Have you ever had your car towed unexpectedly? Luckily, Hillsborough County offers resources to help you navigate the process:
- What To Do if Your Car is Towed. Lists the steps you can when your vehicle is in the process or has been towed.
- Things to Know About Trespass Tow. Highlights towing regulations, such as law enforcement assistance with determining if your vehicle was towed.
- Things to Know Before You Trespass Tow. A reminder checklist for tow companies, drivers, and property owners to comply with Hillsborough County Code Sections 50-171 through 50-199.
- The updated Hillsborough County Code of Ordinances provides greater detail about tow company licensing requirements, signage standards, filing of complaints, and more.
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Updates to towing rules in Hillsborough
Below are some of the updates as of May 18 that were made to the Trespass Towing, Immobilization and Rates Ordinance:
- Companies now accept credit cards along with cash, money order, cashier’s check, or debit.
- The towing service must provide a written bill to the vehicle owner before provessing payment. It must detail the charges to date and any potential storage charges.
- Towing rates and associated fees must be prominently posted and clearly legible at the point of payment at the storage site.
- The towing maximum flat fee increased to $160 from $125. Mileage rates increased to $6 from $5 for towing from the point of removal to the storage facility for Class A vehicles (1,000 pounds or less).
- If you believe your vehicle or vessel was wrongfully towed and/or you have been overcharged for services rendered, you do not have to pay your bill to get your vehicle or vessel back right away Instead, you have the right to post a bond in the circuit court, payment to [name of towing service], in the amount of the final bill for services rendered, and the court will decide later who is right.
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