Bills.com > Manage Debt > Deal with Debt > Debt Relief Q&A > Excessive Towing Fees
Question:
DEC 12, 2011

Excessive Towing Fees

My car was towed, and now the towing company wants to sell my car. What can I do?

Read full question
Bill's Answer: Bills.com Resident Expert

I cannot offer much useful advice because 1) You do not mention which state you live in, which may have laws protecting consumers with towed vehicles, 2) You do not say how much time elapsed between when you were quoted the $500 fee and when you went to retrieve the vehicle, 3) You do not mention why the vehicle was towed, 4) You do not mention the value of the vehicle or if it has a lien on it.

Because I know so little about your situation, I will recommend that you contact your county bar association and learn the name of an attorney in your area who has experience in consumer law. If you cannot afford an attorney, then ask the county bar association for the name of the local agency that assists low- or no-income people with legal issues. Make an appointment with a paralegal or attorney with that agency and bring all of the paperwork relating to the towing and the ownership of the vehicle to the meeting. Listen to your options, and act accordingly.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

www.bills.com/

Comments (5)


Linda S.
Newton, MS  |  December 24, 2010
My vehicle was towed on 12/23/10 in Leakesville, Mississippi after my fiance was arrested by Law enforcement for a suspened license, I attempted to pick up my vehicle that night but was told by the tow company that i could not get the vehicle until the next morning because he was out Christmas shopping, so I had to drive 2 hours back home and return the next morning before 12pm. I was given a price of $280.00 but the tow compnay owner would not give us a receipt and when we asked for one he stated that we would have to pay taxes on the amount if we got a receipt. Is this normal rates/business practice???
Bills.com
December 26, 2010
I have experienced this behavior among towing companies before. Receipts create a paper trail the IRS and state tax authorities may follow. The towing company is not reporting all of its income to the state and federal governments, thus reducing its taxes. Misreporting income can result in civil and criminal penalties. As for the cost, $280 strikes me as extremely high if the tow was local, but may be reasonable if the towing company had to retrieve the car from a distance.
Joan L.
Henderson, NV  |  December 06, 2010
My daughters car was towed from her apartment complex in carver county MI. The towing co charged $200.00 plus 25$ a day. The Apartment co receives a kickback from them for using their co. Are these fees just a little over the top.
Bills.com
December 06, 2010
What little I know about towing would lead me to believe the fees you quoted are outrageous for a rural area. For a major city, the fees would be considered high but somewhat expected.
Avatar
Chris S.
San Diego, CA  |  December 14, 2010
Wow, I wish... I live in San Diego, CA and my car was towed yesterday. I parked it on a side street overnight so someone could have access to my parking space. The regestration was expired and thus the reason it was towed, and the reason I didn't have it on the street to begin with. Anyhow to get the car out I need to pay the registration current, then pay the tow fees. The tow fees yesterday when I called (and hour after towing it) were $398, storage per day is an extra $50. That is huge. That's a weeks pay after taxes for a lot of people. When I pay that plus the registration I am going to be out around $1000.
Waiting for comments to load Loading more comments
Thanks for your feedback!
 
Articles Ask Bill
Thank you for subscribing!