Virginia Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: Va. Code 46.2-118, 46.2-1231 to 46.2-1233.3 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Virginia regulates trespass (private-property) towing through Va. Code 46.2-1231 to 46.2-1233.3 plus the tow operator conduct rules in 46.2-118, with substantial local overlay: counties, cities, and towns may adopt trespass-tow ordinances and, with advice from local towing advisory boards, adjust fee limits. Statewide baselines still apply everywhere: tow-away lots must post warning signs at all entrances, every trespass tow must be reported forthwith to State Police or local law enforcement, and operators who skip the report face a fine and can collect no more than one day of storage.

Fees are capped. The hookup and initial towing fee for a passenger car may not exceed $210, and no more than two additional $30 fees may be added for tows occurring at night, on weekends, or on holidays (46.2-1233.1, amended most recently in 2025). A baseline $25 limit applies when an owner retrieves the car before the tow is completed. Operators must accept multiple payment forms — cash, insurance company check, certified check, money order, or at least one major credit card — and must let you recover personal items from the vehicle without paying any fee (46.2-118).

After a tow in Virginia, call the local police non-emergency number; the operator was required to report the tow immediately, so dispatch can tell you where the car is. Retrieve any needed personal items free of charge with proof of ownership, then check the bill against the $210/$30 caps or your locality's ordinance before paying. In Northern Virginia (Planning District 8), an improper tow entitles you to sue for 10 times the total charges. Report overcharges to your local towing advisory board or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section.

Virginia towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Virginia

1. Call the local police or State Police non-emergency line — trespass tows must be reported to law enforcement immediately, so they can tell you where your car is.
2. Go to the storage lot with ID and proof of ownership, and retrieve personal items from the vehicle at no charge (Va. Code 46.2-118).
3. Check the invoice against the statewide caps — $210 hookup/initial tow plus at most two $30 night/weekend/holiday fees — or your locality's adjusted schedule.
4. Pay using cash, check, money order, or credit card as provided by 46.2-118, and keep the itemized receipt.
5. If the tow was improper, in Planning District 8 sue for the 10x civil penalty under 46.2-1233.3; statewide, complain to the local towing advisory board or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section.

Recent law changes (2024–2026)

The statewide hookup/initial tow cap in Va. Code 46.2-1233.1 has been amended repeatedly in recent sessions (2023, 2024, and 2025, most recently 2025 c. 625) and now stands at $210 with $30 night/weekend/holiday surcharges, up from the $150/$25 levels of the early 2020s.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section handles towing complaints in Virginia. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.

Need a legitimate tow in Virginia right now?

We connect drivers with vetted local towing operators who quote upfront prices. Find your city or call the number at the top of this page.