South Carolina Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: S.C. Code §§ 16-11-760, 56-5-2525, 29-15-10 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
South Carolina handles private-property towing mainly through S.C. Code § 16-11-760, which makes parking on someone else's property without permission an offense and lets owners have unauthorized vehicles towed. For commercial lots, that right only kicks in if no-parking notices are posted conspicuously at the property's borders near each entrance. Once a car is towed, the company must notify law enforcement under § 56-5-2525, so police should always be able to tell you who has your vehicle.
Towing and storage charges become a lien on the vehicle, billed to the registered owner or lienholder. There is no verified statewide cap on the tow fee itself, but storage charges recoverable through the lien are limited by § 29-15-10, the same statute that requires unclaimed vehicles to be sold by a county magistrate rather than simply kept by the tower. Drop fees, kickback bans, and payment-method rules are not clearly established statewide, though some cities add local rules.
If your car is towed in South Carolina, call local law enforcement first; the required tow report means they can point you to the storage lot. Ask for an itemized bill separating towing from storage, and pay promptly, since storage accrues daily and unclaimed cars head to a magistrate's sale. Keep receipts, photograph the lot's signage (or lack of it), and complain to the Department of Consumer Affairs if charges seem unlawful.
South Carolina towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Partial — There is no statewide cap on tow fees, but storage charges recoverable through the vehicle lien are limited under S.C. Code § 29-15-10. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Unclear / not verified |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Commercial property owners must post no-parking notices conspicuously at the borders of the property near each entrance before unauthorized vehicles can be towed under § 16-11-760. |
| Notice requirement | The towing company must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of the tow as required by § 56-5-2525, which is cross-referenced in § 16-11-760. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | Unclear / not verified — Unclaimed vehicles are sold through a magistrate in the county of the tow under § 29-15-10, and lien disputes run through that magistrate process. |
| Hold period before sale | sold by county magistrate under § 29-15-10 if unclaimed |
How to get your car back in South Carolina
- Call local police or the sheriff; towers must report tows to law enforcement.
- Photograph the property entrances to document whether no-parking notices were posted.
- Get an itemized bill splitting towing and storage charges.
- Pay and reclaim the car quickly before storage builds toward a magistrate's sale.
- File complaints with the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs handles towing complaints in South Carolina. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.
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