Resident Vehicle Tow Documents and FAQs
Our mission is to ensure that citizens and businesses are afforded due process related to illegal or predatory towing.
County Tow Regulations
County regulations for the towing and disposition of Vehicles:
Finding Your Vehicle
If towed from private property, signage with the tow truck company's contact information must be posted at the entrances of all parking lots. Property managers must have a towing contract with two truck companies and provide the information as needed. You can look up the vehicle online or call the Police non-emergency line at 301-352-1200.
Reclaiming your vehicle as soon as possible is highly recommended.
Tow truck companies are required to send a certified letter via mail to the last known registered owner of the vehicle three (3) business days after impoundment, if the vehicle is not reclaimed before the end of the third day.
Not reclaiming your vehicle within 21 days after the impound notice is mailed waives all the owners' "right, title, and interest in the vehicle" (sec. 26 - 142.12).
By retrieving your vehicle, you do not forfeit your right to the hearing should you request it. You may save yourself the additional assessment of storage fees and possibly other expenses if it is found that the tow/impound was legal.
Costs to Retrieve Towed Vehicle
Non-Consensual Tows
Non-consensual tows are the towing of a motor vehicle from private property at the request of the owner of the property, the owner's designee, or a law enforcement officer.
- Private and Revenue Authority: $175 (vehicles up to 10,000 pounds)
- Police: $215
An additional $50 per day is charged after the first 18 hours of impoundment.
Consensual Tows
Pricing for consensual tows (the towing of a motor vehicle at the request of the owner or the owner's agent, insurer, primary lienholder, or law enforcement officer) shall be according to the pricing list on file with the Director of the Prince George's County Department of the Environment.
Before providing any consensual towing service, each tow truck operator shall inform the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or the owner's representative of the towing service charges and provide an itemized Towing Service Work Order Statement, except no Towing Service Work Order Statement shall be required where the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or the owner's representative is not reasonably available or otherwise consents to the tow. (Section 5-268 (I)).
Accepted Payment Methods
A towing company shall accept payment in cash or by a major credit card with a credit card slip validly signed by the vehicle owner or the owner's agent for the amount of all valid charges. The towing company shall accept two (2) major credit cards, including MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Visa. A credit card telephone touchtone capture option with signed receipts is allowed.
Improper Towing
If you believe that your car was improperly towed, you can request a Show Cause Hearing through the Department of the Environment by completing a Show Cause Hearing Form and submitting it to PGCTowing@co.pg.md.us or in person to:
Department of the Environment
1801 McCormick Drive, Suite 500
Largo, MD 20774
ATTN: Towing Commission
Vehicle Request for Show Cause Hearing Form | Spanish
Show Cause Hearings are to determine whether a vehicle was towed correctly and impounded under the provisions of Subtitle Divisions 5 and 26 of the County Code. A Hearing Officer conducts a Show Cause Hearing for private, County Police, and Revenue Authority towing.
If you want to contest the impoundment, you must appear and present your testimony at the hearing.
If you are not the registered owner, you must have a notarized letter from the owner authorizing you to represent them at the hearing. If you no longer own the vehicle, there is nothing you need to do.
Show Cause Hearings
Meetings are held virtually.
Both the requestor and the tow truck company representative will present evidence, witnesses, and testimony to support their stance. The Hearing Officer weighs the facts presented and determines whether there was probable cause for the vehicle to be towed.
Determinations are not made during the hearing; however, decisions are mailed out within 21 business days.
Police Tows
If your vehicle was towed by a municipal Police Department (non-County), you will need to contact the respective municipal Police Department to ascertain how to complete their administrative hearing process, if it exists.
For a Prince George's County Police vehicle release, you can go to any police station within the County. You must provide your identification and the vehicle registration. If the registration is in the vehicle, you will need to provide a form of vehicle ownership to the police station officer/clerk.
Hearing Preparations
- A computer or mobile device with a webcam (camera), a stable Internet connection, and a noise-free environment.
- Evidence should be submitted no later than seven (7) business days before the scheduled hearing via email to pgctowing@co.pg.md.us. Or in person, to:
Towing Commission
1801 McCormick Drive
Suite 500
Largo, MD 20774 - If a case number has been assigned, you will need to include that case number with all evidence submissions.
- If no case number is assigned, please use the person referenced on the Vehicle Show Cause Hearing Request Form or the parties listed on the summons.
Hearing Officer Consideration
Towing Hearings Officer Rules and Regulations: Subtitle 26 Division 10 Section 26-142.10
The hearing officer is only empowered to rule whether the vehicle was legally towed and impounded. (Sec. 26. 142. 10 and Sec. 26 - 169).
Should the hearing officer rule that your vehicle was towed without probable cause (illegally), you are entitled to receive reimbursement for towing and storage fees already paid or a fraction thereof.
If the hearing officer determines there was probable cause (legally) for your vehicle to be impounded, the impound/storage fees paid will not be refunded.
Request Rescheduling of Hearing
To request a rescheduling of your hearing, email the hearing administrator no later than 3 business days before the hearing date.
Both the requestor and the tow truck company are permitted to reschedule once.
Withdraw Hearing Request
Yes, by sending a signed and dated request to withdraw to The Towing Commission at PGCTowing@co.pg.md.us.
Appeal a Tow Hearing Decision
The hearing officer's decision is final; however, you have the right to file a claim in civil court.
Parking Citations
The Show Cause Hearing is only to determine whether or not there was probable cause to have your vehicle towed. All other matters are outside the scope of this hearing and the Department.