Towed From A Private Lot
Va. Code 46.2-1231 — signs at all entrances, $25 when the owner gets there first, and caps on the charge
In Virginia, the owner, operator or lessee of a parking lot, other lot or building may have a vehicle parked without permission towed to a licensed garage for storage if signs at all entrances clearly disclose that a vehicle parked without permission will be removed, towed or immobilized. The signs include the nonemergency number of local law enforcement or the towing operator's number for locating towed vehicles.
Present before the tow. If the owner or the owner's agent is present and removes the vehicle before it is actually towed, it is not towed, and the owner owes a reasonable fee not to exceed $25, or another limit the county, city or town sets by ordinance. Removing an immobilizing device is capped the same way.
- The tow truck operator reports the tow forthwith to the State Police or local law enforcement, and failing to report limits storage charges to one day.
- A towing business displays a comprehensive list of its fees, and charges above those posted are not collectable.
- A resident's vehicle at a landlord's lot is not towed for an expired registration or inspection sticker until 48 hours after a dated written notice is posted on it.
The caps. Unless a locality sets different limits, the hookup and initial towing fee for a passenger car may not exceed $210, plus no more than $30 for a tow between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, with no more than two such fees, and no storage charge for 24 hours or less.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA towed car runs up storage from the first hour | What the law actually doesNo storage charge for 24 hours or less |
| The assumptionArriving as the truck hooks up changes nothing | What the law actually doesIf the owner removes it first, it is not towed, for a fee up to $25 |
Local ordinances, fee schedules and police ordered impounds are not all on this page. Whether a particular tow was lawful is a question for a licensed Virginia attorney. Where a local governing body has adopted its own towing ordinance, the sign rule in this section gives way to it.
Sources for this section (2)
- Va. Code 46.2-1231 — Ticketing, removal, or immobilization of trespassing vehicles by owner or operator of parking or other lot or building; charges
- Va. Code 46.2-1233.1 — Limitation on charges for towing and storage of certain vehicles
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.