Tennessee Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: Tenn. Code Ann. tit. 55, ch. 31 (MOTION Act of 2024) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee overhauled its towing law with the 2024 MOTION Act (Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization), now Tenn. Code Ann. title 55, chapter 31. Its headline rule: commercial parking lot owners may not boot or tow vehicles that are not abandoned, immobile, or unattended unless the lot is licensed under a local ordinance adopted under 55-31-203. Nonconsent tows require express written authorization from the property owner, the vehicle owner, or law enforcement, and violations are treated as unfair or deceptive practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

Tennessee does not set dollar caps on tow fees, but the MOTION Act limits how charges can pile up: storage fees may not accrue beyond 21 days without the owner's or lienholder's consent, and towers cannot charge for days when the vehicle was not actually available for release (55-31-402). Kickbacks are banned in both directions — a towing firm may not pay a property owner for referrals, and a property owner may not solicit or accept such payments; each violation is a Class B misdemeanor (55-31-309).

If you are towed in Tennessee, call the local police non-emergency line to locate the vehicle, then ask the tower to show the express written authorization for the tow. If you were towed or booted from a commercial parking lot, check whether the lot operates under a local licensing ordinance — if not, the tow may be unlawful and you can sue for damages, including punitive damages and attorney fees, under the Consumer Protection Act. Keep every receipt and photograph the lot and any signs, and file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Tennessee towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Tennessee

1. Call the local police non-emergency line to find where your vehicle was taken.
2. Ask the towing firm to produce the express written authorization required by Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-308.
3. If towed or booted from a commercial parking lot, verify the lot is licensed under a local ordinance — if it is not, the tow may violate Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-201.
4. Pay the charges, get an itemized receipt, and confirm storage was not billed past 21 days or for days the car was unavailable for release.
5. File a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs and consider a Tennessee Consumer Protection Act lawsuit for damages and attorney fees if the tow was unlawful.

Recent law changes (2024–2026)

The 2024 MOTION Act (effective July 1, 2024) repealed the old abandoned-vehicle chapter (Tenn. Code Ann. ch. 55-16) and enacted new chapter 55-31, sharply restricting booting and nonconsent towing on commercial parking lots unless authorized under a local licensing ordinance, banning tow referral kickbacks, requiring express written tow authorization, and limiting storage-fee accrual.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Tennessee Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs handles towing complaints in Tennessee. 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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