If your car gets towed, be prepared to pay more.

This summer the first statewide tow fee hike in several years took effect. But there's a bright side for drivers, if you're quick.

The basic charge per tow has gone up to as much as $75, the first state-approved hike since 2003.

"For four years, we've had to absorb all the tax increase, the cost of doing business, the land costs, our labor, our payroll, equipment costs, fuel costs," said Barney Robinson, a tow company owner.

The per-mile charge is up -- $7.50 a mile to the baseyard. If it's a tow from a public street or lot, it has to go to the nearest yard -- no such restrictions if a private tow goes to the opposite end of the island.

"We're faced with a land storage problem, and if that's where their lot is and they get all the way towed out to there, then that's what it is," Robinson said.

The longer you leave it there, the more it costs -- $25 a day for the first week, $20 a day after that.

"The sooner you can get the car, the less the storage fees are going to be," Robinson said.

After just a few days, the tab for one car is $191.

"Wow that's a lot of money," said car owner Kassi Coody as she retrieved her car from the lot.

Her Saturn Vue was stolen on Friday and towed for safe keeping after police recovered it.

"I would rather just get a new car and never find it again, to go through all the trouble, to pay this much money," Coody said.

Money as in cash. Most lots will only take that, and by law have to provide an ATM.

Now, the good news? If the owner appears on the scene before the vehicle has moved, there will be no charge to release it.

"We're in the process of hooking up, and the guy comes running out and says unhook my car, and we have to drop the car and we don't get paid for that work., Robinson said.

The law used to allow a $50 unhook fee. But if the vehicle has moved even a little bit , the tow charge applies.

"For the guy whose getting his stall back we're the hero, for the guy whose getting his car towed we're the bad guy," Robinson said.

Six tow companies service the city contract on the island of Oahu, each handling one or more zones. Those contracts are on extension until around the end of the year.

Action Line volunteers are available to hear your problem and help find solutions. Call 591-0222 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.