State guide
Florida
Florida has detailed state statutes on private-property towing, but it does not provide a single statewide public search for all towed vehicles. For private-property non-consent tows, the key statewide rules are in section 715.07, while lien notice and owner court remedies appear in section 713.78.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- How to find a towed car
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Florida does not set one statewide private-property tow cap; section 715.07 requires rates to be filed with local law enforcement, and local governments may regulate maximum towing and storage rates.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For private-property tows, the tow company must notify local police or the sheriff within 30 minutes; under section 713.78, notice of lien must be mailed to owners and lienholders within 5 business days after storage.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
Official resources in Florida
State law governing vehicles towed from private property without the owner’s consent, including signs, police notification, storage distance, and posted rates.
State consumer complaint page a resident can use when they need to report a business problem and want state review.
Key facts for Florida
- Private-property tow storage must be within 10 miles in counties of 500,000+ population and 15 miles in smaller counties.
- The tow company must notify municipal police or the sheriff within 30 minutes after a private-property tow is completed.
- Tow companies demanding payment before release must file current rates with local law enforcement and post the same schedule at the storage site.
- Section 715.07 requires tow-away signs with the towing firm’s current telephone number before most private-property tows.
- Section 713.78 requires notice of lien to the registered owner, insurer, and lienholders within 5 business days after storage.
- If owner information cannot be found, the towing-storage operator must notify the public agency of jurisdiction 5 business days after the initial tow or storage.
What to do next
- Call the city police department or sheriff in the place where the car disappeared first; Florida law requires a prompt report of the tow to local law enforcement.
- Ask for the posted rate sheet and compare it with the local ordinance or police rate page for the jurisdiction where the car was towed.
- If you think the tow or fees were wrongful, use the county court bond-and-release process described in section 713.78 and keep all receipts and photos.
Looking for your city or county in Florida?
No city-level official pages for Florida yet. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data (distance from Florida's population center, for comparison only):
- Savannah Police Department Headquarters, Georgia · about 290 miles
- Nonconsensual Towing & Immobilization, South Carolina · about 360 miles
- Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, Alabama · about 413 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Florida Attorney General Consumer Complaint Form
Website →Phone: (850) 414-3990 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Florida page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.