Car towed in Austin

1Find who towed your car

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

2What they can charge

Austin sets its own maximum fees for towing from private property by city ordinance. We have not read the current amounts, so ask the tow company for its rate sheet, which it must show you.

See the official rates (opens in a new tab).

Estimate your bill

3What to bring

• Bring a government photo ID plus one proof that you own or may use the car, such as a matching license, insurance card, title, notarized power of attorney, or lease. A different address on your ID alone is not a reason to refuse release.
• The storage lot must accept cash, debit cards and credit cards for any fee, post a sign saying so, and cannot refuse to release the car because its card reader is not working unless there is a power outage or machine failure. A card surcharge up to the card issuer's fee is allowed. Call ahead to ask which types the lot takes.

Paperwork locked inside the car? You can get into the car, including the glove box and console, to find ownership papers and to take personal property, and the lot cannot charge a fee for that access.

TDLR consumer information; Tex. Occ. Code 2303.160; Tex. Occ. Code 2303.159; TDLR Towing at a Glance; TDLR consumer information; Tex. Occ. Code 2303.158

4Getting it back

• A storage lot that accepts cars 24 hours must let you claim yours at any hour. Other lots must be open 8 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, except national holidays.
• Your car must be released within one hour of your request during the required hours, once you show ID and ownership and pay.
• Inspect the car before you drive away, and photograph any damage.

TDLR consumer information; TDLR consumer information

5Was the tow legal?

Common problems with private tows in Texas include refusing to release the car when you came back before it left, and refusing a payment type the law requires.

Check my towSale deadlinesEvidence checklistDispute letter

Tow-away sign rules in Texas

These apply to lots using signs as the basis for a tow (a sign is one of several ways to authorize a tow).

• Where: Facing drivers entering the lot, bottom edge 5 to 8 feet off the ground, at each driveway entrance.
• Size: at least 18 by 24 inches.
• Must show: the hours parking is enforced.
• Must show: a warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed.
• Must show: who may park there.

Tex. Occ. Code 2308.301(a) (opens in a new tab)

Rules specific to Austin

• City Code 13-6-5: council sets fees by separate ordinance (fee schedule); 13-6-6 forbids charging more than the ordinance fee for non-consent tows; 13-6-76 allows a 'fully prepared for transport' (drop) fee and standard non-consent fee for private-property (Ch. 684) removals. Dollar amounts are NOT in the code chapter; pending lookup in Austin Fee Schedule. Source (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 tow ticket must itemize every charge, list only towing-related fees, and match the company's fee schedule on file with the storage lot. You are entitled to a copy of the ticket, and fee schedules must be given to the public on request.
3. File a complaint.
   • Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
     Website (opens in a new tab)
   • Justice court tow hearing
   • Your city's towing office or police
4. Go to court if needed. You can ask any justice court in the county where the car was towed for a tow hearing on whether there was probable cause and whether you were overcharged. The request must reach the court before the 14th day (weekends and holidays excluded) after the car was placed in storage, and the hearing is held within 21 days.
5. Consider small claims or a chargeback. Texas justice courts hear civil money claims up to $20,000, not counting interest. The same court handles tow hearings and can award reimbursement of towing and storage 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

Texas deadlines, counted from the law

• Storage chargeable before first notice is mailed, no more than: 5 days after the tow, if Texas-registered car. Tex. Occ. Code 2303.155(e) (opens in a new tab)
• Storage lot must mail written notice within: 5 days after the tow, if Texas-registered car. Tex. Occ. Code 2303.151(a)-(b); 2308.454(b) (opens in a new tab)
• Storage lot must mail written notice within: 14 days after the tow, if out-of-state car. Tex. Occ. Code 2303.151(a)-(b); 2308.454(b) (opens in a new tab)
• Second notice if unclaimed after first notice: 10 days after the tow company's notice. Tex. Occ. Code 2303.154; 2303.157 (opens in a new tab)
• Public sale allowed if unclaimed after second notice: 30 days (see the law for when the count starts). Tex. Occ. Code 2303.154; 2303.157 (opens in a new tab)

See the dates for your tow

Common questions

Not verified yet for Austin

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
• The effective date of the published rates
• City-specific documents needed to pick up a car
• Local rules for someone else picking up your car
• Local auction schedules for unclaimed cars

Other cities in Travis County

• Pflugerville