Texas Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2308; 16 Tex. Admin. Code chs. 85-86 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Texas has one of the most complete nonconsent towing frameworks in the country. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses tow trucks, towing operators, booting companies, and vehicle storage facilities under Occupations Code chapters 2308 and 2303. Private-property (parking facility) tows require compliant tow-away signs at every entrance (Occ. Code 2308.301-.305), kickbacks between towers and parking facility owners are banned in both directions (2308.401-.402), and violators face civil liability to the vehicle owner (2308.404) on top of TDLR enforcement.
Texas caps what you can be charged. Under TDLR's fee rules (16 TAC 86.455, last amended effective November 1, 2021), a private-property tow of a light-duty vehicle may not exceed $272, medium duty $380, and heavy duty $489 per unit up to $978. If you catch the tower before removal is complete, the drop fee is capped ($135 light duty) and must be payable by cash, credit, or debit card. Storage facility charges are also regulated, with daily storage around $21 for standard vehicles under the 2021 schedule.
If you are towed in Texas, call the number on the tow-away sign or the local police non-emergency line — the storage facility must report the tow to law enforcement. Retrieve the car with ID and proof of ownership, pay no more than the capped fee, and get an itemized receipt. If you believe there was no probable cause for the tow, deliver a hearing request to the justice court within 14 days (excluding weekends and holidays); a successful hearing can get your towing and storage fees back. Report violations to TDLR.
Texas towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Yes — TDLR caps private-property tow fees at $272 (light duty), $380 (medium duty), and $489 per unit up to $978 (heavy duty), with daily storage around $21.03 for vehicles under 25 feet, under 16 TAC 86.455 and 85.722 as last amended effective November 1, 2021. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Yes — If you reach your car before it is removed, drop fees are capped at $135 (light duty), $190 (medium duty), and $244 (heavy duty), and the tow company must accept cash, credit, or debit for the drop charge (16 TAC 86.455). |
| Kickback ban | Yes |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Tow-away lots must post signs meeting detailed statutory specifications for placement, color, layout, lettering, and a phone number for locating the towed vehicle (Tex. Occ. Code 2308.301-.303). |
| Notice requirement | A vehicle storage facility must report each unauthorized vehicle it accepts to law enforcement (Tex. Occ. Code 2308.2565), and owners receive written notice under the vehicle storage facility law (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2303). |
| Personal property retrieval | Yes |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Yes |
| Right to challenge the tow | Yes — The vehicle owner or operator may request a probable-cause tow hearing in justice court, delivered within 14 days (excluding weekends and holidays) of the tow, and the clock does not start until the tower or storage facility provides the required hearing information (Tex. Occ. Code 2308.452-.456). |
| Hold period before sale | storage-lien sale only after Occ. Code ch. 2303 notice process runs |
How to get your car back in Texas
- Call the phone number on the tow-away sign or the local police non-emergency line to find the vehicle storage facility holding your car.
- Bring your ID and proof of ownership, and ask to retrieve essential personal property from the vehicle.
- Check the bill against TDLR's capped private-property tow and storage fees for your vehicle class, pay, and get an itemized receipt.
- If you believe the tow lacked probable cause, deliver a tow-hearing request to the justice court within 14 days, excluding weekends and holidays (Tex. Occ. Code 2308.456).
- File a complaint with TDLR online if you were overcharged, the signage was defective, or the company is unlicensed.
Recent law changes (2024–2026)
Private-property tow fee caps were last adjusted effective November 1, 2021; TDLR opened rulemaking on its towing and vehicle storage facility rules in 2025-2026 (request for comments published May 2026), so cap amounts should be re-verified before publication.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) handles towing complaints in Texas. 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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