While businesses in Texas and San Antonio can have your vehicle towed, there are state regulations and customers have rights.
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There truly are very few things more gut-wrenching than walking back to where you swore you left your car 30 minutes ago, only to find an empty parking spot or a vehicle you don’t recognize. An unexpected tow is an expensive, time-consuming ordeal that can churn even the strongest stomachs. But can a San Antonio business tow your car if you park there and walk somewhere else?
In the long and short of it, yes. But there are rules in place across Texas that ensure towing is done within reason, even on private property.
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Can a San Antonio business tow your car if you walk away?
Yes, a business in San Antonio can have your vehicle towed without your consent if you park in their lot and then walk away to a different area. However, the Texas Occupations Code, as outlined by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, requires posted signage at each parking spot or signage clearly visible throughout the lot.
“Cars parked in a tow-away zone or parked on property without permission may be towed at the car owner’s expense,” the TDLR government website states. “These tows are known as Private Property Tows.”
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Towing signs have gone up around Blue Star Art Complex, once deemed the last free parking along the River Walk.
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Can a business tow your car in Texas if there are no signs posted?
Generally speaking, Texas law requires businesses with private parking spaces to post clear towing enforcement signs to legally tow a person’s vehicle. These signs must be “conspicuously visible” and easily legible to drivers entering the parking area. They must also be posted at each driveway where a vehicle could enter the lot or garage.
But businesses can certainly tow vehicles away if they post clear signage. For example, several shoppers at a bustling shopping center in San Antonio along I-10 (where Teso Life and 85°C Bakery operate) were surprised to see their vehicles towed from the IHOP parking lot, where signs are posted throughout.
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“When I came back out, my car was gone,” Michelle Salinas told MySA back in March, describing the time her vehicle was towed out of this lot just before Christmas. “Apparently, they just park somewhere and watch. The minute someone leaves their car, they wait for them to walk into a business and tow the cars.”
What rights do you have if your car is towed in Texas?
If your vehicle is towed away, you have the right to contest the tow before a justice of the peace in the county where it occurred. Drivers have 14 days from the date their vehicle was towed to request a tow hearing if they believe their vehicle was wrongfully towed or if they were charged more than the allowed fee.
But there are also times when you can stop a tow without paying anything.
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Can your car be towed for unpaid tickets in Texas? Here’s what to know about whether it’s legal and the rules set by the City of San Antonio.
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Can you stop a tow truck from taking your car in Texas?
Texas law says you can stop the towing of your vehicle if you catch the tow truck in the process of hooking it up to your vehicle. If it’s not fully hooked up yet, the tow truck is required to release your vehicle without charging a fee. Texas law also says you don’t need to prove ownership of the car in this case.
However, if the tow truck has already hooked up your vehicle and is ready to drive away, drivers will have to pay a drop fee. The drop fee for a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less can’t exceed $135.
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How much does it cost if your vehicle is towed in Texas?
Anyone who’s had the highly unpleasant experience of finding their vehicle missing, only to look up and see a bright red tow sign, will tell you it’s expensive. Texas code sets price caps, but cities and counties can limit those fines to a lower amount (though many don’t).
Towing fees for a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less can’t exceed $272. That covers most standard personal vehicles, but commercial trucks can cost between $380 and $978, depending on weight and the number of vehicles. However, there’s also a daily storage fee.
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For the average personal vehicle, impound lots can’t charge more than $22.85 per day. But when added to the typical $272 towing fee, the total quickly reaches $300 just to get your vehicle back.