Many tow truck drivers throughout Texas continue to charge unauthorized drop fees to vehicle owners or operators to release their vehicle on private property. They do this because the Texas regulatory agency, the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation has yet to issue a fine to a tow truck operator, for violating the Texas Towing Law.
The pictures below is when you should never pay a tow truck driver a drop fee:
You should always engage the tow truck operator when seen hooking up your vehicle and say, "DO NOT TOW MY VEHICLE", at which time, they are required to release your vehicle at no charge. If they do charge you a drop fee during the loading process as shown above, make sure you get a receipt and record the entire event with your cellphone, video camera or camera.
Below are pictures of when you MUST pay the tow truck operator, make sure you get the receipt as the parking facility you were being towed from might not be in compliance of State Law.
Drop Fees FAQs
1. What is a drop fee?
A drop fee is a charge offered instead of a towing fee that allows the vehicle operator to stop the tow without paying the full tow charge and additional storage charges.
2. What does the term "hooked up" mean?
Hooked up means the vehicle is fully prepared for transport by attachment to a tow truck, lifted in tow position, with tow lights and safety chains attached and, if required, placed on a dolly in a raised position and the only thing remaining is for the tow operator to drive away.
3. What does the phrase vehicle owner or representative "attempts to retrieve the motor vehicle" mean?
For purposes of paying the drop charge, the terms vehicle owner or representative means any person who offers to pay the drop charge to stop the tow. Attempt to retrieve the motor vehicle means any verbal request that a reasonable person would understand to mean, "Do not tow my car."
4. What does the phrase "before its removal from the property" mean?
The phrase "before its removal from the property" refers to vehicles parked on property other than a public roadway. Until the tow truck enters a public street, road or highway, the vehicle owner or operator has an absolute right to regain possession of the vehicle by payment of the drop charge.
5. What does the phrase "before its removal from the parked location" mean?
The phrase "before its removal from the parked location" refers to vehicles parked on a public roadway. Until the vehicle is hooked up, as described in the definition of hooked up, and the tow operator drives away, the vehicle has not been moved from its parked location.
6. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives to move the vehicle before I have it fully hooked up?
No. You must allow the owner or operator to move the vehicle.
7. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives after the car is hooked up but before I've left the property or its parked location?
Yes. You must tell the owner or operator that they can pay you on the spot to drop the vehicle.
8. Do I have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives when the vehicle is in tow, but before I've left the property?
Yes. If the vehicle is fully hooked up and you are in transport, but you are still on the property, you are required to tell the owner or operator that they may pay a drop fee.
9. Does the tow truck operator have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives after I've left the property with the vehicle in tow?
No, once in transport on a public roadway off the property, you may proceed to a licensed vehicle storage facility.
10. What form of payment can an owner or operator use to pay for a drop fee?
You must accept cash, debit cards and credit cards.
If you are charged an unauthorized drop fee, consult an attorney and sue to towing company and property owner for committing the violation of the Texas Towing Law, and you could be entitled to a $1000 plus three times what you were charged.
To get this type of recovery with no upfront legal fees, contact in DFW, in San Antonio, Austin or anywhere in Texas
The pictures below is when you should never pay a tow truck driver a drop fee:
:
You should always engage the tow truck operator when seen hooking up your vehicle and say, "DO NOT TOW MY VEHICLE", at which time, they are required to release your vehicle at no charge. If they do charge you a drop fee during the loading process as shown above, make sure you get a receipt and record the entire event with your cellphone, video camera or camera.
Below are pictures of when you MUST pay the tow truck operator, make sure you get the receipt as the parking facility you were being towed from might not be in compliance of State Law.
Drop Fees FAQs
1. What is a drop fee?
A drop fee is a charge offered instead of a towing fee that allows the vehicle operator to stop the tow without paying the full tow charge and additional storage charges.
2. What does the term "hooked up" mean?
Hooked up means the vehicle is fully prepared for transport by attachment to a tow truck, lifted in tow position, with tow lights and safety chains attached and, if required, placed on a dolly in a raised position and the only thing remaining is for the tow operator to drive away.
3. What does the phrase vehicle owner or representative "attempts to retrieve the motor vehicle" mean?
For purposes of paying the drop charge, the terms vehicle owner or representative means any person who offers to pay the drop charge to stop the tow. Attempt to retrieve the motor vehicle means any verbal request that a reasonable person would understand to mean, "Do not tow my car."
4. What does the phrase "before its removal from the property" mean?
The phrase "before its removal from the property" refers to vehicles parked on property other than a public roadway. Until the tow truck enters a public street, road or highway, the vehicle owner or operator has an absolute right to regain possession of the vehicle by payment of the drop charge.
5. What does the phrase "before its removal from the parked location" mean?
The phrase "before its removal from the parked location" refers to vehicles parked on a public roadway. Until the vehicle is hooked up, as described in the definition of hooked up, and the tow operator drives away, the vehicle has not been moved from its parked location.
6. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives to move the vehicle before I have it fully hooked up?
No. You must allow the owner or operator to move the vehicle.
7. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives after the car is hooked up but before I've left the property or its parked location?
Yes. You must tell the owner or operator that they can pay you on the spot to drop the vehicle.
8. Do I have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives when the vehicle is in tow, but before I've left the property?
Yes. If the vehicle is fully hooked up and you are in transport, but you are still on the property, you are required to tell the owner or operator that they may pay a drop fee.
9. Does the tow truck operator have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives after I've left the property with the vehicle in tow?
No, once in transport on a public roadway off the property, you may proceed to a licensed vehicle storage facility.
10. What form of payment can an owner or operator use to pay for a drop fee?
You must accept cash, debit cards and credit cards.
If you are charged an unauthorized drop fee, consult an attorney and sue to towing company and property owner for committing the violation of the Texas Towing Law, and you could be entitled to a $1000 plus three times what you were charged.
To get this type of recovery with no upfront legal fees, contact in DFW, in San Antonio, Austin or anywhere in Texas
