Texas non-consent tow fees are regulated. TDLR sets statewide caps. The City of Houston sets its own in-city rate. Consent tows are quoted by the operator. Each number you hear should be tied to a specific authority.

Who regulates tow fees in Texas

Three authorities cover tow fees in Texas:

  • TDLR sets statewide non-consent tow caps and Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF) fees under 16 TAC Ch. 85
  • Cities with populations over 70,000 (including Houston) may set their own in-city non-consent rates
  • Consent tows (the customer calls and agrees to the price) are not capped; the operator quotes the price

Knowing which authority sets the number tells you whether the fee is the legal ceiling or just a quote.

TDLR’s non-consent caps (effective January 1, 2024, the most recent published schedule) are:

  • $272 for vehicles 10,000 lb or less
  • $380 for vehicles 10,001 to 24,999 lb
  • $489 per unit (up to $978) for vehicles 25,000 lb or more

Drop fees (hooked but not removed): $135 (10,000 lb or less), $190 (10,001 to 24,999 lb), $244 (25,000 lb or more). Notification fee: $50, charged once.

These are the legal ceilings for non-consent tows across most of Texas, including unincorporated Harris County, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Katy, Baytown, and other metro cities that do not have a city-specific non-consent rate.

The City of Houston sets its own rate for non-consent tows inside city limits. The current light-duty rate is $232 for the first 20 miles, then $4.64 a mile, under Municipal Code §8-123 (effective January 1, 2026). Heavy-duty wrecker work is billed hourly under §8-123(d), with a two-hour minimum.

The City of Houston rate adjusts every January 1 by a weighted CPI formula. Other large Texas cities (San Antonio, Dallas, Austin) have their own rates; the city rate applies only inside the city that set it.

VSF storage fees

TDLR also regulates VSF storage fees across Texas:

  • Daily storage: $22.85 per day for vehicles up to 25 ft, $39.99 per day for longer vehicles
  • Impoundment fee: $20 maximum, and only if impoundment services were actually performed
  • Notification fee: $50 (one-time)
  • Storage begins 6 hours after the vehicle arrives at the VSF
  • A part-day counts as a day, but not more than one day if under 12 hours
  • No more than 5 days of storage may be charged until owner notice is mailed

Prohibited fees at the VSF: environmental fees, notary fees, and fees to access personal property in a stored vehicle.

When you call a tow operator and agree to a price for a service tow (jump start, tire change, lockout, fuel delivery, destination tow, long-distance tow), the price is a quote, not a cap. The operator quotes the price on the call, before the truck rolls.

Quick Tow Houston does not set a hookup fee or per-mile rate. The dispatched operator confirms your price on the call. The number you hear on the call is the number you pay.

How to challenge an overcharge

If a non-consent tower charges more than the published cap, you have two paths:

  • File a complaint with TDLR. TDLR can discipline the operator’s license.
  • Request a tow hearing in justice court within 14 days under Occ. Code §§2308.452, 2308.456. Civil liability under §2308.404 may apply.

For consent tows, the operator’s quote is the agreed price. Disputes are typically handled through the credit-card chargeback process if you paid by card, or through small claims court.

What to do before you pay

Ask the operator:

  • Which authority sets the rate being charged (TDLR statewide cap, City of Houston §8-123, or operator quote for a consent tow)
  • The exact dollar amount and any extra fees (drop fee, notification fee, storage)
  • The destination and ETA
  • The TDLR license number on the truck

If the operator cannot name the authority or the license, that is a yellow flag. You can refuse the tow before it begins (drop-fee rules apply) and call Quick Tow Houston at (281) 916-1288.

Frequently asked questions

Are tow fees regulated in Texas? Yes. TDLR sets statewide non-consent caps and VSF storage fees. Cities with populations over 70,000 (including Houston) may set their own in-city non-consent rate. Consent tows are quoted by the operator.

What are the current TDLR non-consent caps? $272 for vehicles 10,000 lb or less, $380 for 10,001 to 24,999 lb, and $489 per unit up to $978 for 25,000 lb or more. Effective January 1, 2024.

What is the City of Houston non-consent tow rate? $232 for the first 20 miles and $4.64 a mile beyond that, per Municipal Code §8-123 (effective January 1, 2026). Heavy-duty wrecker work is hourly with a two-hour minimum.

Are consent tows regulated? No. Consent tows (the customer calls and agrees to the price) are quoted by the operator. The operator’s quote is the agreed price.

What if a non-consent tower overcharges? File a TDLR complaint and request a tow hearing within 14 days under Occ. Code §§2308.452, 2308.456. Civil liability may apply under §2308.404.

What fees can a VSF not charge? Environmental fees, notary fees, and fees to access personal property in a stored vehicle are prohibited by TDLR.