Are there towing companies that patrol parking lots?

In some places, private businesses contract with towing companies to patrol parking lots at shopping centers and apartment complexes and remove improperly parked cars.

Why was my car towed from a loading zone?

Your car may have been towed for legitimate reasons — you parked in a loading zone, for instance. But in some cases, you may have been the victim of a towing company looking to earn fees. Credit… Maybe you’ve had that sinking feeling of returning to where you thought you had parked your car, only to find an empty spot.

How much does it cost to tow a car?

Depending on where you live, you may not be able to retrieve items you left in the car until you pay the towing fee — which averages $165 plus storage costs of about $28 a day, in the roughly two dozen states that set maximum fees, according to the author of a new report on “nonconsensual” towing from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

How can I get my car back from a towing company?

In many places, local rules require towing companies to report a vehicle to the police before hauling it away. There’s typically little you can do to get back your car until you pay the fee. “It’s a highly unusual transaction from the get-go,” Mr. Friedman said, in that you have to pay the money and challenge the fee afterward.

Is there a way to tow a car that is illegally parked?

Fourth, when a car is illegally parked, and your pet is in the back seat, one may tow the car and take that pet with him or her. There are many different ways to tow a car. The simplest way is to call a towing company that has a spacious flat deck to lift the car onto the deck.

Can a business have a car towed from a parking space?

To have cars removed from parking spaces they have to be in an established tow away zone. First, the parked car has to be on private property. Business owners have no jurisdiction to have cars towed from a public street even if the cars are parked right in front of their business.

Can a tow company tow a car from private property?

For example in California, under vehicle code 22658 a tow company can not tow your car from private property with 15 or more units based on a blanket authorization order from the landlord or association.

Can a tow truck drive into an apartment?

They will still be able to enter the premises and then do the towing as normal, especially base don violated rules. If they towed your car without any sufficient reason, you can always file a complaint to the apartment manager. Tow truck driver dragged the car while it was in park, damage to tires or alignment?