Maximum private impound fees for towing service, uncompleted tow, storage, and after-hours release
Seattle Mun. Code § 6.214.220
in effect6.214.220 - Maximum private impound fees for towing service, uncompleted tow, storage, and after-hours release
A. Towing service fee: The maximum hourly fee that tow companies may charge for towing service for private impounds shall be no more $183 for the first hour and $130.60 for the second and subsequent hours for tows conducted with a Class A, D, or E tow truck. The Director shall adjust this rate by rule for inflation on an annual basis following publication of the preceding year's percentage change in the annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Transportation, or a successor index thereto, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. All towing service fees must be based on a flat, hourly rate only and will apply without regard to the hour of day, day of the week or whether the service was performed on a Saturday, Sunday, or state recognized holiday. The hourly fee for each class of truck must:
1. Be the only basis used by the tow company to compute total charges for private impound towing services, other than the uncompleted tow, storage and after-hours release fees allowed in subsections 6.214.220.B, C, and D.
2. Include all ancillary activities including, but not limited to necessary winching, dolly service, drive line removal, installation of chains on the tow truck, installation of portable lights, vehicle hookup for towing or transporting, tire replacement and standby time.
3. Include the labor of one person per truck. No charges for additional labor are allowed for Class A, D, and E private impound tows.
4. The hourly fee must be applied to the resulting net time and, after the first hour, must be rounded to the nearest fifteen minutes. A tow company may charge the hourly fee for the first hour or any portion thereof. After the first hour, no more than one-quarter of the hourly fee may be charged for each fifteen minutes of towing service work performed.
B. Uncompleted tow fee: Tow companies may charge no more than the maximum hourly towing service fee specified in subsection 6.214.220.A for an uncompleted tow. Beginning with the first hour, no more than one quarter of the hourly fee may be charged for each fifteen minutes of towing service work performed. Reimbursement for time spent on an uncompleted tow can only be computed from the time of dispatch to the time the car is released to the vehicle operator.
C. Storage fee: The maximum storage fee that tow companies may charge for storing a private impound vehicle shall be no more than $30.37 for each 12-hour period that the car remains in storage charged to the nearest half day. The Director shall adjust the maximum storage fee for private property impounds by rule for inflation on an annual basis following publication of the preceding year's percentage change in the annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Transportation, or a successor index thereto, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, provided that any such adjustment in the storage rate shall not result in a storage rate that exceeds the maximum daily storage rate allowed under RCW 46.55.118(1)(b).
D. After hours release fee: The maximum fee that a tow company may charge to release a privately impounded vehicle outside of normal business hours may not exceed $100. The Director may adjust the maximum fee by rule upon written findings by the Director that reasons to do so exist. The Director shall consider the number and frequency of after-hours releases, the effect of the fee on consumers, the costs to tow companies, and any other factors related to after-hours releases.
The limitations set out in this Section 6.214.220 only apply if the towed vehicle is parked and upright, has all its wheels and tires attached, does not have a broken axle, and has not been involved in an accident at the location from which it is being impounded.
(Ord. 124655, § 1, 2014; Ord. 123997, § 4, 2012.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.214TOCOLIRE_6.214.220MAPRIMFETOSEUNTOSTAFURREFetched: 11/1/2026