Key Towing Laws in Florida
Fla. Stat. 715.07 - Private Property Towing
Sets minimum statewide rules for towing from private property: posted signs, notice to local police within 30 minutes, a storage site within set distances, and return of the car for no more than half the posted towing rate if you arrive while it is being towed.
Fla. Stat. 713.78 - Liens, Rate Sheets and Invoices
A towing-storage operator may not charge a storage fee for a car stored less than 6 hours. It must keep and post a rate sheet, and any fee above that rate sheet is deemed unreasonable. An itemized invoice of actual fees must be made available to the owner.
County and City Rate Rules
Counties and cities may regulate towing rates for cars towed from private property (Fla. Stat. 715.07). Where a county sets maximum rates, towing companies cannot exceed them; Palm Beach County, for example, publishes its maximum non-consent rates.
Inspection and Personal Property (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
The operator must let the owner or an authorized agent inspect the car and must release all personal property not attached to it within 1 hour after the required documents are shown during normal business hours.
Accepted Payment Methods (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
The operator must accept payment in at least two of these three forms: cash, cashier's check, money order, or traveler's check; bank, debit, or credit card; or a mobile payment service, digital wallet, or other electronic payment system.
Notification & Signage Requirements
Police Notification
The towing company must notify the municipal police department, or the sheriff in an unincorporated area, within 30 minutes after completing the tow, including the storage site, the time of the tow, and the vehicle's make, model, color, and license plate number (Fla. Stat. 715.07). If the operator claims a lien, it must send a notice of lien by certified mail to the registered owner within 5 business days after the date of storage (Fla. Stat. 713.78).
Signage Requirements
Except at a single-family home, when you were told in person that the area is reserved, and in a few other cases (for example, a car on a public right-of-way that blocks a private driveway, or a business with 20 or fewer spaces that posts a shorter sign), a permanent sign must be posted before a tow at each driveway or curb cut within 10 feet of the road, with the words "tow-away zone" in letters at least 4 inches high, 3 to 6 feet above the ground. It must state, in light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high on a contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles will be towed away at the owner's expense, give the towing company's name and current phone number, and be in place for at least 24 hours before any tow (Fla. Stat. 715.07).
Towed from a private lot or apartment complex in Florida? See the private property towing rules.
Your Rights in Florida
- Right to have your car returned if you arrive while it is being towed, for a fee of no more than half the posted towing rate (Fla. Stat. 715.07)
- Right to inspect your car and get your unattached personal property within 1 hour during normal business hours (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
- Right to pay no more than the county or city maximum, where one is set, and no more than the operator's posted rate sheet (Fla. Stat. 715.07, 713.78)
- Right to pay in at least two of three ways: cash or a cashier's check, money order, or traveler's check; a bank, debit, or credit card; or an electronic payment system (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
- Right to an itemized invoice of actual fees and a detailed receipt when you pay (Fla. Stat. 713.78, 715.07)
- Right to ask the county court where the car is stored to decide whether it was wrongfully taken or fees were wrongfully charged, and to get the car released by posting a bond with the clerk of court (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
- Right to a notice of lien by certified mail if the operator claims a lien (Fla. Stat. 713.78)
How to File a Complaint in Florida
Complaint Agency
If you believe you were unfairly towed or overcharged, file a complaint with:
your local police or sheriff's office, or the county consumer protection office where the county regulates towing
Steps to File a Complaint:
- Document everything: take photos of signage, your parking location, vehicle condition, and all receipts.
- Note the date, time, tow company name, driver name, and truck number if available.
- To file a formal complaint, contact your local police or sheriff's office, or the county consumer protection office where the county regulates towing.
- Consider filing in small claims court if you believe you are owed money for an illegal or improper tow.
Official Sources & Legal References
The fees and rules on this page are drawn from these primary sources - official statutes, administrative codes, and state regulator schedules. We link them so you can verify every figure yourself.
Complaints go to your local police or sheriff's office, or the county consumer protection office where the county regulates towing.
Last reviewed by Daniel Richardson against Florida's official state statutes and regulator schedules.
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