Towing Laws on Private Property in Texas: What Every Driver Needs to Know

You park in what seems like a reasonable spot — a strip mall lot near Greenville Avenue, an apartment complex visitor space in Lake Highlands, or a private garage near the SMU campus — and come back to find your car gone. No ticket, no warning, just an empty space. In Texas, private property tows happen every day, and they are perfectly legal under the right circumstances. But the law also puts strict limits on property owners and towing companies. Knowing those limits is the difference between accepting an expensive bill and fighting back.

This guide breaks down Texas towing law as it applies to private property — what property owners can and cannot do, what rights you have as a vehicle owner, and exactly what steps to take if you believe your car was wrongfully towed in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

The Legal Framework: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308

Private property towing in Texas is governed primarily by Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308, which covers non-consent towing — meaning tows authorized by someone other than the vehicle owner. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) enforces these rules and licenses towing companies statewide.

Under Chapter 2308, a property owner or their authorized agent (typically a parking management company) may authorize a non-consent tow only when specific conditions are met. Both the property owner and the towing company share legal responsibility for following the law. A towing company that accepts a tow without proper authorization — or fails to follow required procedures — can face TDLR sanctions, fines, and civil liability.

When Can a Property Owner Have Your Car Towed?

Texas law allows private property owners to authorize a non-consent tow if your vehicle is:

• Parked without authorization — in a space you are not permitted to use, such as a reserved spot, a private lot with posted restrictions, or a fire lane.
• Blocking access — obstructing a driveway, fire lane, loading zone, or accessibility ramp.
• In a restricted area — such as a tow-away zone, a lot reserved for tenants or customers only, or a space requiring a permit or sticker you don't have.
• Abandoned or inoperable — left on private property for an extended period without the owner's consent.

A private-property tow must meet an applicable legal authorization and notice route. For a tow relying on posted signs under Texas Occupations Code §2308.252(a)(1), the signs must comply with Subchapter G and have been present for the preceding 24 hours. Other notice routes and exceptions can apply; the absence of a sign alone does not decide whether a particular tow was lawful.

The Sign Requirements: What Must Be Posted

For a tow relying on posted signs, Texas Occupations Code §§2308.301–.305 provide the sign rules. This is a summary, not a complete sign-design or compliance checklist. The general rules include:

• A sign facing and conspicuously visible to entering drivers, normally at each driveway or curb-cut entrance, including an alley entrance. A different placement option applies only under the entrance conditions in §2308.301(a)(2)(B); §§2308.304–.305 have special rules for restricted spaces.
• Permanent mounting on the facility, with the bottom edge generally five to eight feet above ground.
• Weather-resistant material and a minimum size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches tall; this minimum is not limited to larger facilities.
• The international towing symbol, who may park and who may not, the applicable owner/operator-expense warning, and enforcement days and hours.
• A telephone number, including area code, answered 24 hours a day so a vehicle owner or operator can locate a towed vehicle.
• The colors, layout and lettering sizes in §2308.302.

Sections 2308.301–.302 do not list maximum towing/storage fees, a link to TDLR’s fee schedule, or the towing company’s name as general required sign content. Section 2308.302(e) addresses optional or locally required storage-facility name/address information. Check applicable local requirements rather than assuming none can apply. Photograph the entrance, restrictions and signs if you need to document a disputed tow.

What Must Happen After Your Car Is Towed

After a private-property tow, different duties apply to the towing company and the vehicle storage facility. The reporting and written-notice duties summarized below apply to the vehicle storage facility.

Notification to Law Enforcement

Texas Occupations Code §§2308.2565 and 2303.1511 generally require the vehicle storage facility to report a received towed vehicle to the appropriate law-enforcement agency within two hours after receipt, subject to the statute’s exceptions. To locate a privately towed vehicle, start with the 24-hour telephone number on the parking sign.

Notification to the Vehicle Owner

Vehicle storage facilities must send required written notices to registered owners and lienholders under Texas Occupations Code §2303.151. Timing and procedures depend on registration and other statutory circumstances. Ask the facility or TDLR which requirements apply.

Your Right to Retrieve Personal Property

You have the right to access a towed vehicle at the VSF to retrieve personal property — at no charge. The VSF cannot require you to pay storage or towing fees just to get your belongings out of the car.

24-Hour Retrieval Access

If the VSF accepts vehicles 24 hours a day, they must allow you to retrieve your vehicle within one hour of your request, at any time of day or night — including weekends and holidays. No VSF operating around-the-clock can refuse to release your vehicle during off-hours.

Regulated Fee Caps for Non-Consent Tows

Texas sets maximum fees that towing companies may charge for non-consent tows. TDLR publishes the official fee schedule at tdlr.texas.gov/towing. The City of Dallas may also set additional caps on towing fees within city limits — check the Dallas City Hall website for current municipal rates.

Key fee-related rules for non-consent tows in Texas include:

• The towing company must provide an itemized receipt listing every charge at the time you pay and retrieve your vehicle.
• Storage fees begin accruing only after the vehicle arrives at the VSF — not from the moment it was hooked up.
• A vehicle storage facility must accept cash, debit cards and credit cards for charges associated with delivery or storage. Section 2303.159(a-1) addresses a power outage or machine malfunction beyond the operator’s fault.
• If the car is not fully hooked up and ready for towing, TDLR says it must be released without a charge. If it is fully hooked up and ready but has not left the parking lot, a regulated drop fee may apply. The drop charge must be payable by cash, debit card or credit card; check current state and applicable local limits.

What Is a "Booting" and Is It Legal in Texas?

Booting uses a wheel immobilizer instead of removing the vehicle. Operational rules appear in Texas Occupations Code §§2308.257–.258; Subchapter J addresses hearing rights. Subject to statutory exemptions, the rules include:

• Qualifying signs and a conspicuous vehicle notice with a 24-hour contact number.
• Removal no later than one hour after the owner or operator contacts the booting company to request it. If that deadline is missed, §2308.258(b) requires the boot-removal fee to be waived, excluding associated parking fees.
• Applicable local requirements and fee rules under §2308.2085. Do not assume a statewide TDLR maximum boot-removal fee.

Check the applicable statute and local rules for the particular parking facility.

How to Fight a Wrongful Private Property Tow in Texas

If you believe your vehicle was towed without legal justification or the charges were improper, consider the following hearing and complaint options.

1. Request a Tow Hearing

A hearing request for a towed vehicle may be filed in any justice court in the county where the vehicle was removed. Generally, deliver a written request before the 14th day after the vehicle was removed and placed in storage, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Under §2308.456(c), that deadline does not apply if the required §2308.454 notice was not given; under §2308.456(c-1), the period does not begin until the towing company or storage facility provides the information specified in §2308.456(b)(2)–(6). Act promptly and confirm filing requirements with the court. Available relief depends on the findings and applicable law; do not assume every successful fee challenge produces a full refund. Bring photographs and receipts.

2. File a Complaint with TDLR

Submit a complaint at tdlr.texas.gov/complaints or call (800) 803-9202. TDLR investigates towing companies and can impose fines, suspend licenses, or revoke a company's operating authority.

What to Do the Moment You Realize Your Car Was Towed

Act promptly: storage charges may continue, and hearing requests have deadlines and notice-related exceptions. See “Request a Tow Hearing” above and confirm filing requirements with the court. Here is the immediate checklist:

1. Photograph the parking spot — document the signage (or lack of it), any posted restrictions, and the space itself.
2. Call the 24-hour number on the parking sign to locate the vehicle. If you cannot locate it, seek help from the appropriate local law-enforcement agency rather than assuming it was towed.
3. Contact the VSF directly to confirm hours, location, and total fees before you go — fees can change by the day.
4. Retrieve personal property first if you cannot immediately pay — you have the right to access your belongings at no charge.
5. Demand an itemized receipt when you pay. Review every line item and question anything that looks unusual.
6. If you dispute the tow or charges, promptly check the hearing deadline, required information and filing procedure described above with the appropriate justice court.

How Texas Tows Inc. Handles Private Property Towing

Texas Tows lists unattended towing among its services. For questions about a Texas Tows tow or charge, call (817) 512-1024 and ask for the relevant information and documents.

We believe in doing things by the book — every time. If you have a question about a charge or want to understand your rights as a vehicle owner, call us at (817) 512-1024. We are available 24/7 and happy to help Dallas drivers navigate what can be a confusing and stressful situation.

For a consent tow, ask for a price quote and any applicable additional charges before requesting dispatch. Learn more about our towing service or explore our full range of roadside assistance options.

The Bottom Line

Texas private-property towing depends on the applicable authorization and notice route. Posted signs have detailed rules when the tow relies on them, fees are regulated, and owners have statutory rights concerning personal property and hearings. If you dispute a tow or its charges, act promptly and check the hearing requirements and notice-related exceptions described above with the appropriate justice court.

Need a tow in the Dallas–Fort Worth area? Call Texas Tows Inc. at (817) 512-1024 — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Need help? See our contact Texas Tows — available 24/7 across Dallas.