Cars & light trucks
Towing in Florida: the published maximums and your rights
The numbers live at the county or city layer in this state; the state writes the rights.
Rules checked October 2026
Fla. Stat. §715.07 — the state writes the rights; counties (and some cities) publish the rate cards
The drop rule
If you arrive before the truck departs, release costs no more than half the posted rate — and you must be given at least 15 minutes to arrange payment.
Release hours
Sites must be open 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; the operator must return within 1 hour of a phone request, and the vehicle must be released within 1 hour of your request.
Notification
Law enforcement must be notified within 30 minutes of the tow.
Storage site
The storage site must sit within 10 miles of the tow (counties of 500,000+) or 15 miles elsewhere.
Penalties & remedies
An improper tow makes the person who caused it liable for removal and storage costs, damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Kickbacks
Paying a property owner or agent for the privilege of towing is banned in this state (U.S. PIRG state survey, 2022). A kickback arrangement behind your tow is a claim of its own.
Who takes the complaint
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.