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What changed: towing updates in El Paso
New laws, rules and rates that affect people whose cars were towed, newest first. Each item is our own short summary with a link to the official source.
El Paso bans uncalled tow trucks and soliciting at crash scenes
El Paso added a rule that a tow truck may not come to a crash or incident scene to tow unless the police, the owner, the driver or the owner's insurer called it, and that no one may solicit towing, repair or storage business for a damaged car on public streets. Violations can bring a fine of up to $500.
Justice Department case over servicemembers' towed cars in El Paso is resolved
The Justice Department sued the City of El Paso and two companies that ran its vehicle storage facility, alleging at least 176 servicemembers' vehicles were auctioned without the court orders federal law requires. The City agreed to new policies, training and a $20,000 penalty; one company agreed to pay $57,935 to servicemembers and a $24,980 penalty; the other, which denied the allegations, agreed to pay $140,000 and a $20,000 penalty.
Settlements dated June 30, August 26 and October 30, 2025 (Justice Department case page).
Two Texas towing laws take effect: no-license and no-insurance tows, and online notices
Since September 1, 2025, Texas police may remove a car being driven by someone without a valid license or without insurance, even without an arrest (S.B. 857). Storage lots that are allowed to give notice by publication may now use an approved website instead of a newspaper (H.B. 3928).
Bill to make cities restudy tow fees every two years did not pass
House Bill 5499 would have required Texas cities that regulate nonconsent tow fees, such as El Paso, to study them at least every two years and reset them. It passed the House and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on May 21, 2025, its last action. El Paso's own Code lets towing companies ask for a study no more than once every three years.
Statewide storage-lot maximums rise to $22.85 a day
The Texas maximum daily storage fee at licensed lots became $22.85 for a vehicle 25 feet or shorter and $39.99 for a longer one, with a $22.85 maximum impoundment fee.
In effect since January 2024 (TDLR says January 1; the rule's note says January 15).
El Paso sets its nonconsent tow limit at $100 for a car
After a police tow-fee study, the City Council raised the City Code limit for a light-duty nonconsent tow from $85.46 to $100, with $350 for medium and $450 for heavy vehicles and up to $25 more for dollies. The state's rule for private-property tows lists a higher amount ($272 today); our tool shows both and does not decide which governs.