Oregon State Board of Towing
Thank you for visiting the Oregon State Board of Towing website.
Here you will find the announcements, Board meeting and work session notes, minutes and materials, and other Board information.
Signed Authorization Required for private property tows in Oregon, effective January 1, 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026:
1. The exemption under ORS 98.853 (1), allowing a tower to tow a vehicle for specific parking violations without first being contacted by the parking facility owner have been removed.
2. Towers must be contacted by the parking facility owner prior and provided the signed authorization and identification of the vehicle prior to the tow of the vehicle.
Towers and their employees or subcontractors cannot act as a parking facility owner's agent for the purposes of identifying vehicles to be towed.
The Board continues to investigate complaints filed with the Board after 01/01/2024 to verify compliance with Oregon's towing laws in effect at the time of the towing event.
Tow Plate and Tow Business Certificate Requirement
Oregon laws and administrative rules require:
Any vehicle engaging in the towing or recovering of vehicles by any means for any direct or indirect compensation must be issued tow plates and a tow business certificate
by DMV.
TW plates and tow business certificates can not be sold, leased, rented, loaned or borrowed. The company identified on the tow business registration must be the company operating the tow vehicle.
TW plates and the tow business certificate are issued by DMV in conjunction with the vehicle registration.
For more information visit: ORS 822.200 - Public Policy administering ORS 822.200 operating an illegal tow business
Board Meetings & Work Sessions
February 10, 2026 - Regular Board Meeting
Hosted by: ODOT, 455 Airport Rd SE, Salem, OR 97301 - Bldg K (In person RSVP required)
Board Laws and Administrative Rules and Public Policies
February 10-12, and 27, 2026 - Staff Field work
February 13-16, 2026 - Closed for President's Day
March 16 - -27, 2026 - Staff Training
Beginning January 6, 2026 - Staff will conduct investigations and prepare cases for board review on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and may have limited access to phone and email.
Stay Informed:
Subscribe to the Board's mailing list to keep up-to-date with the latest news and information.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact the Board at info@towboard.oregon.gov.
The Board's Website is currently under construction - check back often for updates, announcements, and more information!