TDLR's 2025 numbers: 2,205 consumer complaints about tow companies
TDLR, the state agency that licenses tow companies and storage lots, reported 2,205 consumer complaints about tow companies and 612 about storage lots in fiscal year 2025. Tow cases took about 291 days on average to close, and TDLR reported $55,899.74 in consumer restitution from tow cases and $6,504.45 from storage-lot cases.
Police may now tow a car being driven by someone with no license or no insurance
Senate Bill 857 changed Transportation Code section 545.305, the list of times a Texas officer may have a vehicle removed. Since September 1, 2025, the list includes a vehicle driven by a person in violation of the sections on driving without a license or without required insurance.
Storage lots may publish some owner notices on a state-approved website
House Bill 3928 changed Occupations Code section 2303.152. In the limited cases where a storage lot may give notice by publication (for example, an out-of-state car, or an owner it cannot identify), it may now publish on a website run by a third party that TDLR approves, instead of only in a newspaper. Mailed notice by certified mail is still the normal rule.
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.