Manchester, NH Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Tow fee cap
- $175 maximum per non-consent tow
- Storage fee cap
- $50/day, first 24 hrs free
- Banned fees
- No hoisting, let-down, standby, or gate fees
- After-hours release fee
- $50 max, needs signed acknowledgment
- Citation
- Manchester City Code § 70.40
Summary
Manchester limits non-consent towing to $175 per tow and $50 per day storage, with the first 24 hours free and no hoisting, let-down, standby, or gate fees allowed.
(A) (1) Any company or person which tows a motor vehicle without the consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall not charge a towing fee in excess of $175. (2) ...shall not charge a fee in excess of $50 per day for storing the towed motor vehicle. There shall be no storage fee for the first 24 hours after a motor vehicle is towed. ... No "hoisting", "let-down", "standby" or "gate" fee shall be charged.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 70.40, any company or person that tows a vehicle without the owner's or operator's consent cannot charge more than $175 for the tow itself, and storage is capped at $50 per day with the first 24 hours free of charge. Towers may not tack on hoisting, let-down, standby, or gate fees, and can only add a $50 after-hours release fee if the owner or operator signs an acknowledgment showing the date, time, storage lot location, and amount charged. Any personal property inside the vehicle, but not attached to it, must be released to the owner or operator on request without any fee, including the towing and storage charges themselves.
Violations & Fines
Overcharging a non-consent tow or storage fee, adding a banned hoisting, let-down, standby, or gate fee, or withholding personal property from the vehicle owner violates § 70.40 and can trigger municipal code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Manchester tow company charge storage the first day?
Can a towing company charge extra fees like a 'gate' fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle towing companies.