Kansas towing laws decide when a car can be towed, what a tow company can charge and keep, how long it must wait before selling a vehicle, and what you can take out of the car. Most of the rules are in Chapter 8, Article 11 of the Kansas Statutes. Wichita adds its own city code and police policy on top.
We are Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 4309 S Broadway in Wichita. We work under these rules every day, and drivers ask us about them often. This page sums up nine of them in plain words and links to the statute for each one. It is general information, not legal advice.
Kansas Towing Laws at a Glance
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| License | A tow company needs a certificate from the Kansas Corporation Commission | K.S.A. 66-1330 |
| Lien | A lawful tow creates a lien on the vehicle for the cost of the service | K.S.A. 8-1103(a) |
| Storage notice | The driver must get written notice that storage will be charged | K.S.A. 8-1103(b) |
| Sale | A vehicle held 30 days can be sold after notice | K.S.A. 8-1103, 8-1104 |
| Belongings | 48 hours of access after a private property tow | K.S.A. 8-1103(c) |
| Private lots | Towing needs a city ordinance with maximum rates | K.S.A. 8-1103(c) |
| Abandoned cars | 48 hours on a public road before removal | K.S.A. 8-1102 |
| Out of state | No towing out of Kansas without consent | K.S.A. 8-1103(d) |
| Move Over | Move over or slow down for any stopped vehicle with flashing lights | Senate Bill 8 (2025) |
1. Tow Companies Must Hold a State Certificate
K.S.A. 66-1330 makes it unlawful to provide wrecker or towing service in Kansas without a certificate of public service from the Kansas Corporation Commission. If you are choosing a tow company, you can ask for the name on its certificate.
2. A Tow Creates a Lien on the Vehicle
Under K.S.A. 8-1103, a tow company that lawfully has your vehicle has a first and prior lien on it for the full value of the service. That applies when the tow was directed by a law enforcement officer, by the owner, or under a city ordinance. In plain terms, the company can hold the car until the tow and storage are paid.
3. You Must Get Written Notice of Storage Fees
The same statute says the tow company “shall give written notice to the driver, if available,” that a fee will be charged for storage. If that notice is not given, the lien for the storage fee is not valid.
K.S.A. 8-1108 adds that failing to give any required notice stops storage fees from building until the notice rules are met. Keep every piece of paper the driver hands you.
4. A Vehicle Can Be Sold After 30 Days and Notice
This is the part of Kansas towing laws that surprises people. The timeline works like this:
- If the owner is known, the tow company must give notice within 15 days that the vehicle is being held under the lien.
- A vehicle that stays in the company’s possession for 30 days may be sold to pay the charges.
- Before a sale, K.S.A. 8-1104 requires the company to ask the state for the last registered owner and any lienholders, then mail notice by certified mail within 15 days of getting that answer.
- The notice gives the owner 15 days from mailing to pay. Notice of the auction must be published at least seven days before the sale.
- The sale is a public auction, for cash.
A court order can stop the clock if the car is being held as evidence.
5. You Have Rights to Your Belongings
After a private property tow, the owner must have access to personal property in the vehicle for 48 hours. For other tows, the yard can hold belongings until the bill is paid, but personal medical supplies must be released on request. We explain each case in our article on getting belongings out of a towed car in Kansas.
6. Private Property Tows Need a City Ordinance
A property owner cannot tow under state law alone. K.S.A. 8-1103(c) says a city ordinance or county resolution that allows towing from private property must set three things: the maximum rate for towing and storage, the 48 hour property access rule, and a duty to report the vehicle’s location to local law enforcement within two hours.
In Wichita, that ordinance is Chapter 11.99 of the city code. The City Council approved caps of $120 for a light tow, $4.70 a mile, and $36 a day for storage, according to KSN. Property owners can read our guide on towing cars off private property in Kansas.
7. Abandoned Vehicles Get 48 Hours on Public Roads
K.S.A. 8-1102 says a vehicle left on a public highway for more than 48 hours, or one that gets in the way of highway operations, can be removed and impounded by a public agency. Leaving a vehicle on private property you do not own or lease is criminal trespass, and the 48 hour wait does not apply there.
To get an impounded vehicle back, the statute requires proof of valid registration and ownership. Wichita follows the same idea. See our checklist to get your car out of impound in Wichita.
8. Your Car Cannot Be Towed Out of Kansas Without Consent
A tow company may not take a vehicle to a location outside Kansas unless the driver or owner agrees, the owner’s motor club agrees, or the insurance company handling the claim agrees. This matters near the state line and on long distance tows.
9. The Move Over Law Now Covers Every Stopped Vehicle
Kansas has long required drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles and tow trucks with flashing lights. Senate Bill 8, signed in March 2025 and in effect since July 1, 2025, widened that rule. Drivers must now move over for any vehicle stopped on the roadside with its flashing lights on, as KAKE reported.
On Kellogg, I-135, or K-96, that means changing lanes if you can and slowing down if you cannot.
How Wichita Rules Fit With Kansas Towing Laws
Kansas towing laws set the frame. Wichita fills in details.
- Crash scenes. Wichita Police Policy 404 lets you request a tow company if it can arrive within 45 minutes. See how to choose your own tow company after an accident.
- Street parking. City code limits on street parking to 48 hours.
- Finding a towed car. The city runs an impound search. Start with our steps to find a towed car in Wichita.
Questions About Kansas Towing Laws
Can a tow company hold my car until I pay?
Yes. The lien in K.S.A. 8-1103 lets the company keep the vehicle until the towing and storage charges are paid.
How long before a towed car can be sold in Kansas?
The statute allows a sale after the vehicle has been held 30 days, once the notice steps in K.S.A. 8-1104 are done.
Can my car be towed from private property without warning?
Only where a city ordinance allows it and the lot meets that ordinance. In Wichita, the city says the lot must be properly marked with signs.
Do Kansas towing laws cap what a tow costs?
State law does not set a price for a tow you request. It requires cities to set maximum rates for private property tows, and Wichita has done that.
Need a Tow You Can Check Against the Rules?
Miller’s Towing & Recovery gives you a price before we hook up. For towing in Wichita, KS, call 316-351-4754 any time, or use our contact page.