Police-ordered tows
When a city, county or state law enforcement agency has a car towed, North Carolina General Statute 20-219.11 gives the owner these rights:
- Notice: you must be notified within 24 hours if the car is registered in North Carolina, or within 72 hours if it isn't, by phone if possible and by mail to your last known address.
- A hearing: you can request, in writing, a hearing on whether there was probable cause for the tow. File the request with the magistrate in the county where the car was towed.
- Fast timing: the magistrate has to set the hearing within 72 hours of receiving your request. You can present evidence.
- If the tow wasn't justified: the tow company's lien on the car is extinguished.
- Either side can appeal the magistrate's decision to district court.
Unregistered cars
For a car without current registration, the agency has to make reasonable efforts to find the owner, and generally a notice must be posted on the windshield at least seven days before the tow, unless the car was a danger to the public.
Private-lot tows
Tows from private parking lots are mostly regulated by cities and counties in North Carolina. Call the number on the tow-away sign and ask for the company's posted rates.
Common questions
How do I contest a police tow in North Carolina?
Request a probable cause hearing in writing with the magistrate in the county where the car was towed. The magistrate must set the hearing within 72 hours.
How soon will I be notified after a police tow in North Carolina?
Within 24 hours if the car is registered in North Carolina, or 72 hours if it's registered elsewhere.
What happens if the tow wasn't justified?
If the magistrate finds no probable cause, the tow company's lien is extinguished.
Checked against official sources on October 29, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or business before you act.