Questions about towing in Austin

How much can a tow company charge for a private-property tow in Austin?

The city's fee schedule sets these maximums for nonconsent private-property tows in Austin: $272 for vehicles under 10,000 lbs.; $350 for vehicles over 10,000 and under 25,000 lbs.; $800 for vehicles over 25,000 lbs.; and $50 for a vehicle "fully prepared for transport" but not removed. The $272 amount took effect December 22, 2025 (it was $275) and continues in the FY2026-27 schedule effective October 1, 2026.

Source: City of Austin FY2026-27 Fees, Fines and Other Charges, Exhibit A (Police - General Fund, Parking/Towing Rates); Ord. No. 20251211-068 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The TDLR rule sets the maximum that may be charged for a private property tow: $272 for light-duty tows (gross weight rating 10,000 lb or less), $380 for medium-duty (more than 10,000 but less than 25,000 lb), and $489 per unit (maximum $978) for heavy-duty (more than 25,000 lb).

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.455(a)-(b) · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law bars a license or permit holder from charging more for a nonconsent tow than the fee set by TDLR rule (§ 2308.0575) or authorized by a political subdivision, and from charging for any service related to a nonconsent tow that is not on the TDLR or local fee list. TDLR may require a refund of the excess or of the whole charge for an unlisted service.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.2065 · Checked on September 28, 2026

What can a storage lot charge for storage in Austin?

The TDLR rule, applying the 2023 biennial CPI adjustment, sets the maximum daily storage fee at $22.85 for a vehicle 25 feet or less and $39.99 for a longer vehicle, and the maximum impoundment fee at $22.85. If an impoundment fee is charged, the bill must specify the exact services performed and the dates. The fees apply to government-owned storage lots too and control over conflicting city ordinances. No other storage-related fees are allowed besides those in the rule and authorized nonconsent towing fees.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.722(a), (b), (d), (e), (g); Occ. Code § 2303.1552 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law defines a storage day as beginning at midnight and ending at the next midnight, and allows a full daily fee for any part of a day, except that no more than one day's storage may be charged if the vehicle remains at the facility for less than 12 hours.

Source: Occ. Code § 2303.155(d) · Checked on September 28, 2026

The law lets a storage facility charge daily storage for no more than five days before the owner notice is mailed or published (Texas-registered vehicles) or before the request for owner information is sent to the other state (out-of-state vehicles), and then for each day after notice until the vehicle is removed and all accrued charges are paid.

Source: Occ. Code § 2303.155(e) · Checked on September 28, 2026

How long do I have to ask for a tow hearing in Austin?

The law requires a person entitled to a hearing to deliver a written request to the court before the 14th day after the vehicle was removed and placed in storage or booted, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. If the rights notice was not given, the deadline does not apply and the request may be made at any time. The 14-day period does not begin until the towing company or storage facility provides the information needed to fill in the request. Missing the deadline waives the hearing.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.456(a), (c), (c-1), (d) · Checked on September 28, 2026

All five Travis County Justice of the Peace courts publish a tow or boot hearing application and accept these cases; the court says a hearing may be held in any justice court in the county the vehicle was towed from (for boots, the county where the lot is). The county's 2026 civil fee schedule sets the filing fee for "Illegal Tow (Removal & Storage)" at $54.00. Filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs waives the fees unless contested and denied at a hearing.

Source: Travis County JP 2026 Civil Fee Schedule; JP1 Civil Suits page; Occ. Code § 2308.453 · Checked on September 29, 2026

What are the rules for tow-away signs on private property in Austin?

For a sign-based tow or boot, the law requires each sign to be weather-resistant and at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall; show the international towing symbol; describe who may park and prohibit all others; bear the words "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed [or Booted, or Towed or Booted] at Owner's or Operator's Expense"; state the days and hours of towing and booting enforcement; and give a telephone number (with area code) answered 24 hours a day to locate a towed vehicle or arrange boot removal.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.301(b) · Checked on September 28, 2026

For a sign-based tow or boot, the law requires a sign prohibiting unauthorized vehicles that faces and is conspicuously visible to drivers entering the facility; is on the right or left side of each driveway or curb-cut entrance (including alley entries), or, where entrances are not defined and wider than 35 feet, placed so no entrance is more than 25 feet from a sign; is permanently mounted on a pole, post, permanent wall or permanent barrier on the facility; and has its bottom edge between five and eight feet above ground.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.301(a) · Checked on September 28, 2026

The law requires each tow-away sign to have a bright red international towing symbol (a solid tow-truck silhouette on white, at least four inches high) at the top or on a separate sign just above; immediately below, white letters at least two inches high on a bright red background reading "Towing and Booting Enforced", "Towing Enforced" or "Booting Enforced"; the remaining required information in bright red letters at least one inch high on white; and the telephone number at the bottom in white letters at least one inch high on bright red.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.302 · Checked on September 28, 2026

Where can I file a complaint about a tow in Austin?

APD's official guidance for an illegal tow: call 3-1-1 and file a police report for "wrecker ordinance violation"; pay to get the car out of impound; and request a hearing with the local Justice of the Peace to try to recover your money. You can also contact TDLR at 1-800-803-9202. A detective is assigned after the report. The online police report system also accepts "Wrecker Ordinance Violation."

Source: APD Wrecker Enforcement page (FAQ), checked 2026-09-28 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law lets the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation impose administrative penalties on anyone who violates ch. 2308 or ch. 2303 or a TDLR rule or order, whether or not they hold a license, after an opportunity for a hearing; lets TDLR deny, revoke, suspend or refuse to renew licenses or reprimand; and requires TDLR to keep a system to act promptly on complaints and to keep complainants informed. Where the program law sets no maximum, penalties may be up to $5,000 per day per violation. TDLR may also order a refund of nonconsent tow charges above the TDLR or city amounts or for unlisted services.

Source: Occ. Code §§ 2308.501, 2308.503, 2303.304, 51.252, 51.302(a), 51.353(a), 2308.2065(c) · Checked on September 28, 2026

The TDLR rule requires each vehicle storage facility to notify vehicle owners of TDLR's website, email address, mailing address and telephone number for complaints, on a sign prominently displayed at the place of payment (letters at least one inch high on a contrasting background) and on the front page of any bill for service.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.707 · Checked on September 29, 2026

What forms of payment must the tow company or storage lot accept in Austin?

The law says paying, or offering to pay, a towing fee in cash meets the payment requirements in all circumstances, and a towing company must give the owner the option of paying by cash or a major credit card.

Source: Austin City Code § 13-6-80 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law requires a private or governmental vehicle storage facility to accept cash, debit card and credit card for any delivery or storage charge, to conspicuously post a sign stating that it must accept those forms of payment, and bars it from refusing to release a vehicle because it cannot accept a debit or credit card, unless a power outage or machine malfunction, through no fault of the operator, prevents it.

Source: Occ. Code § 2303.159 · Checked on September 28, 2026

The TDLR rule requires every storage facility, including government-run lots, to accept cash, debit cards and credit cards. A facility that violates this may not charge storage beyond the date payment by credit card is tendered, in addition to administrative penalties.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.711 · Checked on September 29, 2026

Can I get my belongings out of the towed car in Austin?

The law requires a private or governmental vehicle storage facility to let a person claiming to own a stored vehicle access the glove compartment, console or other interior storage area if documents needed to establish the person's identity or ownership are there.

Source: Occ. Code § 2303.158 · Checked on September 28, 2026

The TDLR rule entitles a person who shows ownership or right to possession of a stored vehicle, or an authorized representative, to inspect a copy of the tow ticket without paying anything first; to access and remove personal belongings from the vehicle (unless a law enforcement officer indicates otherwise), signing a receipt; to access the vehicle during business hours for insurance or repair estimates; and, on request, to see the towing company's current nonconsent towing fee schedule.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.708(a)-(b) · Checked on September 29, 2026

What happens if I get back to my car before it is towed away in Austin?

The law says a towing company removing a car from a parking facility may not tow it if the owner objects, pays the fee allowed by § 13-6-76, and removes the vehicle within 30 minutes. The company may tow sooner only if the vehicle is in or blocks a traffic aisle, entry or exit; keeps another vehicle from leaving a space; or is in or blocks a properly marked fire lane.

Source: Austin City Code § 13-6-75 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law says a company towing from a parking facility may charge only one fee per vehicle. If the vehicle was fully prepared for transport (attached to the truck, lifted, with tow lights and safety chains attached and, if needed, on a dolly in a raised position) but not removed from the property, it may charge only the "fully prepared for transport" fee, which the city caps at $50. The standard nonconsent fee applies only when the vehicle is actually removed from the property.

Source: Austin City Code § 13-6-76; City of Austin FY2026-27 Fee Schedule, Police - Non-Consent Private Property Towing Fees · Checked on September 29, 2026

The TDLR rule caps the "drop charge" (the most that may be charged to release a hooked-up vehicle before it leaves the property) at $135 for light-duty, $190 for medium-duty and $244 for heavy-duty vehicles. If the owner, authorized operator or agent is present before removal, the towing operator must advise that he or she may offer payment of the drop charge, and the tow company must accept cash, credit cards and debit cards for the drop charge.

Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.455(a)(4), (c)-(e) · Checked on September 29, 2026

How do I find out where my car was towed in Austin?

APD's official guidance: for a parking-lot tow, red and white signs at the entrance/exit should list the tow company's name and phone number; call it or check www.search.autoreturn.com. For a tow from a public road, call 3-1-1 with your vehicle information, visit www.search.autoreturn.com, or call AutoReturn at 888-217-9731.

Source: APD Wrecker Enforcement page (FAQ), checked 2026-09-28 · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law requires that, where a parking facility posts tow-away signs, the owner of a vehicle towed from the facility must be able to locate the vehicle by calling the telephone number on the sign.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.303 · Checked on September 28, 2026

What rules apply when a car is booted in Austin?

The city's fee schedule sets the vehicle immobilization (boot) fee at $100. A licensed booting company may not charge more than the maximum fee allowed for immobilization (City Code § 13-7-6(B)(1)).

Source: City of Austin FY2026-27 Fees, Fines and Other Charges, Exhibit A (Police - General Fund); Austin City Code § 13-7-6(B)(1) · Checked on September 29, 2026

The law requires the booting company to remove a boot no later than one hour after the owner or operator contacts the company to request removal, and requires it to waive the boot removal fee (not associated parking fees) if it fails to do so.

Source: Occ. Code § 2308.258(a)-(b) · Checked on September 28, 2026

The law requires a boot operator to affix a conspicuous notice to the front windshield or driver's side window stating: that the vehicle was booted and damage may occur if moved; the date and time installed; the booting company's name, address and phone; a 24-hour phone number to arrange removal; the boot removal fee and any associated parking fees; notice of the right to a hearing under Subchapter J; and, as the local authority prescribes, how to file a complaint with it. The notice must include a notice of hearing rights.

Source: Occ. Code §§ 2308.257(b), 2308.454(d) · Checked on September 28, 2026