Home / States / Tennessee

Your rights after a tow in Tennessee

Tennessee law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. Counties and cities set the maximum rates. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Pick your city

When a lot may tow

A privately owned commercial parking lot may not tow or boot a car unless it is abandoned, immobile or unattended, or the lot is licensed under a city or county ordinance that allows towing. Violating this is an offense and a Consumer Protection Act violation. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-201 (opens in a new tab)
On private property, a car counts as abandoned if it stays there more than 48 hours without the owner's consent. On private residential property, it counts if it is there without consent at all. A car is "unattended" if it blocks traffic or its driver was arrested. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-102(1), (20) (opens in a new tab)
A tow company must have written authorization for each tow from the property owner or the owner's agent (or a police officer). Towing without it is a Class B misdemeanor. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-308 (opens in a new tab)
Unless the car is creating a hazard, blocking access, or parked illegally, it cannot be towed without the owner's permission until 12 hours after it was first seen abandoned, immobile or unattended. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-307(a) (opens in a new tab)
A tow company may not pay a property owner or manager for sending it tows, and the property owner may not accept payment. Both are Class B misdemeanors. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-309 (opens in a new tab)

Tow-away signs

The state act requires tow warning signs only for lots licensed under a local ordinance. Those signs must say the policy is strictly enforced, that violators will be towed at their expense, and give the lot's name, license number and a phone number. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-203(b)(8) (opens in a new tab)
Where a local licensing ordinance applies, the sign must be at least 36 by 24 inches with letters at least 2 inches tall. It must be at each designated entrance and visible from every parking space. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-203(b)(9) (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

If you arrive after the driver has started to tow but before the car leaves the lot, the operator must release it immediately once you pay a release fee. The release fee cannot be more than $100. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-307(b), 55-31-404(3) (opens in a new tab)
A tow company may not charge a gate, access or release fee during normal business hours on any day it is also charging daily storage. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-404(2) (opens in a new tab)

Fees and storage

A tow company may not charge more than the maximum approved by the Tennessee Highway Patrol district for the same service. The statute sets no single dollar schedule; ask the company for its filed rates. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-404(1) (opens in a new tab)
A company may not charge storage for more than 21 days without the owner's consent. It can do so only after sending 10 days' advance notice by overnight carrier with delivery proof. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-402(a), 55-31-403 (opens in a new tab)
A company may not charge storage for any day your car could not be released to you, unless police placed a hold on it. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-402(b) (opens in a new tab)
If an insurer or lienholder shows documents proving its right to the car, the company must release it on payment of reasonable charges, without the owner's further consent. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-402(c) (opens in a new tab)
Nashville sets its own private-property tow schedule, including a $210 tow and $40 per day storage for cars under 7,000 pounds. Check your city or county for other local rules. Metro Nashville Code ch. 6.80 (fee schedule) (opens in a new tab)

Notice to police and to you

If you were not present at the tow, the company must tell local law enforcement within 15 minutes, giving the VIN, plate and a description. Police keep a public record, so a call to them can locate your car. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-302(e), 66-19-103(c) (opens in a new tab)
A storage company must confirm the owner within 3 business days of taking the car and then mail notice by overnight carrier with delivery proof. If it misses those deadlines it can charge no more than 6 days of storage. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-302(g)(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
Notices tell you that you have 20 days to reclaim the car by paying towing and storage charges. After that, the car can be treated as abandoned and sold at public auction. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-302(a) (opens in a new tab)

Liens and sale

A garagekeeper has a lien on the car and may enforce it only after 30 days, using the artisan's lien process. The sale is advertised on the Department of Revenue's website. Tenn. Code Ann. 66-19-103(b)(1) (opens in a new tab)
A company has no lien on a car that was towed in violation of Title 55, chapter 32 of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code Ann. 66-19-103(c) (opens in a new tab)

Boots

Only a licensed parking attendant working for a licensed lot may boot a car in Tennessee. Booting vehicles with a USDOT number or commercial plates is a Class B misdemeanor. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-202 (opens in a new tab)
A local licensing ordinance must cap boot-removal fees at $75, require card payment, and require an attendant to arrive within 45 minutes of your call. It may not charge you if you had paid to park and were booted wrongly. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-203(b)(6), (12)-(14) (opens in a new tab)

If you think the tow was wrong

Violations of the tow-authority, parking-lot, release-fee and lien-notice rules are Consumer Protection Act violations. The state attorney general can act on them, and a person hurt by an unlawful lot tow can sue for damages and attorney fees. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-31-201(c)-(d), 55-31-307(d), 66-19-103(b)(3) (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)

Where to complain

Tennessee Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs. Informal mediation of consumer complaints; the attorney general enforces the towing rules under the Consumer Protection Act. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)

Tennessee has no separate small claims court; civil claims up to the general sessions court limit (reported as $25,000) are heard there. That figure came from the assignment's notes and was not confirmed on a statute page.

Check your tow

Sources

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