To dispute a towing bill in Wichita, ask for an itemized invoice, find out what kind of tow it was, and check each charge against the rules that apply. Then get the car out so storage stops growing, and put your dispute in writing. If the tow company will not fix it, you can take the bill to your insurance company, the Kansas Attorney General’s consumer protection office, or small claims court.
We are Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 4309 S Broadway. We think a tow bill should be easy to read and agreed to before the truck hooks up. Here are the six steps we would follow if the bill were ours to question. This is general information, not legal advice.
Step 1: Ask for an Itemized Bill
You cannot dispute a towing bill that is one lump sum. Ask the yard to list every charge on paper: the tow or hook up, mileage, storage per day and the number of days, and any extra fees such as winching, dollies, after hours release, or a card fee.
One Wichita driver wrote on the r/wichita forum about a tow bill with ten separate lines, including a hook fee, a release fee, and a fee for paying by credit card. Bills like that are the reason to read each line before you pay.
Step 2: Find Out What Kind of Tow It Was
The rules depend on who ordered the tow.
| Type of tow | Who sets the price | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| You called the tow company | The company. You should have agreed to a price. | Does the bill match the quote you were given? |
| Private property tow | The City of Wichita sets maximum rates | Is each charge at or under the city cap? Was the lot posted? |
| Police called the tow | The city’s agreements with tow companies | Were you offered the chance to request your own company? |
If you were never asked at a crash scene, read how to choose your own tow company after an accident in Wichita. It explains what Wichita Police Policy 404 says.
Step 3: Check the Bill Against the Rules
For private property tows
Kansas law says a city ordinance that allows towing from private property must set the maximum rate for towing and storage. Wichita’s caps, as reported by KSN when the City Council approved them, are:
- $120 for a light tow
- $4.70 per mile
- $36 per day for storage
The same state law says the tow company must report the vehicle’s location to local law enforcement within two hours and must give the owner access to personal property for 48 hours. The city’s parking laws page adds that a lot must be properly marked before a private tow.
For any tow
- Storage notice. K.S.A. 8-1103(b) says the tow company must give the driver, if available, written notice that storage will be charged. Without it, the lien for the storage fee is not valid.
- Missed notices. K.S.A. 8-1108 says failing to give a required notice stops storage fees until the notice is given.
- State certificate. K.S.A. 66-1330 requires every tow company to hold a certificate from the Kansas Corporation Commission.
- Dates. Count the storage days yourself. Compare the date of the tow with the date on the bill.
- Miles. Check the distance from the pickup point to the yard on a map.
Step 4: Get the Car Out, Then Argue
This is the step people skip. While you dispute a towing bill, storage keeps adding up, and after 30 days Kansas law lets the tow company start the process to sell the vehicle. In most cases the cheaper move is to pay, get the car, and keep fighting the charges you think are wrong.
When you pay:
- Pay with a card or a check if you can, so there is a record.
- Write “paid under protest” next to your signature.
- Keep the itemized bill, the receipt, and any tow slip or notice you were given.
- Take photos of the car at the yard, the tow away sign at the lot, and the odometer.
Our article on how long a tow company can keep your car in Kansas explains the 30 day timeline.
Step 5: Dispute a Towing Bill in Writing
Call the tow company first and ask for the owner or manager. Many problems end there. If that does not work, send a short letter or email. Include:
- Your name, phone number, and the vehicle’s year, make, model, and plate
- The date and place of the tow
- The charge or charges you are disputing and why
- The rule you are relying on, such as the city cap or the storage notice rule
- The refund you are asking for
- Copies of the bill, receipt, and photos
Give a date to respond by, such as 14 days. Stay factual. A calm letter with numbers gets further than an angry phone call.
Step 6: Take It Higher if You Need To
- Your insurance company. If the tow is part of a claim, send the bill to your adjuster. Insurers push back on storage and fees they think are too high.
- The Kansas Attorney General. The Consumer Protection Division takes complaints about businesses. You can file a complaint on the Attorney General’s website.
- The Kansas Corporation Commission. The KCC issues the certificates tow companies need to operate and accepts motor carrier complaints.
- Your card issuer. If you paid by card for something that was not provided, the issuer has a dispute process.
- Small claims court. Sedgwick County District Court hears small claims without a lawyer. Bring your letter, the bill, and your photos.
How to Avoid a Bill You Have to Fight
Most disputes start with a tow nobody priced. Before a truck hooks up, ask four questions:
- What is the total to get my car to this address?
- Where is the car going, and what does storage cost per day there?
- What forms of payment do you take, and is there a card fee?
- What hours can I pick the car up?
At Miller’s, you get the price before we hook up. For a fuller look at normal charges, read the real cost of towing in Wichita and what a tow release costs. Our summary of Kansas towing laws lists the rules in one place.
Questions About How to Dispute a Towing Bill
Do I have to pay before I dispute a towing bill?
You are not required to, but the tow company can hold the car under its lien until it is paid, and storage grows every day. Paying under protest usually costs less.
Can a tow company charge extra for paying by card?
Ask before the tow. For private property tows, compare the total with the city’s maximum rates.
Can I get my things out while I dispute a towing bill?
After a private property tow you have 48 hours of access. See how to get belongings out of a towed car in Kansas.
What if the lot had no tow away sign?
Take photos of every entrance the same day. The city says a lot must be properly marked before a vehicle can be towed from it.
Looking for a Tow Company That Quotes First?
Miller’s Towing & Recovery is a tow company in Wichita, KS that tells you the price before the hook up. Call 316-351-4754 day or night, or use our contact page.