Scottsdale, AZ Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Max towing charge
- $125, includes first 72 hrs storage
- After-hours release fee cap
- $40 (midnight-6 a.m.)
- Extended storage rate
- $15 per 24 hours
- Release availability
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- First-offense minimum fine
- $250
- Combined fine cap
- $2,500
Summary
Scottsdale caps non-consent towing at $125, including the first 72 hours of storage, and requires posted signs, police notification before a tow, and 24/7 vehicle release. Towing carriers who overcharge or skip notice face minimum fines starting at $250 for a first offense.
(a)Under this article, the maximum charge for towing a motor vehicle from the city without the vehicle owner's permission shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00), including the first seventy-two (72) hours of storage.(b)The maximum charge includes all charges for towing the motor vehicle from the city, including all charges for transporting and storing the vehicle for up to seventy-two (72) hours, driver's fees and surcharges.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 17-365 requires a towing carrier to have the vehicle owner's permission, or written authorization from the property owner or a signed towing order at the time of the tow, before removing a vehicle from a private parking area with conforming signs. Sec. , and the Scottsdale Police Department's phone number. Sec. 17-366 requires the towing carrier to notify the Scottsdale Police Department before towing without the owner's permission, providing the vehicle description, reason for the tow, impound lot address, and the tow driver's identifying information.
Sec. 17-367 bars staging: a carrier may only tow directly from the parked location to its permanent impound lot. Sec. 17-368 requires personnel able to release a towed vehicle 24 hours a day, immediate release upon proof of ownership such as a registration, title, or rental agreement plus ID, acceptance of cash and card payment with no card surcharge, and no requirement for exact change. Sec. m. Sec. 17-370 makes an attempted tow a free 'incomplete service call' if the owner returns before the vehicle is fully secured, moved from the parking spot, and the tow truck enters a public street.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 17-372 makes a violation of the towing article a class one misdemeanor with minimum mandatory fines of $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation, plus surcharges. Violating the sign, notice, staging, or release provisions (Sec. 17-364 through 17-370) triggers an additional fine equal to the greater of the maximum towing charge or the amount actually collected, though combined fines under the section cannot exceed $2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Scottsdale tow company legally charge to release my car?
Does a towing company have to call the police before towing my car from private property?
What if I get back to my car while it is being hooked up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
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