Car towed in Miami

1Find who towed your car

No record of a tow anywhere? Report the car to police as possibly stolen.

2What they can charge

These are Miami-Dade County maximums, effective October 1, 2026. We have not confirmed whether the City of Miami uses its own rates. The storage cap shown is for standard outdoor storage. Indoor storage costs more and is allowed only if you, a lienholder, an insurer or police ask for it. No storage may be charged under 6 hours, and the admin fee is allowed only after 24 hours. See the official Miami-Dade County rates (opens in a new tab).

Statewide, the administrative fee to release a car from the tow company's lien cannot exceed $250.00.

Estimate your bill

3What to bring

• The registered owner or an agent can pick up the car with one government photo ID and a document such as the title or a lease or loan contract. An agent needs a written agreement from the owner, and the company may require that agreement to be notarized.
• The company must accept at least two of three payment types: cash-type payments such as cash or a cashier's check, bank or credit cards, and mobile or digital wallets. It cannot demand more than one photo ID. Call ahead to ask which types the lot takes.
• If the car is not registered in your name, a notarized affidavit from the owner saying you are an authorized representative
• Call the tow company first: they must tell you the exact documents required

Someone else picking it up? Possible with a notarized affidavit signed by the vehicle's owner

Paperwork locked inside the car? You can inspect the car and take back loose personal belongings within 1 hour of showing a qualifying document during normal business hours, even before you pay.

Fla. Stat. 713.78(10), (17); Fla. Stat. 713.78(19); Fla. Stat. 713.78(10)

4Getting it back

• The storage lot must be open for pickups from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day the company is towing. When it is closed, it must post a phone number answered at all times, and someone must arrive within 1 hour of your call.
• Your car must be released within 1 hour of your request.
• You may inspect the car before you accept it. The company cannot make you sign away damage claims to get your car back, and it must give you a detailed receipt with its legal name.
• Inspect the car before you drive away, and photograph any damage.

Before you sign anything: Write any damage on the release receipt before you sign. Under the lien law, damage you do not list at release may be treated as waived.

Fla. Stat. 715.07(2)(a)1; Fla. Stat. 715.07(2)(a)9; Fla. Stat. 715.07(2)(a)9; Fla. Stat. 713.78(5)

5Was the tow legal?

Common problems with private tows in Florida include missing tow-away signs, refusing to release the car when you came back before it left, a storage lot too far away, storage charged in the first 6 hours, charges above the legal maximum, and refusing a payment type the law requires.

Check my towSale deadlinesEvidence checklistDispute letter

Tow-away sign rules in Florida

These apply to most private lots (not single-family homes; small businesses with 20 or fewer spaces may use a shorter "customers only" sign).

• Where: At each driveway entrance within 10 feet of the road; lots without curbs need at least one sign per 25 feet of frontage.
• Lettering at least 4 inches tall.
• Must show: a warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed.
• Must show: the towing company's name.
• Must show: the towing company's phone number.

Fla. Stat. 715.07(2)(a)5 (opens in a new tab)

Rules specific to Miami

• Tow companies must have express authorization from police or the property owner/agent, post tow-away signs with the storage facility's name, address and phone, and store vehicles within 10 miles of the tow. Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 30 (as summarized on county page) (opens in a new tab)
• Companies must take cash, money order, traveler's check, personal checks, bank/debit/credit cards, and (since July 16, 2023) digital payments such as Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay or Cash App. Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 30 (opens in a new tab)
• Storage facility must be open at least 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and answer phones 24 hours; if you arrive while your car is hooked up they must release it for half the tow rate. Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 30 (opens in a new tab)
• Operators must tell you by phone the documents needed to retrieve the car, business hours and costs. Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 30 (opens in a new tab)

6How to dispute a tow

1. Collect evidence. Photograph the lot entrances and any signs, keep every receipt, and write down times and names.
2. Ask for an itemized invoice. The company must post a rate sheet at its lot and give it to you on request. A fee that is not on its rate sheet is treated as unreasonable. You can get an itemized invoice within 1 business day.
3. File a complaint.
   • Miami-Dade Consumer and Neighborhood Protection Division, Consumer Mediation Center (11805 SW 26th St, Miami 33175; 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri)
     786-469-2333
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • Your county or city towing complaint office
   • Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
     Website (opens in a new tab)
4. Go to court if needed. You can get your car back before a court decides by posting a bond with the county court clerk for the charges claimed. You then have 45 days to file a case asking the court to decide whether the tow or the fees were wrongful.
5. Consider small claims or a chargeback. Florida small claims court handles money claims up to $8,000, not counting costs, interest and attorney's fees. If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. For billing errors, your written dispute generally must reach the issuer within 60 days of the first bill showing the charge. Whether a tow charge qualifies is up to the issuer.

7Deadlines to watch

Florida deadlines, counted from the law

• Company must mail certified notice of lien within: 5 business days after the tow. Fla. Stat. 713.78(4) (opens in a new tab)
• Earliest public auction after car is stored: 35 days after the tow, if car more than 3 model years old. Fla. Stat. 713.78(4), (6) (opens in a new tab)
• Earliest public auction after car is stored: 57 days after the tow, if car 3 model years old or newer. Fla. Stat. 713.78(4), (6) (opens in a new tab)

See the dates for your tow

Common questions

Not verified yet for Miami

We only publish details we could confirm from an official source. These are still missing, so ask the agencies above:

• Addresses and hours of the tow lots that hold police tows
• An official online lookup for towed cars
• Local auction schedules for unclaimed cars