What happens when you call
- You call and say where your car is, where it needs to go, and what happened.
- Your message is passed to an independent local towing company, who calls you back with a price.
- Before the hook, the driver gives you a written statement of the charges and destination to sign, as New Orleans requires.
Towing and roadside assistance in New Orleans
Local towing
Tows from home, work or the roadside to a repair shop or address you choose. Agree the price and drop-off before the car is hooked.
Breakdowns and cars that won't start
Dead batteries, starter and engine trouble. Some can be fixed on the spot with a jump start; others need a tow.
Roadside assistance
Jump starts, flat tires you can't change, and lockouts. Ask the company which roadside services it offers.
Flooded and stalled cars
Once the water has gone down and it's safe, a stalled or flooded car can be towed to a shop for inspection. Never drive through standing water.
Motorcycles and light trucks
Many companies tow motorcycles, pickups and SUVs. Say what you drive when you call so the right truck is sent.
Towing across New Orleans and nearby
- French Quarter and CBD
- Marigny and Bywater
- Mid-City
- Uptown
- Gentilly
- Lakeview
- New Orleans East
- Algiers
- Metairie
- Kenner
Towing in New Orleans: what to know
Flooded underpasses
The city put flood-warning lights at underpasses where cars often stall, including Carrollton, City Park and Franklin Avenues under I-10 and Gentilly Boulevard and Marconi Drive under I-610. If the lights are flashing, the road is closed. Never drive through flood water to reach a tow.
If your car was towed by the city
Call 504-658-8100 to confirm the tow. Payment is taken at the tow lot at 400 N. Claiborne Avenue, under the expressway at Conti Street, and outstanding parking and camera tickets must be paid first. Cars held more than 24 hours may move to the lot at 10200 Almonaster Avenue. Check nola.gov for current hours.
Common reasons cars get towed
The city tows for parking within 20 feet of an intersection, crosswalk or stop sign, parking beside a neutral ground, and parking on a parade route within 2 hours of the start, plus special-event restrictions.
Nobody may show up uninvited
New Orleans law bars tow operators from stopping at an accident or a disabled car to solicit work. A tow truck should come only when you, the owner, or the police called it. This service only takes calls from drivers and owners.
Typical prices
| A tow you arrange yourself | about $150-$250 |
| Maximum for a police-ordered light-duty tow (state cap) | $228.75 minimum |
| Maximum for a private-lot light-duty tow (state cap) | $152.50 |
| Maximum outside storage per day (state cap) | $34 |
Ranges from published cost guides, not a quote. The towing company sets the price and should confirm it before starting.
Before you hire
- Get the total price and the drop-off address before the car is hooked. New Orleans requires a signed written statement of both.
- Check that the company name is painted on the truck. City code requires it.
- Ask whether the company is insured and licensed with the Louisiana State Police towing unit.
- The state caps prices only for non-consent tows, such as private-lot and police-ordered tows. A tow you ask for is priced by agreement.
- Complaints about tow prices go to the Louisiana Public Service Commission at 1-888-342-5717. Complaints about a company's conduct go to the Louisiana State Police towing unit at 225-925-6113.
Towing in Louisiana is regulated by the Louisiana State Police Towing and Recovery Unit. The Louisiana Public Service Commission sets maximum rates for non-consent tows. The first price above is AAA's national ballpark for a tow you arrange, not a New Orleans rate.
Questions
My car was towed in New Orleans. How do I find it?
Call the city at 504-658-8100 to confirm the tow. You pay at the city tow lot at 400 N. Claiborne Avenue, and outstanding citations must be paid before release.
Are towing prices regulated?
Tows you didn't ask for, such as private-lot and police-ordered tows, are capped by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. A tow you request yourself is priced by agreement, so get the total in writing first.
A tow truck showed up at my accident and I didn't call one. Do I have to use it?
No. New Orleans law bars tow operators from stopping at accident scenes to solicit work unless the owner or police called them.
What paperwork should I get?
City law requires a written statement of the charges and destination, signed by you and the driver before your car is towed.
Should I drive through a flooded underpass to reach a tow?
No. Never drive through flood water. Flashing lights at a city underpass mean the road is closed.