Clay County, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- License basis
- Paid county personal property tax receipt
- Business fee
- $75.00 per year
- Per-vehicle fee
- $25.00 per vehicle per year
- License term
- Jan 1 to Dec 31, no proration
- Liability insurance
- $100,000/$300,000 minimum
- Garage keepers insurance
- $100,000.00 minimum
- Driver license
- CDL Class B/C, or A/E by weight
Summary
Clay County requires every wrecker or tow service operating in the county, or doing more than half its business there, to hold a paid county personal property tax license under Sec. 113.01. The license costs $75.00 per business plus $25.00 per vehicle annually, runs January 1 through December 31 with no proration, and operators must carry minimum liability and garage keepers insurance.
It shall be unlawful for any firm, person or corporation to operate a wrecker or tow service business within Clay County, Missouri, without first having a valid paid personal property tax receipt from the county collector of Clay County. Operating a wrecker or tow service business shall be defined as having such a business physically located in the county or conducting more than 50 percent of its wrecker or tow service business activities within the county. ... The fee for the license shall be set at $75.00 per year, per business, and $25.00 per vehicle, per year, and said license shall be issued on or before January 1 of each year and expire on December 31, of that year. There will be no prorating for this fee.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 113 of the Clay County Code of Ordinances, adopted by Ord. 46-96 in 1996 and amended by Ord. 30-97 in 1997, licenses wrecker and tow service businesses countywide. Sec. 01 makes it unlawful to operate a wrecker or tow service business in Clay County without first holding a valid, paid personal property tax receipt from the county collector; the chapter defines an operator as any business physically located in the county or conducting more than 50 percent of its tow activity there. Sec. 00 per vehicle per year, issued on or before January 1 and expiring December 31 with no prorating for partial years.
Sec. 03 requires any driver operating a wrecker or tow truck to hold a commercial driver's license, Class B or C, or, based on weight, Class E for a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less and Class A above that weight. Sec. S. Department of Transportation. Sec. 00 per accident for property damage, with a certificate of insurance due at the time of license application. Sec. 00 covering any vehicle in tow or in storage at the operator's place of business.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 113 sets no fine schedule of its own, so an unlicensed wrecker or tow operation falls under Sec. 10.99's general penalty: a fine of up to $1,000.00 upon conviction, with each day of continued operation without the required license charged as a separate offense. The county collector administers the tax-receipt licensing requirement that Sec. 113.01 makes a precondition to operating.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clay County
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