Fact Check: What laws protect drivers from predatory towing

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Predatory towing is not unusual in Kansas City. We checked in with Kansas City police, and a spokesperson told us they receive calls on predatory tows almost daily.

We wanted to know what the laws state in giving vehicle owners protection.

Missouri law

Missouri law requires the company towing a vehicle have a completed and signed 4669 form. It’s an abandoned property report from the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Before a vehicle is towed, the company is supposed to report vehicle information to local authorities on the time and date of the tow, and where the vehicle is taken. That appears to be done by most towing companies. A police spokesperson told us that last month the department received 168 calls from towing companies making the report.

Kansas City Ordinances

A city ordinance states that a company towing a vehicle within city limits can offer a vehicle to be retrieved 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And there are limits on towing and storage fees.

A city ordinance also states that fees can be paid in cash, travelers’ check or money orders — or by credit cards. Beware of tow companies that operate on a “Cash only” basis.

The city maintains a site that can help someone find their car if they don’t know where it was taken.

Kansas owners have fewer protections.

There are no Kansas Laws requiring signage for tow-away zones.

There is no Kansas law on the maximum tow or storage rates. It’s up to cities or counties to set that.

Other protections for consumers are also lacking. Towing companies are not required to accept credit cards in Kansas, nor are they required to have 24/7 service for owners to retrieve their vehicles.

Both states advise owners who believe they were towed illegally to contact the state’s Attorney General’s office.

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