When can your car be towed ?

Question

IA friend of mine left his a car in a convenient store parking lot for two days with the owners permission . The store was out of town from wherew we live . I took him to get it today and it had been towed away . Surprised we were to find out that the store owner had it towed . Surprised again we were to find out it would cost a $150 to tow it 3 miles down the road for half a day . Is this legal ? I thought that in a public parking lot or a lot with public access you could leave car there for two weeks . Whats the law ?

Answer 1

Probably best to get written contracts signed for if something like that happens. You'll have to pay this time around but it's always something to keep in mind for the future.

Answer 2

Yes it is legal. It's called a private impound. If you leave a vehicle at a business and (as most) it's posted the owner can have it towed. Some areas are restrictive on vehicle left overnight also. The miles towed isn't the fee...most places have a set impound fee. It's so much for a law enforcement impound and so much for a private impound. Then there is storage. When you account for fuel, insurance, taxes, licensing and everything else tow truck operators have to pay there is not a large profit margin. Be it 3 miles or 20 miles an impound hook is the same. Usually if it's under so many miles there isn't a mileage fee....at least where I worked. A *PUBLIC* parking lot (as in city owned) isn't the same as a public access (privately owned - such as stores have). If you didn't have anything in writing there is no recourse. Pay the impound fee, get your vehicle and be glad it was impounded and not stolen.

Answer 3

Depending upon the state you live in, and possibly even the local laws, leaving the car there for 2 days could very well be illegal. Were there signs up saying that cars would be towed at owners expense? If the owner of the store gave permission to leave the car there, your friend should have gotten that in writting.

Answer 4

It's not a public parking lot if the lot is part of the store property, and the property is privately owned. The store owner owns the parking lot. Since you had nothing in writing, obviously the store owner can have the car towed at your expense. Best bet is to get it in writing next time or not use a private parking lot for long-term parking, unless you KNOW it's OK (for example, all Wal-Mart parking lots can be used for overnight parking by Camper/RV drivers).

Answer 5

Yes, it is legal. Very few parking lots are public domain. Most are privately owned or run by a local government. The owner is under no obligation to allow you to park. Once the vehicle has been towed, you are under obligation to either pay the towing fee, or lose the car in auction.. (and even if you lose the car in auction, you still have to pay any outstanding loan payments)

Answer 6

Depends on the person paying the rent for the parking lot. In many places it is 24 hours and then it is towed.

Answer 7

Without written permission from the owners, legally they can do anything on their lot and don't owe your friend squat. They're paying the rent/taxes for the lot & land, so it's theirs.

Answer 8

i'm undecided of the line rules over there (i'm in WA) yet i think of that one vehicle towing yet another is criminal in basic terms for short distances i.e. interior 10km of your trip spot. different than that i think of that a tow tuck may be required. in case you call your states branch for Planing and Infrastructure they could desire to be able to tell you what you're able to desire to be conscious of. desire this helps.

Answer 9

Not sure, but next time, get the written permission taped inside the window of your car.

Answer 10

It was private property. The owner can do what he wants.