Payment / Rates

These maximum non-consent towing rates are applicable only in Palm Beach County, Florida. Cities in Palm Beach County may establish different rates. Maximum rates only apply to situations when a vehicle is towed without the owner's permission or consent. Rates for "consent" tows are not regulated. Review the Palm Beach County Towtruck Ordinance for more details and specifics.

Palm Beach County does not mandate that these maximum rates be charged, but towing companies cannot exceed them.

Private Property Tow

If your car or small truck is towed from a private parking lot or while parked for a special public event, the maximum fees that can be levied by the towing company are:

If vehicle is claimed within 24 hours of tow:

If vehicle is claimed more than 24 hours after tow:

The above listed fees are only a summary of the maximum fees that can be charged for completing a "Private Property Impound." All of the permitted maximum fees are included at the end of this section.

 Print Maximum Rates 

Helpful Information for Private Property Tows:

(The following information includes summaries of county and state towing laws and is not meant to be exhaustive of every situation and detail. For more information, review the entire county towing ordinance​.)

• If your car is missing, look for posted signs in the parking area with the name of the towing company. The name and phone number of the towing company must be on the signs. Signs are required at the entrances and exits of parking lots. Call the towing company to determine if they have your car.
• If there are no towing signs in the parking area or you are unable to reach the towing company, immediately call the local police department if in a city area or contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (688-3000). Towing companies are required to contact the local police agency any time they remove a vehicle from a parking area (within 30 minutes of the tow).
  
• If you come to the parking area and the towing company has any type of physical connection to your vehicle and has not departed from the property, the towing company is required to disconnect your vehicle when you pay a fee of not more than one-half of the posted rate. The towtruck driver is required to provide an invoice to you prior to demanding payment. The towing company is required to accept cash, credit/debit card (MasterCard/VISA) or a check (if it is from a Florida bank and has your name and address imprinted on it). 
  
• Note to condominium/home owner's association and business owner/ managers: You are legally liable for vehicles towed improperly from your property (and not the towing company or authorized agent). The liability includes but is not limited to damages, transportation, storage and attorney fees. Read Florida State Statute 715.07.

Police Directed (Accident) Tow

If your car or small truck is involved in an accident or crime and the investigating police agency contacts a towing company to remove your vehicle, the maximum fees that can be levied by the towing company are:

(*Not Applicable between the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays) for vehicles claimed or when property is recovered from the vehicle)

The above listed fees are only a summary of the maximum fees that can be charged for completing a "Police Directed Tow." ​

Helpful information for Police Directed Tow:

(The following information includes summaries of county and state towing laws and is not meant to be exhaustive of every situation and detail. For more information, review the entire county towing ordinance.)

• If you are involved in an accident, you have the right to contact any towing company of your choosing to remove your vehicle from the accident scene (in a timely manner). You are free to negotiate the towing fees with that company. An option is to contact your roadside assistance auto club, but often these organizations cannot provide service within police time limitations. If you can't or don't choose a towing company, the police agency will call a towing company from their approved list. Often police directed non-consent tows are more expensive than when you use your own towing company. Most people don't use a towing company routinely and usually are in no frame-of-mind to quickly negotiate a rush tow after an accident. Our suggestion is to follow the advice/suggestions from the police officer and NOT to accept advice from strangers on the scene.
• In many situations, your insurance company will pay for the cost of having an accident vehicle towed from the scene. For a "Police Directed Tow" your car must be taken to the storage yard of the towing company or to an alternate location authorized by a law enforcement officer. If you elect to use and contact your own towing company, you can request that the accident vehicle be towed to the destination of your choice.
  
• Extra time at scene fees may be required if the removal of the vehicle requires extra effort by the tow truck driver. The tow rate includes the first 30 minutes; however, any extra time (in fifteen minute intervals) must be fully documented and justified by the towing company.

*Late Hour Gate Fee - applies when your impounded vehicle/vessel and you or your representative wish to claim the vehicle/vessel between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. or when you wish to recover personal property (i.e., tools, computer, unattached radio, etc.) from an impounded vehicle/vessel during these same hours.

**Administrative/Lien Fee - Applicable only after 24-hours from time of police report. Must show proof that ownership search is conducted, and police agency authorized the vehicle/vessel to be impounded or police agency has been notified by the tow truck company that the tow truck company is in possession of a vehicle/vessel as a result of a private property impound. Fees in excess of this administrative/lien flat fee may be charged by the tow company for actual expenses incurred to meet requirements such as lien notification letters, certified mail receipts, advertisements or any other requirement as imposed by Section 713.78, Florida Statute so long as the tow company has detailed supporting proof of actual expenditures (i.e. invoices, bills, payments) and are kept on file with the tow company.

Other Helpful information for "Non-consent" tows:

• Before claiming your car, it will be necessary to show written proof that you are the lawful owner. The towing company is required to tell you what identifying documents you must produce before the car is released.
• Before removing your vehicle from the towing company storage facility, do a "walk-around" and carefully inspect to assure it has not been damaged during the towing process.
• When claiming your vehicle be sure to obtain an invoice detailing all charges. The towing company is required to disclose on the invoice that you have a right to contact the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division if you believe you were overcharged. Call 712-6600.
• If you have a dispute about the legality of a towing company removing your vehicle from a parking lot - you should contact the appropriate police agency or the owner/manager of the parking lot/property. Parking lot/property owners are required to maintain a contract with the towing company.
• If you believe you have been overcharged for a non-consent tow, you have the right to post a bond for the disputed amount with the circuit court. The towing company is obligated to release the vehicle when you show proof of the bond. For more details see Section 6.F. of the Palm Beach County Towtruck Ordinance.
• The Consumer Affairs Division investigates alleged violations of the towtruck ordinance through complaints by the public. Civil fines for violating the ordinance vary up to $500 for each incident

Larger Vehicles

The preceding maximum rate information has only dealt with standard size cars and small trucks weighing less than 10,000 pounds. Such vehicles are for "Class A" towtrucks. Larger/ heavier vehicles are rated as follows:

• Class B - gross vehicle weight from 19,000 to 29,999 pounds
• Class C - gross vehicle weight from 30,000 to 57,999 pounds
• Class D - gross vehicle weight from 58,000 and higher

Normally commercially operating semitrailers, truck tractors, semitrailer combinations and other heavy equipment are NOT included in the regulation of maximum rates a towing company can charge.