Under TDLR rules (16 TAC §85.722), a Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF) cannot charge a fee for you to access personal property in your stored vehicle. Your clothes, tools, child seat, documents, and other personal items come out without paying storage. Vehicle parts (seats, wheels, the battery) are different.

What counts as personal property

Personal property inside a stored vehicle generally includes:

  • Clothing and personal items
  • Tools, jack, spare tire (unless it is part of the vehicle)
  • Child seats and boosters
  • Documents (registration, insurance, mail)
  • Phone chargers, GPS units, dashcams
  • Eyeglasses, medications, water bottles
  • Anything in the trunk that is not bolted to the car

The line is between items that came into the car with you (or that you bought for it) and items that are part of the car itself.

What does not count

Vehicle parts that are attached to the car generally do not come out under the personal property rule:

  • Seats (factory or aftermarket, if bolted in)
  • Wheels and rims
  • The battery
  • The stereo head unit (often integrated)
  • The dashboard components
  • Any part you would replace with a wrench, not a key

If you want a part off the car, you pay the storage fees and release the vehicle first, then take the part. The personal property access rule is for items inside the car, not parts of the car.

How to ask for your belongings

Show up at the VSF during business hours with a photo ID. Tell the gate operator you want to retrieve personal property, not release the vehicle. They may:

  • Walk you to the car
  • Hand you the items at the gate
  • Have you sign a release form

The VSF cannot charge you an access fee for that visit. If they try, that is a TDLR violation.

What if the VSF refuses

If the VSF refuses to release your personal property or charges an access fee:

  • Ask for the operator’s TDLR license number
  • Note the date, time, and the employee’s name
  • Pay if you must to retrieve your items, but keep the receipt
  • File a complaint with TDLR

A VSF that holds personal property hostage is subject to license discipline under TDLR rules. The complaint stays on the operator’s record and informs future license actions.

What about lien sales

If the VSF moves to a lien sale (selling the vehicle to cover unpaid fees), the personal property question gets more complicated. The VSF must mail owner notice before the lien sale under Transp. Code §683. After the lien sale, the new owner takes title to the vehicle, including any personal property still inside.

If you think a lien sale is imminent, retrieve your personal property first. That is the time to act, not after the sale.

The difference between personal property and lost property

If you leave items behind after picking up the car, the VSF may treat them as abandoned personal property and hold them for a period under local lost-property rules. That is different from the personal-property access rule, which applies while the car is still at the VSF.

If you forgot something after release, call the VSF first to ask how long they hold found items. Most hold for 30 to 90 days.

What to bring to the VSF

To make the personal property retrieval go smoothly, bring:

  • A photo ID
  • The tow receipt (or the VSF’s storage invoice with your name on it)
  • A bag for your items
  • A list (mentally) of what is in the car that you want to retrieve

If you are not the registered owner but are retrieving for a family member, bring their written authorization and your ID. Some VSFs are strict about this.

How to file a TDLR complaint

TDLR complaint filing is at the TDLR website. The form asks for:

  • Your contact information
  • The VSF or operator’s name and license number
  • The date and location of the incident
  • A description of what happened
  • Any photos or receipts

TDLR typically responds within several weeks. The complaint becomes part of the operator’s licensing record.

If you need help thinking through next steps after a tow, call Quick Tow Houston at (281) 916-1288. For your hearing rights, see our rights guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Texas VSF hold my personal property hostage? No. TDLR rules prohibit charging a fee for personal property access. The VSF must let you retrieve your belongings without paying storage.

What counts as personal property in a stored vehicle? Items inside the car that are not part of the vehicle itself: clothing, tools, child seats, documents, medications, and similar items.

What does not count? Vehicle parts attached to the car (seats, wheels, battery, stereo). To get those, release the vehicle and pay the fees, then remove the parts.

What if the VSF charges me an access fee? That is a TDLR violation. Note the date, time, employee name, and license number. File a TDLR complaint.

Can the VSF sell my personal property in a lien sale? After a properly noticed lien sale under Transp. Code §683, the new owner takes title to the vehicle including any items inside. Retrieve personal property before any lien sale.

Can someone else retrieve my belongings for me? With your written authorization and their photo ID, usually yes. Check with the VSF first.