By Texas Tows Inc.
A tow away zone sign in Texas means that vehicles parked there without permission can be towed at the owner's expense. For a private-lot tow based on posted signs, the sign has to meet specific rules before a towing company can remove your car. Other notice routes and exceptions can apply, as explained below. If your car is already gone, the number on that sign is the first call to make.
Quick Summary
- A tow away zone sign warns that unauthorized vehicles will be towed, or booted, at the vehicle owner's expense.
- For private lots, Texas Occupations Code §2308.301 sets the sign's size, placement and wording, including a phone number answered 24 hours a day.
- If the tow truck has not finished hooking up your car, you may be able to drive away without paying a tow charge. Once it is fully hooked up, you may have to pay a drop fee.
- If your car was towed anyway, photograph the sign, call the number on it, and ask a justice of the peace court for a tow hearing within the deadline.
What does a tow away zone sign mean in Texas?
It means the property owner has restricted who can park there and may have unauthorized vehicles towed or booted at the vehicle owner's expense. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) says cars parked in a tow-away zone, or on property without permission, may be towed at the car owner's expense. These are called private property tows.
The sign is also how you find your car afterward. TDLR's consumer guide says a car towed from a parking lot can be located by calling the phone number on the tow-away sign.
A property owner may also choose to boot the car instead of towing it. If you find a boot on your wheel, call the number on the warning sticker and do not try to remove it or drive with it attached; TDLR warns that doing so can damage the car.
What must a tow away sign show?
For a tow based on posted signs, Texas Occupations Code §2308.301 sets requirements like these. This is a summary: §2308.302 also regulates the sign's layout, colors and lettering, and §§2308.304–.305 address restricted spaces and additional restrictions.
Swipe or scroll horizontally to read all columns. →
| Requirement | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Placement | Faces and is conspicuously visible to drivers entering, at each driveway or curb-cut, including alley entries; the 25-foot spacing alternative applies where definite entrances from a public roadway other than an alley are not established and an entrance exceeds 35 feet in width (§2308.301(a)(2)(B)) |
| Mounting | Permanently mounted on a pole, post, permanent wall or permanent barrier, with the bottom edge between 5 and 8 feet above the ground |
| Size and material | At least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall, made of weather-resistant material |
| Symbol and wording | The international symbol for towing vehicles, who may park there, and the required warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed or booted at the owner's or operator's expense |
| Enforcement times | The days and hours when towing or booting is enforced |
| Phone number | A number with area code that is answered 24 hours a day for locating a towed vehicle or arranging boot removal |
Read the sign, not just the headline on it. A sign that gives enforcement hours, for example, tells you when the restriction applies.
Can a car be towed without a sign?
Sometimes, but the rules are narrower than many drivers think. Under §2308.252, a parking facility owner may have an unauthorized vehicle towed if compliant signs were posted at the time of the tow and during the 24 hours before it, or if the owner or operator was given actual notice that the car would be towed. The statute also allows notice by a conspicuous notice on the car followed by a certified-mail notice to the registered owner; §2308.252(c) requires that mailed notice to warn of towing if the vehicle is not removed before the 15th day after its postmark.
The statute has exceptions too, including for restricted spaces inside an otherwise unrestricted lot. So a missing or damaged sign does not automatically make a tow wrongful. That is a question for a tow hearing, and the photos you take matter. Our guide to towing laws on private property in Texas goes deeper on the legal framework.
Is a tow away zone on a public street the same?
No. The sign rules above apply to private parking facilities. For a Dallas public-street tow, the Dallas Police Auto Pound is one place to check. Confirm the vehicle's location rather than assuming every public-street tow goes to the same facility.
In Dallas, the Dallas Police Auto Pound stores vehicles removed for reasons that include street blockage and parking violations. Its web page says to have your license plate number, VIN, year, make and model, and the registered owner's name ready, and to call (214) 670-5116 with questions. Our guide to finding your towed car in Dallas walks through who to call first.
What if the tow truck is still at your car?
Ask the operator to release it. TDLR says if you return while your car is being hooked up but is not fully hooked up and ready for towing, you can keep your car without paying a charge, and you do not have to prove ownership.
If the car is fully hooked up and ready to tow but has not left the lot, you may keep it, but you must pay a drop fee. TDLR also says the tow truck driver must accept cash, credit cards and debit cards for the drop charge. TDLR sets statewide maximums for these fees and a city or county can set lower ones, so check TDLR's current consumer page rather than relying on a number from an article.
Stay calm and polite. Document what happens and use the hearing process to challenge the tow rather than arguing in traffic.
What should you do if your car was towed anyway?
Photograph the sign, then call the number on it. Work through these steps while the deadline for a hearing is still open:
- Photograph the sign and the space. Capture the sign's wording, its height and placement, the entrances, and any nearby signs. If there is no sign, photograph where one should be.
- Call the number on the sign. The towing company or storage facility will tell you where the car is. If there is no sign, call the Dallas Police Auto Pound.
- Bring what the storage facility needs. TDLR says you must show photo ID, prove you are the owner or authorized user, and pay the towing and storage fees to get the car back.
- Get your belongings. TDLR says you may access the car at the storage facility to get ownership documents or personal property without paying a fee.
- Keep every receipt and the tow ticket. TDLR says you are entitled to a copy of the tow ticket and to a notice of your right to a tow hearing.
- Request a tow hearing if you think the tow was wrongful. TDLR says you can ask a justice of the peace court in the county where the car was towed. The general rule in §2308.456 is a written request before the 14th day after removal and placement in the storage facility, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. That section has exceptions when the required hearing notice or information was not provided; ask the court about your facts rather than assuming the deadline has expired. Include the required sign photos or a statement that no sign restricting parking was posted.
Storage fees can build daily, so do not wait. Our guide to Texas towing and storage fees in Dallas explains how that adds up, and your towing rights in Texas covers what you can ask for at the counter.
If your car cannot be driven once you have it back, a secondary tow can move it from the storage lot to a shop or home.
What should property managers know about tow-away signs?
Check your signs against §2308.301 before you authorize any tow. The size, placement, mounting height, wording, enforcement hours and 24-hour phone number all appear in the statute. A sign that misses a requirement can leave a tow open to challenge at a hearing.
Texas Tows' unattended towing service page says the company assesses and documents the vehicle before towing and completes required notifications and paperwork under TDLR regulations. Call (817) 512-1024 to ask how that works for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tow away zone?
A tow away zone is an area where parking is restricted and unauthorized vehicles may be towed at the owner's expense. In a private lot, the restriction must be posted on a sign that meets Texas requirements before a tow is authorized under the sign rule.
Can I be towed from a tow away zone without warning in Texas?
The sign is the warning in most private-lot tows. The statute also allows towing after actual notice, or after a notice on the car and a certified-mail notice to the registered owner. If you think a tow was wrongful, a tow hearing is how to challenge it.
How do I find my car if it was towed from a parking lot?
Call the phone number on the tow-away sign. TDLR's consumer guide gives this as the way to find a car towed from a parking lot. If you cannot find a sign or the number does not help, call the Dallas Police Auto Pound.
Can I get my belongings from a towed car without paying?
Yes, in the cases TDLR lists. You can access your car at the storage facility to get ownership documents or recover personal property without paying a fee. You still have to pay the towing and storage fees to take the car itself.
How long do I have to ask for a tow hearing?
The general rule in §2308.456 is a written request before the 14th day after removal and placement in the storage facility, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Exceptions apply if required notice or information was not provided. Ask the justice court in the county where the car was towed about the filing requirements, and act promptly.
Need a Car Moved After a Tow?
If your car was released but cannot be driven, or you need it moved from a storage lot, call Texas Tows at (817) 512-1024 any time, day or night, or use the Request Service form.
Sources
- Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 2308, including §2308.456, §2308.252 and §2308.301
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Consumer Information about Towing
- Dallas Police Department, Auto Pound
This article is general information, not legal advice.
