FLORIDA ILLEGAL CAR TOWING ATTORNEYs

If you feel your car was towed illegally or if your car was significantly damaged when you picked it up from the impound, you may be able to file a claim against the company that towed your car.

WHEN CAN MY CAR BE TOWED IN FLORIDA?

It’s important to understand what is legal and what your rights are when your car has been towed. 

A towing company can legally remove your car from private property without your consent under specific circumstances:

• If there are conspicuous signs or notices indicating an area is a tow-away zone, but you parked there anyway
• If you’re parked at a single-family residence or preventing access to someone’s private driveway
• If your parked car is blocking a public right-of-way
• If the location of your parked car is preventing a business from operating

If your car has been towed, certain requirements must be met according to section 715.07 of the Florida Statutes.

• After your car has been towed, you should contact the police to find out which company towed your car and where you can locate your car to redeem it (retrieve it in exchange for a fee).
• Your car must be taken to an impound that is within 10 or 15 miles from the location where your car was towed, depending on the population size of the respective county the towing occurred in.
• You must be able to retrieve your car within an hour of contacting the impound, even if it’s outside of normal business hours.
• If you return to your car and the towing company is present, per Florida law they must allow you to pay a reasonable* service fee to release your car back to you.

*The fee can be as much as (but not greater than) half the cost of the typical service fee they charge when towing vehicles.