The short answer: You can get towing fees refunded when the tow broke the rules or the bill was over the legal limit. To start, pay to get the car back so storage stops adding up, and keep every receipt. Next, ask for a hearing or send a written refund demand. If they refuse, file a complaint with the towing regulator or go to small claims court. Some cities refund the fees themselves when a hearing finds a police tow was invalid.
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By TowCars Editorial Team · Checked October 31, 2026
Step 1: Find out who ordered the tow
The way to a refund depends on who had the car moved:
- Police or city tow (parking violation, expired registration, accident). You usually challenge it through a hearing with the agency that ordered it.
- Private-property tow (apartment complex, store lot). The property owner and the tow company are responsible. Refunds come from a demand letter, a complaint to the state or city regulator, or court.
Your receipt or impound notice should name the agency or company. Not sure where the car is? Start with my car was towed: what to do.
Step 2: Pay, get the car out, and gather evidence
Storage is usually charged every day, so getting the car out quickly limits what you lose, even if you plan to fight the tow. Ask for an itemized receipt. Before you leave the lot, photograph:
- the spot where you parked, and any signs (or the lack of them)
- your permit, meter receipt or proof you were a customer
- the itemized bill and payment record
- any damage to the car
Step 3: Ask for a hearing (police and city tows)
Many cities give owners a formal hearing to challenge a police tow. Official examples, checked October 31, 2026:
- San Diego: request a post-storage hearing within 10 days of the mailed notice. If the tow is found invalid, the City pays the impound fees (sandiego.gov). See our San Diego page.
- Phoenix: for a police impound, you have ten business days from the date of the tow to request a hearing (phoenix.gov). See our Phoenix page.
- Austin: for a suspected illegal tow, call 311 to file a wrecker ordinance violation report. Then pay to get the car out and request a hearing in Justice of the Peace court (austintexas.gov). See our Austin page.
- Denver: confirmed victims of a recovered stolen vehicle pay no tow or storage fees at the city impound lot (denvergov.org). See our Denver page.
In California, the post-storage hearing is set by Vehicle Code 22852. Our post-storage hearing guide explains it.
Step 4: Send a written refund demand (private tows)
Write to the tow company and the property owner or manager. Include the date and place of the tow, the rule you believe was broken, what you paid, copies of your evidence, the amount you want back, and a deadline to reply. Our wrongful tow refund guide has a free letter generator and rules for 14 states.
Common grounds include missing or incomplete tow-away signs, being legally parked, and overcharges. Another is returning before the truck left: in California, if you show up while the car is being hooked up, the driver can charge no more than half the regular tow fee (CVC 22658). See drop fees by state.
Step 5: Compare the bill with the legal maximum
Many cities and states cap what can be charged. Check your bill against the official numbers in our tow and impound fees by city table, and use the tow bill checker. If a charge is over the posted maximum, quote the official figure and its source in your demand.
Step 6: Complain to the regulator, then go to small claims
Many states license tow companies. In Texas, towing is regulated by TDLR (tdlr.texas.gov). In Colorado, the Public Utilities Commission publishes maximum towing rates (puc.colorado.gov). If the complaint doesn’t get your money back, small claims court is the usual next step for amounts like a tow bill. Bring the receipt, your photos, the rule you are relying on and its official source.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay the tow fee before I can dispute it?
Usually yes. Paying gets your car out and stops storage from adding up, and you can still ask for a hearing or a refund afterward. Keep the itemized receipt.
Who pays if a police tow is found invalid?
It depends on the city. San Diego says the City pays the impound fees if the tow is found invalid,. Other cities, such as Phoenix, offer a hearing, so check your city’s official page.
Can I get a refund for a private-property tow?
Often, if the tow broke your state or city rules, for example missing signs, being legally parked, or charges over the legal limit. Start with a written demand, then a regulator complaint or small claims.
Need a tow instead? Request a free quote and we’ll pass it to independent providers in your area.
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