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Your rights after a tow in Maryland

Maryland law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. One set of maximum rates applies across the state. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Maximum charges in Maryland

$250.00

Ceiling to tow a standard car from private property under Maryland (statutory default; applies where the county or city sets no impound fee limit) rates; your city may set its own

$30.00

Maryland (statutory default; applies where the county or city sets no impound fee limit) ceiling per day of storage

These rates may have changed since this schedule was published. Schedules are often updated once a year, so check the official source before relying on them.

Where a county or city sets a fee for police-ordered impound tows, the cap is twice that tow fee plus that jurisdiction's daily storage fee. The $250 tow and $30/day storage figures apply only when the local government sets no limit. The drop fee is capped at half the cost of a full tow. See the official Maryland (statutory default; applies where the county or city sets no impound fee limit) rates (opens in a new tab).

Pick your city

Tow-away signs

A private lot cannot have a car towed unless it has posted signs that are clearly visible to drivers entering or parking. There must be at least 1 sign for every 7,500 square feet of parking area, and a regional mall must post a sign at every entrance. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-02(b)-(c) (opens in a new tab)
Each sign must be at least 24 by 30 inches and must name the tow company and where the car will be taken. It must also say the car can be reclaimed from 6 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, state the most you can be charged for the tow, and list a phone number for getting the car back. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-02(b) (opens in a new tab)
These rules cover private lots with 3 or more spaces open to the public and meant mainly for customers, residents, or guests. Counties and cities may add stricter local rules. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-01 (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

If you ask the tow driver to release your car before it leaves the lot, and it can be driven, the driver must release it even if it is already hooked up or lifted. The driver may charge a drop fee of no more than 50% of the cost of a full tow. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(b) (opens in a new tab)

Where your car can be taken

Your car may not be taken more than 15 miles from the lot where it was parked, or out of Maryland. A county or city can set a different distance for its area. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-03 (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must report the tow to the police department for the area where the lot is located within 1 hour. The report must include your plate and VIN, the time, the reason, and where the car was taken, so a call to the local police non-emergency line can find it. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)
The company holding your car cannot move it to a different storage lot for at least 72 hours. It must take the car straight to the storage place named on the signs. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(a)(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)

What the tow company must have before towing

Before towing, the company must have written authorization from the lot owner that gives the name of the person who approved it and says the tow is at the owner's request. It must also have photos of the violation that led to the tow. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(5) (opens in a new tab)
A car cannot be towed only for an expired registration until 72 hours after a violation notice is placed on it. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(9) (opens in a new tab)
Tow companies may not pay spotters whose main job is to report cars for towing, and may not pay the lot owner, its agents, or its employees for tows. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(7)-(8) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must carry commercial liability insurance to cover damage to your car caused by its negligence. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(6) (opens in a new tab)

Getting your car back

The storage lot must give you or your agent immediate and continuous access to reclaim the car from 6 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, starting when the car arrives there. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(a)(3) (opens in a new tab)
The owner or the owner's agent can retake the car. The storage lot must also let the owner, an agent, the insurer, or a lender with a security interest inspect the car. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(a)(3), (c)(3) (opens in a new tab)
The storage lot must accept cash or at least two major credit cards. If it takes only cash, it must have a working ATM on site. If it cannot run a card and has no ATM, it must take a personal check, unless your card was declined. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(c)(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
While the car is in storage, the lot must let you, under its supervision, inspect it or take out personal property that is not attached to the car. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-05(c)(3) (opens in a new tab)

What you can be charged

Unless a county or city sets its own limit, the tow may cost no more than twice what the local government normally charges for a police-ordered impound tow. Storage is limited to the local government's daily storage rate. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(1)(i)-(ii) (opens in a new tab)
If the local government sets no limit for impound tows and storage, the default caps are $250 for the tow and $30 per day for storage. The tow cap must also be printed on the lot's sign. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(1)(iii), 21-10A-02(b)(5) (opens in a new tab)
The company may charge only its actual cost of mailing the required notices, and must itemize it. It cannot charge that cost if you pick up the car within 48 hours of its arrival at storage. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(1)(iv), (a)(4), (b) (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must send the owner, insurer, and any lender notice by certified and first-class mail within 7 days (excluding days it is closed). The notice repeats the details given to the police. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-04(a)(3) (opens in a new tab)

If the tow broke the rules

A company that tows in violation of these rules owes you your actual damages. It also owes you triple the amount you paid to get the car back. Md. Code, Transp. 21-10A-06 (opens in a new tab)
You can sue in the District Court small claims division for claims up to $5,000, not counting interest, costs, and certain attorney's fees. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. 4-405 (opens in a new tab)
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. Fair Credit Billing Act (FTC guidance) (opens in a new tab)

If the car is not claimed

If storage and tow charges stay unpaid for 30 days and the holder still has the car, it may sell the car at public sale. The holder must run newspaper notices two weeks in a row and mail notice by registered or certified mail at least 10 days before the sale. Md. Code, Com. Law 16-207(a)-(b) (opens in a new tab)
A vehicle left on private property for more than 48 hours without the owner's or controller's consent counts as abandoned under the state abandoned-vehicle law. That law is a separate process from the lot-tow rules above. Md. Code, Transp. 25-201(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. Takes complaints against businesses, which can include a tow company that broke the parking-lot towing rules. The Division's complaint pages are script-driven and could not be read, so confirm current filing steps on its site. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection. Takes consumer complaints from Montgomery County residents. Phone 240-777-3636. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Local police non-emergency line. The tow company must report each private-lot tow to the local police within 1 hour, so police can tell you where your car was taken.

Maryland District Court small claims handles money claims up to $5,000, not counting interest, costs, and certain attorney's fees.

Check your tow

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-17. These are the laws and official pages this page is based on.