Towing Company Documents and FAQs
Our mission is to ensure tow truck businesses in Prince George's County comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Towing Documents
County Tow Regulations
County regulations for the "Towing and Disposition of Vehicles":
Consensual and Non-Consensual Towing
Consensual Towing is towing a motor vehicle at the request of the owner or the owner's agent, insurer, primary lienholder, or law enforcement officer.
Non-consensual towing is towing a motor vehicle from private property at the property's owner's request, the owner's designee, or a law enforcement officer.
Towing License
You have to have a towing license to tow vehicles in Prince George's County. Except as provided in Section 5-266 of the Towing Regulations, it shall be unlawful for any person to provide a towing service in Prince George's County, Maryland, without obtaining a license from the Department of the Environment.
Once you have completed the towing application in its entirety, you can email it to PGCTowing@co.pg.md.us or bring it and the required fees to:
Department of the Environment
1801 McCormick Drive, Suite 500
Largo, MD 20774
You cannot provide towing services before receiving a new or renewed license.
A person who provides a towing service in Prince George's County without a license is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both. Any tow truck providing towing services without a license shall be subject to impoundment in accordance with regulations issued by the Director and may only be retrieved upon presentation to the Department of proof of license and/or payment of a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
Inspection
Each tow truck shall have permanent signs or markings on both sides of the vehicle, in a color that contrasts with the color of the body paint and in letters not less than three (3) inches in height, the name, telephone number, and license number of the licensee for that tow truck. Each tow truck shall also display on the driver side fender a tow truck medallion number issued by the Department that contains the licensee's license number for that tow truck.
A copy of a current, valid vehicle registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles and proof of insurance must be submitted with your application.
Allowed Fees
How much can I charge to tow and/or impound a vehicle?
Non-Consensual Tows
- 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 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)
Any changes to the pricing list must first be presented to and accepted by the Director of the Department of the Environment.
All pricing lists should be on company letterhead, signed, and dated.
Tow Slips
For requirements for tow slips, see Section 26-142.05 of the Towing Regulations.
Allowed 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 that include the following: MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Visa. Credit card telephone touchtone capture option with signed receipts is allowed.
A receipt shall be provided upon release of the vehicle. The receipt shall specify
- Name, address, and phone number of the towing company
- Make, model, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle
- License plate number
- Tow company's license number
- Time at which the vehicle was towed
- Location from which the vehicle was towed
- Reason for the towing
- Location where the vehicle was towed and any other location at which the vehicle was stored
The receipt shall also include information on the legal right of the vehicle owner to request a hearing pursuant to Section 26-142.10 of this Code.
Show Cause Hearing
Currently, hearings are held virtually.
Show Cause Hearings are to determine whether a vehicle was properly towed and impounded under the provisions of Subtitle Divisions 5 and 26 of the County Code.
Failure by a tow company to attend a hearing, without just cause, shall result in a finding for the vehicle owner by the Hearing Officer. The Director may impose a fine of up to Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per hearing on any towing company for failing to attend a hearing under Section 26-142.10.
Show Cause Hearings are conducted by a Hearing Officer. You will be required to appear and present testimony at the hearing.
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 makes a determination as to whether there was probable cause for the vehicle to be towed.
Determinations are not made during the hearing; however, they will be mailed out within 21 business days.
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, either via mail, in-person to The Towing Commission at 1801 McCormick Drive, Suite 500, Largo, MD 20774, or by email to PGCTowing@co.pg.md.us.
- 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
Jurisdiction: Private, County Police, and Revenue Authority towing
Towing Hearings Officer Rules and Regulations: Subtitle 26 Division 10 Section 26-142.10
The hearing officer can only rule if the vehicle was legally towed and impounded. (Sec. 26. 142. 10 and Sec. 26 – 169).
Should the hearing officer rule that the vehicle was towed without probable cause (illegally), the owner is entitled to receive reimbursement for towing and storage fees already paid or a fraction thereof as ordered by the Hearing Officer.
The failure by a towing company to pay an ordered reimbursement within fifteen (15) days of notice by the Hearing Officer shall result in:
- (1) A suspension by the Director of the towing company license for no less than ninety (90) days pursuant to Section 5-273 (a)(10) of the Code; and
- (2) A court in any subsequent civil action to enforce the decision finds the tow invalid. The amount charged was paid, the towing company shall pay the vehicle owner, in addition to the amount invalidly charged, liquidated damages of two (2) times the amount invalidly charged, but not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), and all reasonable costs of collection, including court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.
- Should the hearing officer determine there was a probable cause (legally) for the vehicle being impounded, impound/storage fees paid will not be refunded.
Request Rescheduling of Hearing
To request a rescheduling of your hearing, email the hearing administrator via email no later than five (5) business days before the hearing date.
Both the requestor and the tow truck company are permitted one (1) reschedule.
Withdrawn Hearing Request
A requestor can withdraw the request for a hearing 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 decision of the Hearing Officer is final; however, the citizen does have the right to file a claim in civil court.