized | If rent and other charges for a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days, the operator may have it towed from the facility instead of conducting a lien sale. Once the tower takes possession, the operator bears no liability for damage. The tow does not extinguish the lien for remaining charges. | Iowa Code § 578A.7(3) |
| Kansas | Conditional | Motor vehicles, watercraft, and trailers may be towed after more than 60 days of default — but only if the city or county has enacted an authorizing ordinance or resolution, and towing extinguishes the lien. No ordinance, no tow path. | K.S.A. 58-817(a)(3); K.S.A. 8-1103 |
| Kentucky | Authorized | After more than 60 days of default, the operator may have a motor vehicle or watercraft (as defined in KRS 376.268) towed instead of conducting a lien sale. The tower then executes notice under KRS 281.928, as amended eff. June 27, 2025. Operator bears no further notice or sale obligations once the tower takes possession. | KRS 359.230(12); KRS 376.268; KRS 281.928 |
| Louisiana | Authorized | If rent and charges for a motor vehicle, watercraft, or trailer remain unpaid for 60 days, the operator may have the property towed by a tower licensed under the Louisiana Towing and Storage Act (R.S. 32:1711 et seq.) instead of running a lien sale. Once the tower takes possession, the operator is no longer liable. | R.S. 9:4759(A); Acts 2021, No. 111; R.S. 32:1711 et seq. |
| Maine | Authorized | After more than 45 days of default, the operator may have a motor vehicle towed under § 1375(1-D) and bears no liability to any party as a result. The express tow authority covers "motor vehicles" only — watercraft and non-motorized trailers are excluded from § 1375(1-D) and follow the standard lien-sale path. | 10 M.R.S. §§ 1375(1), 1375(1-D) |
| Maryland | Authorized | After more than 60 days of default, the operator may have a motor vehicle or watercraft towed or removed from the facility instead of conducting a public sale (§ 18-504(j)). Once the tower takes possession, the operator is immune from civil liability for damage. Rental agreement must contain a bold-type disclosure of this tow right (§ 18-503(b)(3)). | Md. Code Ann., Com. Law §§ 18-503(b)(3), 18-504(j) |
| Massachusetts | Authorized | If rent and charges for a vehicle remain unpaid for 60 days following the maturity of the rent obligation, the operator may have it towed by an insured tower (§ 4). Once the tower takes physical possession the operator is released from liability. Post-tow title mechanics are governed by M.G.L. c. 90, § 22B and Massachusetts RMV regulations, not Chapter 105A. | M.G.L. c. 105A, §§ 1, 4 |
| Michigan | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent the operator may have titled vehicles, aircraft, mobile homes, mopeds, motorcycles, snowmobiles, trailers, and watercraft towed by an independent motor carrier holding a Michigan Public Service Commission certificate. Once the carrier takes possession the operator bears no further liability. | MCL 570.525(10) |
| Minnesota | Authorized | Motor vehicles and watercraft may be towed by a towing company as an alternative to a lien sale (§514.973, subd. 7). The operator must notify the occupant of the towing company name, address, and phone number. The operator's lien is terminated once the towing company takes possession. | Minn. Stat. § 514.973, subds. 2, 7 |
| Mississippi | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent and charges on a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, the owner may have the property towed (§85-7-127(5)). At least 10 days' written notice (regular mail or email) stating the tower's name, address, and phone number must be sent first. The owner is not liable for damage after the tower takes possession. | Miss. Code § 85-7-127(5) |
| Missouri | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent and charges, the operator may treat a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer as abandoned property and have it towed from the facility (§415.415.5). Once the towing company takes possession, the operator is not liable for damage. The Missouri DOR abandoned-property process governs subsequent title disposition. | RSMo § 415.415.5 |
| Montana | Authorized | After 60 or more days of unpaid charges on a motor vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or trailer, the operator may have the property removed by a professional tow or transfer company (§70-6-607(4)). The operator is not liable for damage once the company takes possession. The tow path is an alternative to — not a replacement for — the standard lien-sale route. | MCA § 70-6-607(4) |
| Nebraska | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent and charges on a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, the operator may arrange a tow (§76-1607(4)). The operator is not liable for damage once the tower takes possession. Critically, removal does not release the operator's lien — it survives the tow. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1607(4) |
| Nevada | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid charges on a motor vehicle, boat, personal watercraft, or a trailer used to transport such property, the owner may have the property towed by a Nevada Transportation Authority–regulated operator (NRS 108.4763(1)(c), as amended 2019). The owner is not liable for damages once the tow operator takes possession. | NRS 108.4763(1)(c) |
| New Hampshire | Authorized | After 30 days of unpaid rent, the owner may have any motor vehicle or trailer (defined broadly to include boats, watercraft, OHRVs, and snowmobiles) towed by a licensed, insured towing company (RSA 451-C:9). The owner bears no liability for the removal or damage when an insured company is used. | RSA 451-C:9; RSA 451-C:1 |
| New Jersey | Authorized | After 60 consecutive days of default on a motor vehicle or watercraft, the owner may authorize towing without a lien sale (§2A:44-191(h)). Pre-tow notice (verified or email) must include the towing company's name, address, and phone number. Trailers are excluded — they do not qualify as "motor vehicles" under N.J.S.A. 39:1-1. | N.J.S.A. 2A:44-191(h); N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 |
| New Mexico | Authorized | After 60 days of continuous default on a motor vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, the owner may have it removed by a New Mexico Department of Transportation–licensed towing carrier (§48-11-7(K)). Within one day of the tow, the owner must send the occupant a verified notice with the tow date, towing company address, and phone number. | NMSA § 48-11-7(K); Laws 2023, ch. 100 |
| New York | Not addressed | § 182 is entirely silent on motor vehicles, watercraft, and titled property. Pending bills (A8552A / S6220A, 2025–2026 session, both in committee as of June 2026) would add a 60-day vehicle notice period and authorize towing, but neither is enacted. Operators currently follow a separate NY DMV process (Forms MV-901A / MV-905) for titled vehicles. | Lien Law § 182 (silent on titled property); NY DMV Forms MV-901A, MV-905 |
| North Carolina | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent, the owner may arrange towing of a motor vehicle, watercraft, or trailer instead of a lien sale. Once the towing company takes possession, the owner bears no further liability (§ 44A-43(b)(1a)). This is a standalone path independent of the DMV lien-sale process. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44A-43(b)(1a) |
| North Dakota | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent, the owner may have a motor vehicle, watercraft, or trailer towed by a commercial towing service (§ 35-33-10(2)). No pre-tow notice beyond the 60-day nonpayment trigger is required. The lien survives the tow. Separately, the standard lien-sale process gives the buyer authority for DMV title transfer under § 39-05-19 without a court order (§ 35-33-10(1)). | N.D.C.C. §§ 35-33-10(1)–(2) |
| Ohio | Authorized | ORC § 5322.03(K) provides a parallel towing path for motor vehicles, trailers, and watercraft. The owner may tow after: (1) sending the standard lien notice to all lienholders and 30 days elapsing; or (2) 60 days of unpaid rent with no identified lienholders; or (3) conducting or about to conduct a sale of the occupant's other personal property. Once the towing service takes possession, the storage operator bears no further liability. | ORC § 5322.03(K) |
| Oklahoma | Authorized | If rent and other charges remain unpaid for 60 days, the owner may have a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer towed. Liability for the property ends when the towing company takes possession (§ 196(E)). This towing right is in addition to — not instead of — the general lien-sale path. | 42 O.S. § 196(E) |
| Oregon | Authorized | ORS 87.691(6): after the ORS 87.689 notice has been sent AND rent and other charges have been unpaid for 60 or more days, the owner may arrange towing. The towing company acquires its own statutory lien for towing and storage charges. Separately, ORS 87.693(2) permits using the parking-facility lien path under ORS 98.810–98.818. | ORS 87.691(6); ORS 87.693(2) |
| Pennsylvania | Authorized | After 60 days of continuous default, the owner may have a motor vehicle, trailer, or watercraft towed (§ 5606(c)). Once an adequately insured or bonded tower takes possession, the owner is not liable for damage not caused by the owner's own negligence. Post-tow title matters are governed by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, not Chapter 56. | 12 Pa.C.S. § 5606(c) |
| Rhode Island | Authorized | § 34-42-4(m) expressly authorizes the owner to have a motor vehicle, watercraft, trailer, motorcycle, or RV towed with no liability on the owner's part. The statute provides no DMV notification requirement, title-transfer process, lienholder notice requirement, or post-tow instructions — a separate law likely governs those mechanics. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-42-4(m) |
| South Carolina | Authorized | After 60 days of unpaid rent, the owner may have a motor vehicle or watercraft towed by a licensed towing company (§ 39-20-45(H)). The statutory liability shield expressly names only motor vehicles; the guide notes the shield language does not extend to watercraft. Trailers are not listed in § 39-20-45(H) and do not qualify for the towing path. | S.C. Code Ann. § 39-20-45(H) |
| South Dakota | Not addressed | Chapter 44-14 provides no towing path. For titled vehicles, boats, trailers, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles unpaid for 60 days, SDCL 44-14-3(13) directs the operator to use the vehicle abandonment procedures under SDCL 32-36-8 through 32-36-11 — a title-vesting process, not a tow authorization. The statute does not authorize towing as a disposal method. | SDCL 44-14-3(13); SDCL 32-36-8 through 32-36-11 |
| Tennessee | Authorized | After 60 days of default, owner may tow the vehicle (liability ends on tower pickup) or pursue the Division-contact/30-day-notice path and sell. "Vehicle" includes motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and motorized watercraft. | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-31-102(10), 66-31-105(2)(K)(i)–(ii) |
| Texas | Authorized | If the rental agreement authorizes towing, operator delivers the §59.043 notice of claim, waits 14 days for non-payment, obtains vehicle storage facility written consent, and transfers property. Operator lien is extinguished on transfer; VSF handles further disposition under Tex. Occ. Code Ch. 2303. | Tex. Prop. Code §§ 59.051–59.055 |
| Utah | Authorized | After 60 continuous days of default, owner may tow using a UDOT-certified carrier (§72-9-602). Owner must send certified-mail notice to occupant within one day after the tow. Liability for vehicle damage ends when carrier takes possession. | Utah Code §§ 38-8-3.5; § 72-9-602 |
| Vermont | Authorized | After 51 days of unpaid charges, owner may have any vehicle, vessel, snowmobile, trailer, or ATV towed. Owner must notify occupant by regular or electronic mail within 5 days of the tow, including the towing company's name, address, and phone number. Liability ends when towing company takes possession. | 9 V.S.A. § 3905(7) |
| Virginia | Authorized | Watercraft in default for more than 60 consecutive days may be towed; owner must send verified mail or email notice at least 10 days before the tow date (§55.1-2902(J)). Motor vehicles follow the DMV-based §46.2-644.01 title-lien process, not a simple tow path. | Va. Code §§ 55.1-2902(J); 55.1-2901(E) |
| Washington | Authorized | After 60 or more consecutive days of default, owner may have vehicles, watercraft, trailers, RVs, and campers towed under RCW 19.150.160. Owner must provide written notice identifying the towing company before removal. Liability for damage ends when towing company takes possession. | RCW 19.150.160 |
| West Virginia | Authorized | After more than 60 days of default, operator may have motor vehicles, trailers, or watercraft towed or removed instead of selling at auction (§38-14-5(k)(1)). Operator is immune from civil liability for damage after the towing party takes possession (§38-14-5(k)(2)). | W. Va. Code §§ 38-14-3(c)(2), 38-14-5(k) |
| Wisconsin | Authorized | Operator may have a vehicle (not watercraft) towed under §349.13(3m) after all four §704.90(5r)(a) conditions are met: lessee unpaid ≥7 days past due; both notices sent per statute; lessee was unpaid more than 60 consecutive days before the second notice was sent; and lessee did not pay within the second notice's 14-day window. Operator is immune from towing-damage liability. | Wis. Stat. §§ 704.90(5r)(a)–(b); § 349.13(3m) |
| Wyoming | Not addressed | The storage lien chapter (W.S. 29-7-101 through 29-7-106) provides no tow-instead-of-sell alternative. Operators must hold a commercially reasonable sale or allow redemption. Towing companies operating under W.S. 31-13-101 have their own separate lien-enforcement path. | W.S. 29-7-101 through 29-7-106 |
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