Cranston, RI Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Day tow rate
- $25.00
- Night tow rate
- $30.00
- Storage rate
- $8.00/day
- Hearing demand window
- 10 days
- Hearing held within
- 48 hours
Summary
Cranston caps police-ordered tow charges at $25 by day or $30 at night plus $8 a day for storage, and lets owners demand a municipal-court hearing within 48 hours to contest an impoundment.
There shall be a charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for towing performed during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or a charge of thirty dollars ($30.00) for towing performed during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.; ... plus a storage charge of eight dollars per day (twenty-four (24) hours), or for a fraction thereof, for storage off the public highway in a secured lot; ... all fees to be paid to the carrier ... before any such vehicle shall be released.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston police may tow any vehicle illegally parked so as to obstruct traffic, notifying the owner within 48 hours (Cranston Code § 10.36.010(A)). Owners can demand a post-seizure hearing before the municipal court judge within ten days of learning of an impound; the hearing is held within 48 hours and turns solely on whether there was probable cause to tow (§ 10.36.010(B)). Set charges run $25 for daytime towing, $30 at night, plus $8 per day for secured-lot storage, with add-ons for car carriers and winching (§ 10.36.010(C)). If the judge finds no probable cause, the city pays the towing and storage bill instead of the owner.
Violations & Fines
No probable-cause finding shifts towing and storage costs to the city; otherwise fees must be paid to the carrier before the vehicle is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Cranston tow cost?
Can I contest a Cranston police tow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
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Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle towing companies.