Texas Towing Laws Every Driver Must Know in 2025

Texas law draws a hard line between two kinds of tows. A consent tow is one you request — your car broke down and you called a company, or your insurer dispatched one. A non-consent tow happens without your permission, almost always because your vehicle was parked where it shouldn't be or was removed from an accident scene. The rules that protect you are strongest for non-consent tows, because that's where abuse is most likely.

For a non-consent tow from private property, the property owner — not you — authorizes the removal, and strict signage and procedure requirements apply. If a parking lot doesn't have compliant tow-away signs posted at every entrance, a non-consent tow from that lot may be unlawful, and that's one of the first things to check if your car disappears from a private lot.

TDLR sets maximum allowable rates for non-consent tows, and a company cannot exceed them. These caps cover the tow itself, plus permitted add-ons like mileage in some cases. A storage facility (a Vehicle Storage Facility, or VSF) can charge daily storage fees, an impoundment fee, and a notification fee — but each of these is also regulated, and the facility must give you an itemized list on request.

What a company cannot do is invent fees. 'Gate fees' for retrieving your car after hours are limited and must be disclosed. Demanding cash-only with no receipt is a red flag. You are entitled to an itemized invoice for every charge, and you can pay to recover your vehicle while still disputing the charges afterward — paying does not waive your right to challenge an unlawful tow.

When your vehicle is towed to a VSF, the facility must notify you (typically by mail) and is required to release the vehicle to you during posted business hours once fees are paid. You'll generally need to show proof of ownership or that you're entitled to the vehicle — your registration, title, or a driver's license matching the registration. A VSF must accept at least one common form of payment beyond cash, so you should not be forced into a cash-only transaction.

If you arrive within a short window after the tow and the truck hasn't yet left the property with your vehicle, Texas law in many situations requires the operator to 'drop' the vehicle for a reduced fee rather than completing the tow. The specifics depend on the situation, but it's always worth asking — and worth knowing the company can't simply refuse on principle.

If you believe your vehicle was towed unlawfully or overcharged, Texas gives you a formal path: you can request a tow hearing in the justice court for the precinct where the vehicle was towed. The hearing decides whether the tow and the fees were authorized and lawful. If the court finds the tow was improper, you can be awarded the return of fees and, in some cases, additional damages. There's a filing deadline, so act promptly.

Separately, you can file a complaint with TDLR against a licensed tow operator or storage facility for violations — improper signage, overcharging, refusing required payment methods, or operating without a license. TDLR licensing status for any company or operator can be verified online in seconds, and we encourage every driver to confirm a company is licensed before handing over their keys.

Everything above describes the legal floor — the minimum a company must do. NW Towing & Transportation operates well above it. Every tow we perform generates a clear, itemized digital receipt. We're TDLR-licensed, our operators carry proper credentials, and we quote a firm price before we dispatch on consent tows so there are no surprises when we arrive.

Because our dispatch is based right here in the DFW metroplex, you're dealing with a local, accountable company — not an anonymous operator working a private lot for the maximum allowable fee. If you ever have a question about a charge, a procedure, or your rights, you can call us at 214-882-0100 and get a straight answer.