Wrecker Services FAQ's

To get your vehicle released from storage, you must pay all towing and storage fees and provide, to the satisfaction of the wrecker and towing service company, the following:

1. Proof of ownership. This may include a valid certificate of title, registration receipt, title of properly assigned by the seller, dated, notarized, and the owner's name filled out on the title, written verification from a local law enforcement agency, pre-registration information from Service Oklahoma, or other document sufficient to the licensed wrecker service to establish ownership.
2. Proof of identification. This may include an Oklahoma driver license, Oklahoma identification card, other state driver license, other state or federally issued photo identification, foreign driver license, other documents sufficient to establish identity.
3. Proof of Insurance. This may include an unexpired insurance verification form that includes the VIN of the vehicle being released, unexpired insurance policy that includes the VIN of the vehicle being released, Valid affidavit of non-use. If an affidavit of non-use is provided, the vehicle cannot be driven from the facility.
4. Law Enforcement Release. If law enforcement has placed a hold on the vehicle, you will be required to provide the licensed wrecker company with a Law Enforcement Release.

If the law enforcement hold is regarding taxes due the state (expired registration or tag) you will be required to show proof of current registration issued by Service Oklahoma. 

A licensed wrecker company may release a vehicle to the following:

1. The owner of the vehicle
2. A person representing the owner. The person must have a notarized statement from the owner permitting the person to act on behalf of the owner. The statement must contain the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle being released.
3. A lienholder or duly authorized agent of a lienholder.
4. A representative of the insurer accepting liability for or purchasing a motor vehicle.  The representative must provide a hold harmless letter, and, when applicable, a notarized letter from the lienholder permitting the person to act on behalf of the lienholder.
5. If the owner is incapacitated or deceased, a legal representative or family member within the first or second degree of consanguinity or affinity. A notarized affidavit must be presented describing the relationship between the legal representative or family member and the owner.
6. A person to whom a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered the release in compliance with the terms of the court order.

The licensed wrecker service must release personal property during regular business hours, at not cost, to the owner or owner's representative.

If the licensed wrecker service agrees to release personal property after-hours, the company is allowed to charge after-hour fees.

Personal property is everything in the vehicle except the vehicle, the attached or installed equipment, vehicle keys or devices to start and unlock the vehicle, and the spare tire and tools to change the tire. 47 O.S. § 955

You must have your vehicles VIN. Enter the VIN if the licensed wrecker service has submitted the required report, the system will display the name and address of the storage facility in which your vehicle is being stored.

The Department does not regulate fees charged by licensed wrecker operators. If you feel your wrecker and towing service bill is wrong, please contact the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). You will need to submit a Nonconsensual Tow Rate Complaint form to OCC. The form is on the existing WS Resources page just above the Contact Information for DPS Wrecker Services.

Anyone who is engaged in the business of or performing the act of towing or offering to tow any vehicle except when:

• The service is provided by a transporter as defined in 47 O.S. § 1-181; or
• The vehicle being towed is owned by the operator and there is are signs on both sides of the wrecker vehicle in plain visible letters the words "NOT FOR HIRE"; or
• The service is performed in conjunction with the transportation of household goods and property; or
• The wrecker vehicle is owned or operated by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or any department or political subdivision; or
• The service is performed by an out-of-state wrecker service at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, the vehicle is not involved in a collision, and is being towed between Oklahoma and a neighboring state or through Oklahoma in transit to another state.

Any person wanting to provide wrecker and towing services for a fee must first apply for a Wrecker Service License through the Department of Public Safety.

Step 1:   Completely fill out the Wrecker Service Application.

The application must be submitted with the following documents

• Criminal records check for each owner and each employee listed on the application
• Secretary of State Certificate if the company is a corporation or L.L.C.
• A copy of lease agreements, if applicable
• A list of wrecker vehicles that will be used.
• Proof of required insurance

Step 2:  Submit the completed and signed application, documents, and application fee of $500.00 to the Department. The application must be complete before the Department can process it.

Step 3. Inspections.  After the application has been processed and approved, the Department will schedule an inspection. The inspection will include the business office, storage facility, and all wrecker vehicles.

Step 4. Wrecker Tag. After you have been inspected and corrected any discrepancy, (if applicable) you are required to purchase a Wrecker Tag or Proportional Tag from Service Oklahoma. After the purchase of said vehicle tag, you must affix the tax to the appropriate vehicle, take a photo of the vehicle showing the tag and submit the photo and a copy of the registration to DPS.

Step 5. Once DPS has accepted, and approved everything listed in Steps 1-4, it will issue the Wrecker license, Cab card, and Wrecker Vehicle Operator license for each driver listed on the application. These documents will be delivered via email to the email address listed on the application. 

"Nonconsensual tow" means the transportation of a vehicle without the consent or knowledge of the vehicle’s owner, possessor, agent, insurer, lienholder, or any other person in possession of or in charge of any vehicle and includes the transportation or towing of the vehicle under lawful circumstances or necessity for the public interest including removing from the roadway for public safety or public convenience, or accidents, by any law enforcement officer or property agent or removal from public or private property as a result of abandonment or unauthorized parking by the property owner, agent, possessor, or other legal entity for the property owner.

Anything that is not a non-consensual tow. 

A wrecker vehicle is defined as a vehicle that is equipped with any device designed to tow another vehicle or combination of vehicles. 

• Class G licensed wreckers can only perform repossession tows. A Class G wrecker may also be considered a wrecker support vehicle.
• Class AA – TS – any wrecker vehicle properly equipped and having a GVWR of not less than 9,000 pounds.
• Class AA – TM – any wrecker vehicle properly equipped and having a GVWR of not less than 24,000 pounds.
• Class AA – TM – Rollback wrecker vehicles shall have a minimum deck weight rating of 12,000 pounds.
• Class AA – TL – any wrecker vehicle properly equipped and having a GVWR on not less than 44,000 pounds. 

You must completely fill out the OHP Rotation Request Form and submit it to the Department. The Department will notify you via email once the request has been processed.

A wrecker license is valid through December 31 for the year it was issued.  

Wrecker service license renewal "season" is October 1 through December 1 of each year.

Each September, the Department will send an email to each licensed wrecker service. This email will contain a link to the wrecker license renewal application. The information required is the same as an original application.

You must submit (upload) the following documents and submit the renewal application fee ($250.00) before your renewal application will be processed. The fee can be paid on-line.

• Criminal records check for each owner and each employee listed on the application
• Secretary of State Certificate if the company is a corporation or L.L.C.
• A copy of lease agreements, if applicable
• A list of wrecker vehicles that will be used.
• Proof of required insurance

A completed wrecker service license renewal application package is considered complete when the Department receives:

• The renewal application completely filled out and signed
• All supporting documents have been submitted/uploaded,
• The fee has been paid.

You wrecker service license renewal application will not be considered submitted until each of these items has been received by the Department. The submission date is the date the last document is received creating a completed application.

If you submit (post-marked date if mailing) your wrecker service license renewal application from December 2 – December 31, your application will be processed only after all applications received from October 1 through December 1. If the Department is unable to process your renewal application before December 31, your wrecker license will expire effective midnight, December 31. You will not be able to provide wrecker and towing services and you will be removed from all law enforcement rotations from January 1 until the Department completes your renewal application.

If you submit (post-marked date if mailing) on or after January 1, your application will be returned to you. Your wrecker license will be expired, and you will be removed from all law enforcement rotations. If you wish to continue to operate in Oklahoma as a wrecker and towing services company, you will be required to submit an original application, supporting documents, and original application fee of $500.00. After the application has been approved, you will be required to 

The wrecker vehicle license, or cab card, must always be carried in the applicable vehicle while providing wrecker services. The wrecker vehicle license will be presented upon request by any law enforcement officer or officer of the Department. Wrecker vehicle licenses shall be unique to the applicable vehicle and are not transferable. OAC 595:25-3-12

The wrecker vehicle operator license allows the holder thereof to drive, operate, and control a licensed wrecker vehicle in the course and scope of providing towing and recovery operations governed under these rules. The licensed wrecker vehicle operator must have the wrecker vehicle operator license on his or her person at all times when providing towing services under these rules. When requested, the licensed wrecker vehicle operator shall present the wrecker vehicle operator license to any law enforcement officer or member of the public with whom the licensed wrecker vehicle operator is interacting on the scene of a traffic incident or a tow from private property. When requested, the licensed wrecker vehicle operator shall present a state issued driver license corresponding to the wrecker vehicle operator license to any law enforcement officer or member of the public with whom the licensed wrecker vehicle operator is interacting on the scene of a traffic incident or tow from private property. OAC 595:25-3-9

Any wrecker or towing company providing non-consensual towing services must have a minimum of an outdoor storage facility. OAC 595:15-5-16.

A Class G licensed wrecker service performing only repossession tows may request an exception to the storage facility requirements. OAC 595:25-5-17.

An applicant must not be subject to a pending conviction or deferred sentence, including probation or supervised release for the following:

• An offense deemed a violent crime pursuant to 21 O.S. § 571;
• Larceny or theft
• A violation of 21 O.S. § 1029 while operating a wrecker vehicle;
• No applicant may be licensed while he or she is required to be registered as a sex offender pursuant to 57 O.S. § 582. OAC 595:25-3-10

Any application will be denied a license or be employed by a wrecker service until completion of the sentence for the conviction, including probation or supervised release.

The Commissioner of Public Safety or their designee may prohibit the approval or renewal of a wrecker license if it is deemed to be in the best interest of public safety.

First time applicants must complete the sixteen-hour Basic Wrecker Vehicle Operator Training Course and four hour Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS) Course.

To maintain the wrecker vehicle operator license, the operator must complete four house of Department approved continuing education annually. 

A licensed wrecker company may release a vehicle to the following:

1. The owner of the vehicle
2. A person representing the owner. The person must have a notarized statement from the owner permitting the person to act on behalf of the owner. The statement must contain the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle being released.
3. A lienholder or duly authorized agent of a lienholder.
4. A representative of the insurer accepting liability for or purchasing a motor vehicle.  The representative must provide a hold harmless letter, and, when applicable, a notarized letter from the lienholder permitting the person to act on behalf of the lienholder.
5. If the owner is incapacitated or deceased, a legal representative or family member within the first or second degree of consanguinity or affinity. A notarized affidavit must be presented describing the relationship between the legal representative or family member and the owner.
6. A person to whom a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered the release in compliance with the terms of the court order.

 [KD1]Link to the affidavit of death or incapacitation

The owner or owner's representative must pay all towing and storage costs and provide the following documentation to your satisfaction before you release the vehicle.

1. Proof of ownership. This may include a valid certificate of title, registration receipt, title of properly assigned by the seller, dated, notarized, and the owner's name filled out on the title, written verification from a local law enforcement agency, pre-registration information from Service Oklahoma, or other document sufficient to the licensed wrecker service to establish ownership.
2. Proof of identification. This may include an Oklahoma driver license, Oklahoma identification card, other state driver license, other state or federally issued photo identification, foreign driver license, other documents sufficient to establish identity.
3. Proof of Insurance. This may include an unexpired insurance verification form that includes the VIN of the vehicle being released, unexpired insurance policy that includes the VIN of the vehicle being released, Valid affidavit of non-use. If an affidavit of non-use is provided, the vehicle cannot be driven from the facility.
4. Law Enforcement Release. If law enforcement has placed a hold on the vehicle, the owner or owner's representative will be required to provide the licensed wrecker company with a Law Enforcement Release.

If the law enforcement hold is regarding taxes due the state (expired registration or tag), the owner or their representative must provide proof of current registration from Service Oklahoma.

It is up to the wrecker and towing service company to determine if the document(s) presented are sufficient to comply with this administrative rule.  

If there is a question of whether a presented document is sufficient to release the stored vehicle, the Department, if requested, will review the documents to determine if it is sufficient to meet the spirit of the administrative rule. The Department can only determine if the document presented is sufficient to comply with the administrative rule.

 [KD1]Link to vehicle release form

The licensed wrecker company must notify the Department within 10 business days of hiring or terminating a wrecker vehicle operator.

Hiring a new driver.  You must complete the New Driver Notification Form. Submit the form with the nationwide background check, and Traffic Incident Management System (TIMS) completion certificate. The Department will verify the qualifications of the new hire and issue a Wrecker Vehicle Operator license if approved.

The licensed wrecker company must notify the Department within 10 business days of hiring or terminating a wrecker vehicle operator.

Termination / Resignation of a wrecker vehicle operator. You must complete the Driver Removal form and submit it to the Department within 3 business days of the termination or resignation.

Yes. You must complete the Closing/Cancelling Wrecker License form and submit it to the Department at the time of sale or upon closing your company.