Car towed in New Jersey? Start here

1. Find your car

We don't have an official towed-car lookup for New Jersey on our list yet.

If it isn't listed, call the police non-emergency number for the city or county where you parked. Ask whether the car was towed, by whom and where it was taken. We never charge to help you find your car.

What to do right now

1. Make sure it was towed, not stolen. Use an official lookup if there is one, or call the police non-emergency number for the place where you parked. Ask who towed it, where it is, and the lot's hours.
2. Take photos now. The spot where you parked, every sign at the entrances (or the lack of one), curb paint and meters. When you get the car back, photograph all sides, the inside and the odometer before you leave the lot.
3. Get the paperwork. Keep every notice, receipt and letter, and the envelope it came in. Ask for a copy of anything that shows who asked for the tow.
4. Ask for an itemized bill before you pay. Compare each charge with the posted rates and, where we list one, your state's or city's maximum.
5. Pay by credit card if you can. A card payment leaves a record, and card issuers have a process for disputing charges. Ask for a receipt either way.
6. Write down what happened. Times, names, what people said, and any damage you notice.
7. Note every deadline. Look for dates on every paper you get. Some deadlines to ask for a hearing or to stop a sale are only days long, and storage charges usually grow every day.

This is general information to help you keep track. It is not legal advice, and it does not decide whether a tow or a charge was lawful.

2. Know your deadline

We haven't verified a New Jersey deadline yet, so there is no calculator here. Look for dates on every notice or letter you get from the police, the tow lot or the DMV, and act before that date.

3. Get your money back

Common ways people ask for a refund:

• Ask the tow company in writing to refund any charge you think was wrong, and keep a copy.
• File a complaint with the agency that regulates tow companies, if there is one.
• If you paid by card, ask your card issuer how to dispute a charge.
• Ask for a hearing if your state has one (see the deadlines above), or file in small claims court.
• If you want advice about your own situation, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.

The New Jersey rules we checked are below.

Key towing rules in New Jersey

Fees and caps

• For private-property and other tows without your consent, a tow company may charge only for the services listed in the state regulation.

  Official text: “a towing company shall not charge any fee for private property towing or other nonconsensual towing and related storage services not included in (a) above”

  Source: N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31.4(e). Last checked October 5, 2026.

• A fee is presumed unreasonable if it is more than 25% higher than what the same company charges when the owner agrees to the tow, more than 50% higher than other tow companies in the town charge, or above a town's fee ordinance.

  Official text: “More than 25 percent higher than the fee charged”

  Source: N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31.5; N.J.S.A. 56:13-14(b). Last checked October 5, 2026.

Signs and permission to tow

• A tow from private property is allowed only if the tow company has a contract with the property owner, a sign at least 36 by 36 inches is posted at every vehicle entrance, the owner authorized removing that particular car, and the car goes to secure storage a reasonable distance away. The sign must list the tow company, its charges, the storage address and hours. (Some homes and small buildings are exempt.)

  Official text: “a sign no smaller than 36 inches high and 36 inches wide”

  Source: N.J.S.A. 56:13-13. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Getting money back

• Breaking any part of New Jersey's Predatory Towing Prevention Act is also a violation of the state's Consumer Fraud Act.

  Official text: “It is an unlawful practice and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) to violate any provision of this act.”

  Source: N.J.S.A. 56:13-21(a). Last checked October 5, 2026.

• Under the Consumer Fraud Act, a person who lost money or property can sue. If the person wins, the court must award three times the damages, plus reasonable attorneys' fees, filing fees and costs.

  Official text: “award threefold the damages sustained by any person in interest”

  Source: N.J.S.A. 56:8-19. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Who regulates tow companies

• The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the towing law and takes complaints online.

  Source: N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs. Last checked October 5, 2026.