Was Your Car Towed After an Accident?
If you parked somewhere you weren’t supposed to—even for a few minutes—you may quickly learn that you’ve made a costly mistake. Austin’s towing ordinances are no joke, and coming back to find your car or truck gone is something that happens to people every day.
Another towing scenario, and one for which you aren’t to blame, would be if you’ve been in an accident and you weren’t able to drive away (either because of your injury or because of the damage to your vehicle).
Many accident victims are shocked to learn that their towed vehicle accrues storage fees for every day that it’s unclaimed. So what should a car accident victim do after an accident when their damaged vehicle was towed from the scene?
In this article we’ll talk about what to do if your car is towed in Austin, how to find out where it is, and what you can do to get your car back.
Who Oversees Towing In Austin?
Austin’s Wrecker Enforcement Unit oversees towing in Austin. They coordinate with the Austin police, inspect trucks and license tow truck drivers, investigate crimes related to towing ordinances, and work with City Council, citizens, and local wrecker companies to address issues.
More than 40 local wrecker companies service the citizens of Austin at collision scenes or when a car breaks down on the road.
Monday-Friday (except major holidays), APD manages the Traffic Incident Management System (TIMS), giving residents who break down on one of the major roadways the option to be towed free of charge
The goal of the TIMS program (towing) is to provide safe and efficient removal of disabled vehicles from the right-of-way. Clearing the road in a timely manner promotes safety and eases frustrations that many people face when they drive in rush hour traffic.
These wreckers are dispatched using GPS data and the nearest tow truck will respond. The major roadways include IH-35, MoPac Expressway, and Hwy 183 as part of our Rush Hour Zone program.
What About Towing Vehicles At The Scene of An Accident?
The City of Austin uses a GPS dispatch system that allows for the nearest tow truck to be dispatched to an accident scene to tow a vehicle disabled from the crash. This has reduced the amount of time that roadways are blocked due to a collision.
APD works with the citizens, the towing industry and City Council to provide towing service possible to the public.
How Do I Know Where My Car Was Towed?
If your vehicle was towed from a parking lot, red and white signs should be posted at the entrance/exit with the name and phone number of the wrecker company who tows from that lot. Call that number for more information about your vehicle or you may visit www.search.autoreturn.com.
Were you in a car accident? For vehicles towed from a public road, call 3-1-1 with your vehicle information, or www.search.autoreturn.com may also have the information you need.
How Much Are Towing Fees in Austin?
You can see the current fees for towed vehicles in Austin here. There are on-time fees and daily storage fees, as well as fees based on the weight of the vehicle. It adds up quick!
What Do I Do If I Think My Car Was Towed Illegally?
Think your car was towed illegally?
Austin’s Wrecker Enforcement Detectives investigate all crimes of towing ordinance violation. They issue citations, testify in court, and build cases where crimes have been committed. The hot spots of vehicles being towed from private property are downtown and near the UT campus.
This doesn’t apply if you were in a crash, but if you parked somewhere and came back to find your car gone. First, call 3-1-1 and file a police report for “wrecker ordinance violation.” After you have made a police report, the case will be assigned to a detective and they will be in contact with you.
You’ll have to pay to get your car out of impound (no way around that!). But the next step is to request a hearing with the local Justice of the Peace to potentially recoup your money.
You can also contact the state agency that regulates towing, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (“TDLR”) at 1-800-803-9202.
Please see the City of Austin Towing Customer Bill of Rights in English and in Spanish.
To ensure that the companies that participate in local towing meet safety standards, wreckers are inspected yearly and issued a license. Each tow truck driver must pass a background check to receive a wrecker license. The tow companies are also subject to monthly and quarterly compliance checks.
When another driver’s negligence causes injuries and expenses, you shouldn’t be left responsible for the expense. Don’t hesitate to speak to a car accident lawyer in Austin today to discuss your legal options.
