Text Size: A+| A-| A   |   Text Only Site   |   Accessibility
ODOT Banner
Tow/Recovery Vehicles
Overview
Image of a tow truck carrying a damaged vehicle
This page provides information about tow/recovery vehicles.
 
Use the links below to go directly to any section:

Operating a Tow/Recovery Vehicle
To operate a tow/recovery vehicle as a business in Oregon, the owner of each tow vehicle needs:
  • A tow/recovery business certificate issued by DMV;
  • A tow/recovery vehicle registration; and
  • If the vehicle has a combined weight of 26,001 or more (the empty weight of all vehicles in a combination plus the total weight of the load carried on that combination of vehicles), or is registered on a prorate basis, registration issued by the Motor Carrier Transportation Division (MCTD), or if the combined weight is 26,000 pounds or less, registration issued by DMV.
A tow/recovery business certificate and registration are needed if the owner:  (ORS 822.200)
  1. Engages in the towing or recovering of vehicles by any means for any direct or indirect compensation when the vehicle being towed or recovered is owned by a person other than the person performing the towing or recovery activity; or
  2. Engages in the towing or recovering by any means, as a part of any business operation of the person, vehicles that are wrecked, damaged, disabled, or abandoned or replacement vehicles; or
  3. Purports, in any way, to be engaged in the business of towing and recovering vehicles. Purports ...to be engaged in..." means to solicit or advertise towing services through the telephone book, business directory, newspaper, radio, television, posting on vehicles, signs, business, billboards, or by any other means.  (OAR 735-154-0000)
A person does not need a tow/recovery business certificate and registration if the person is providing assistance to another motorist, whether or not they are compensated, as long as they are not providing assistance as part of their business.

Title & Registration
To Apply
*Vehicles that are registered on a prorated basis may have a title issued in another state.  Contact Motor Carrier Transportation Division for more information.
 
Fees

License Plates
All Tow/Recovery vehicles in Oregon are issued license plates by DMV for identification purposes, regardless of whether they are registered with DMV or the Motor Carrier Transportation Division (MCTD).  If the vehicle is registered with MCTD, additional license plates are issued by MCTD.  All of the license plates issued must be displayed on the vehicle.

Related Information
Additional information that may be relevant includes:


 
Page updated: September 24, 2009

Click here to go to the Oregon Dept. of Veterans' Affairs outreach contact form

Get Adobe Acrobat ReaderAdobe Reader is required to view PDF files. Click the "Get Adobe Reader" image to get a free download of the reader from Adobe.