Justice Department settlement: San Antonio tow company to pay $280,000 over servicemembers' cars
The U.S. Justice Department announced that Vehicle Management Solutions, a San Antonio tow company, agreed to pay $220,000 to affected servicemembers and a $60,000 civil penalty to resolve allegations that it sold or scrapped about 93 vehicles owned by protected servicemembers without the court orders federal law requires. The agreement covers August 2020 to June 2025 and requires new policies and training.
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 police-tow fees every two years did not pass
House Bill 5499 would have required Texas cities and counties that regulate nonconsent tow fees, such as San Antonio, to study those fees 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.
We read public records, laws and official reports and explain them in plain words. We do not say that any company broke the law; we report what the records show, with a link so you can check. If you see a mistake, email corrections@towedhelp.org.