Peoria, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Rotation list size
- 8 to 10 approved companies
- Standard tow fee cap
- $200.00 maximum
- Required response time
- 30 minutes or less in city
- Call-acceptance requirement
- 85 percent of dispatched calls
- Automatic removal
- After three infractions
- Insurance minimum
- $100,000 garage liability per person
Summary
Any company that wants police-dispatched non-consent tows in Peoria must first win a spot on the Police Department's rotation tow list, then follow a detailed fee cap, response-time, and conduct code under City Code Article V, Divisions 1 and 2 (Secs. 30-296 through 30-328), with removal from the list after three documented infractions.
The following schedule of maximum fees shall be in effect for all tow calls received off the rotation tow list and shall be prominently displayed at every office of storage facility. For all police department ordered tows - each tow company must send proper notifications under 625 ILCS 5/4-205 and 5/4-209.(1)Standard towing fee (i.e., use of flatbed truck, clean-up, dollies, etc.) $200.00. This fee shall be reviewed by city council during 2028 for potential adjustment.(2)Exceptional location fee (winching) .....$60.00(3)Lot storage fee (per day) .....$40.00(4)Inside storage fee (day) .....$50.00(5)Interrupted tow fee .....$50.00(6)Service fee (i.e. jump start, tire change, fuel etc.) .....$80.00
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 119).
Full Breakdown
Peoria doesn't leave non-consent towing to the open market: Secs. 30-321 through 30-329 create a police-run rotation tow list, and only companies the superintendent of police approves after a background investigation under Sec. 30-323 can take calls dispatched off it; the list is capped at eight to ten companies. Approved operators start on a one-year probationary status, and any well-founded complaint during that period can mean permanent removal. Sec. , a flatbed truck available at all times, motorcycle-capable equipment, and high-visibility ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 safety vests for scene work.
Sec. 30-300 requires a state Traffic Incident Management Card for every driver, a response time of 30 minutes or less inside city limits, and at least an 85-percent call-acceptance rate; falling below 85 percent or failing to show up in appropriate safety gear gets the operator skipped in favor of the next company on rotation. Sec. 00 for a roadside service call, all of which must be posted at the storage office. Sec. 30-299 bans chasing calls: an operator may not respond to an accident scene unless dispatched by police or asked by someone involved. Sec. 00 per accident before an operator can join the list.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 30-302 fines any towing-article violation not less than $75.00, up to the Sec. 1-5 maximum, and routes complaints to the Police Department's Auto Theft Investigator; a confirmed complaint gives the operator ten days to respond in writing before the superintendent of police disciplines the company. Sec. 30-327 lets the superintendent pull an operator from the rotation list for fraud, rule violations, or an 85-percent-or-worse response rate, and three total infractions trigger automatic, permanent removal under both Sec. 30-302(c) and Sec. 30-327(b). Sec. 30-328 lets a removed operator appeal in writing to the city manager within five days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Peoria tow company charge for a standard non-consent tow?
Can any towing company respond to a police-ordered tow in Peoria?
What if my car gets towed and I show up before the truck leaves?
How fast must a Peoria tow company respond to a dispatched call?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Peoria
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