HOUSTON – If you are one of the thousands of people whose car stalled out in high water this week, you are probably now facing some hefty towing and storage fees. You should know these costs are regulated by the City of Houston and the state of Texas, so drivers don't get gouged.
If your car was blocking a public roadway, it may have been towed without your consent to help get traffic moving again. If that is the case, the City of Houston sets the rates that you will be charged.
- Non-consent Tow $162.50
- Daily Storage Fee $20
Notification Fee $50 (This fee will be charged if the storage lot has to track you down to notify you that they have your vehicle after it has been there 24 hours). You can avoid this fee by finding the lot where your vehicle was towed at the City of Houston towed cars site.
If you call a tow truck to have your vehicle towed, the charges will vary depending on the size of your vehicle, but the state of Texas sets maximum allowable charge.
The maximum charge for a private property tow is:
- $250 for a car weighing up to 10,000 lbs
- $350 for a car weighing more than 10,000 but less than 25,000 lbs
- $450 per unit for unit for cars weighing more than 25,000 lbs with a $900 total maximum
- These are the maximum rates statewide. Lower rates may be set by local municipal or county rule.
- A DAILY STORAGE CHARGE of between $5.00 and $20 per day or part of a day for a car that is 25 feet long or less. A VSF must charge $35 per day or part of a day for a car that is longer than 25 feet. Here are some more facts about the daily storage charge: •A daily storage fee may be charged for any part of the day, except that a daily storage fee may not be charged for more than one day if the car remains at the VSF less than 12 hours. A day is considered to begin and end at midnight.
- A VSF that accepts a car that is registered in Texas may not charge for more than five days of storage fees unless a notice (prescribed in §85.703 of the rules) is mailed or published. The notice is to inform the owner of the location of the car.
A NOTIFICATION FEE. A VSF may charge up to $50 for notifying you that your car is at their VSF. If a notification must be published, and the actual cost of publication exceeds 50% of the notification fee, the VSF may recover the additional amount of the cost of publication. The publication fee is in addition to the notification fee. The VSF may not charge a notification fee if a car is reclaimed by the owner within 24 hours or before notification is sent.
- An IMPOUNDMENT FEE. A VSF may charge a car owner an impoundment fee if impoundment is performed. Impoundment means:
- If doors, windows, convertible tops, hatchbacks, sun roofs, trunks, or hoods are broken or inoperative, materials such as plastic or canvas tarpaulins must be used to ensure the protection of the stored car.
Were you ripped off or overcharged?
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed or that you were overcharged, you should file for a tow hearing. You have to do that within 14 days of when your vehicle was towed. Click here for detailed instructions of how to file for a tow hearing.
If you do this, you will have to pay the fees you're charged to get your vehicle back. At your tow hearing, if the Justice of the Peace determines you were unfairly charged, they will order the tow company to reimburse you all or part of the money you paid.
You can also file a complaint with the Houston Police Department Auto Dealers Detail by calling (832) 394-4800. You can also email your complaint.
Lastly, you can also file a complaint with Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.
