Does getting your car towed affect your license? This question is a common concern among many drivers who are potentially unsure about the possible impact of car towing on their licenses and vehicle ownership rights in many countries. It is important to know that towing regulations vary from one region to another just like they are by country.
Many car owners who subscribe to insurance also ask similar questions such as “Does getting your car towed affect your insurance?”. We must break these down for you to understand the legal implications that apply to your car licenses on every tow that you incur.
The truth is that it is almost impossible for a car tow to affect your car license. But this article aims to shed light on the concept of towing a car, car towing regulations, and whether it is legal in the UK, your rights when your car is towed in California and Florida, providing guidance on towing an automatic car, and offering essential knowledge including the insurance coverage and possible lien on your insurance license. This information equips you to make informed and legally sound decisions regarding the towing of your vehicles.
What Does It Mean To Tow A Car?
Towing a car refers to moving a vehicle from one location to another using another motorized vehicle, often a tow truck is used in this case. This can be due to various reasons, such as breakdowns, accidents, illegal parking, or removing abandoned vehicles. Towing is typically performed by attaching a towing apparatus, such as a tow bar, tow dolly, or tow truck, to the disabled or improperly parked vehicle.
The primary objective of towing is to transport the vehicle to a specified location, such as an auto repair shop, impound lot, or a safer parking space. Towing can be conducted by a professional towing company or individuals with the appropriate equipment and expertise.
Is It Legal To Tow A Car UK?
Yes, it is legal to tow a car in the UK. The UK law states that you can tow up to 3.500kg with most standard driving licenses. You are advised to check the owner’s handbook to see the maximum allowable towing mass for your particular vehicle. For instance, planning to tow a Range Rover with a mini SUV is not a good idea.
There is no specific stated speed limit for towing a car, but most experts recommend that the towing speed limit should not exceed 15mph. To tow a caravan or trailer in the UK, the speed limit must not exceed 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on dual carriageways, and 50mph on single carriageways.
You can use different equipment to tow your car, such as towing ropes, safety chains, tow bars, tow dallies, and hitch receivers. You should go for two bars because they give you more control to exceed this limit.
You must abide by regulations while towing your car in the UK. Let’s take a look at them:
- Ensure that the gap between the two vehicles does not exceed 4.5 meters.
- If the separation between the two vehicles surpasses 1.5 meters, a colored cloth or flag must be positioned at the midpoint of the tow rope or bar.
- Both individuals operating the vehicles must possess valid driver’s licenses.
What Are My Rights If My Car Is Towed In California?
In California, if your vehicle undergoes towing for any reason, you must be aware of your specific rights. This is because immediate action and understanding your rights are essential in navigating the aftermath of a towed vehicle situation in California. Below are your specific rights if your car is towed in California:
- Reason Clarification: The right to be informed about the reasons behind the vehicle’s towing.
- Personal Property Recovery: The right to retrieve personal belongings from the vehicle, even if payment for the vehicle’s release is currently unattainable.
- Legal Action: The right to take legal action against the towing company if the vehicle sustains damage during the towing process.
- Notice Requirement: The right to receive notice before your vehicle is towed from private property.
Should your vehicle be towed, contact the local traffic enforcement agency promptly for detailed information and guidance. For instance, the San Francisco Police Department offers resources on its website for individuals seeking assistance after their vehicles have been towed.
It is important to note that violating California’s towing laws constitutes a civil misdemeanor. If you can substantiate that your vehicle was towed illegally, you may have the opportunity to recover some of the associated costs.
Additionally, you must know that California towing laws authorize police and property owners to tow your vehicle if it is abandoned or illegally parked. It usually involves paying storage and steep towing fees to get your car back if it is being towed. Carefully go through the California Vehicle Code Section 22651 to know the situations when the local police are authorized to tow your car. Also, Section 22658 contains private property towing rules.
Can A Towing Company Put A Lien On Your License In Florida?
Yes, a towing company can put a lien on your license in Florida. Florida gives the towing company the legal right to do that, which is not allowed in some other states in the United States of America.
When a towing company places a lien on your driver’s license, it does not immediately impact your current license status, as it does not lead to a suspension. However, in the future, this license lien can have significant consequences. Upon the expiration of your driver’s license, renewal becomes impossible without settling the outstanding debt owed to the towing company. Moreover, this lien poses obstacles to renewing or obtaining new vehicle registrations, updating tags, and even renewing insurance.
It hinders your ability to own or drive a car until the towing company is compensated. If your vehicle was towed unlawfully or there’s a valid legal reason why you shouldn’t be obligated to pay the towing fees, seeking legal representation may be necessary to contest the lien in court and remove it from your license.
In cases where you legitimately owe fees to the towing company, the recommended course of action is to promptly settle the dues and retrieve your car before additional storage fees accumulate. This approach allows you to address necessary repairs or sell your vehicle while preventing the imposition of a lien on your license.
Can Someone Else Get My Car Out Of Impound California?
Yes, someone else can get your car out of impound in California. In cases where the registered owner does not have a valid driving license, an individual with a valid license must accompany the vehicle owner to get the car out of impound.
If the registered owner is in custody, they can grant permission for the vehicle’s release to another individual. The vehicle owner must write a formal letter indicating authorization for the specified person to retrieve the described vehicle from impound and officially stamped by jail authorities, which must be submitted along with the release request. The authorized individual must meet the stipulated requirements, and a copy of the vehicle owner’s identification must be presented on the same page as the letter.
When the registered owner cannot personally collect the impounded vehicle, they can authorize another person for the release. A signed note from the registered owner granting permission for the vehicle’s release must be accompanied by a photocopy of the registered owner’s driver’s license or another valid form of identification before the car is released. Also, the signatures on the note and the photocopied ID must match. The authorized person must adhere to the outlined requirements.
Note the cost of releasing a vehicle out of impound is $272.
Can You Tow An Automatic Car?
Yes, you can tow an automatic car, but the towing method varies based on whether they are front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), or all-wheel drive (AWD).
For front-wheel drive cars, which make up the majority, towing involves lifting the front wheels off the ground using a tow truck or tow rig.
In contrast, rear-wheel drive cars require lifting the rear wheels, either by a tow truck attaching from behind or by the towed vehicle reversing onto the towing truck’s rear. Some RWD cars can disengage the driveshaft, enabling towing with the drive wheels on the ground. Others may necessitate manually disconnecting the driveshaft, lifting the vehicle, and removing the driveshaft.
For four-wheel drive vehicles, using a flatbed trailer is the sole option. The drive wheels, connected to the engine and transmission, must not touch the ground during towing. If you are uncertain about your vehicle’s drivetrain, opting for a flatbed trailer is advisable. While the common practice involves pulling a car onto a flatbed trailer, roadside services typically do this slowly and over a very short distance.
Regardless of the drivetrain configuration, it is essential to check and abide strictly by the manufacturer’s specific towing instructions and guidelines.
Does towing impact the lifespan of a vehicle?
It doesn’t necessarily shorten the life of a vehicle, but exceeding towing capacity can lead to heightened wear and tear, increasing the risk of damage. Towing beyond your vehicle’s maximum capacity may result in various issues, including but not limited to engine or transmission damage.
What is the legal fee that a towing company can charge in Texas?
The legal limits for tow fees are outlined as follows: for light-duty tows, the maximum is $255; for medium-duty tows, it is $357; and for heavy-duty tows, the maximum stands at $459 per unit, with an overall cap of $918.10.
What is the legal fee that a towing company can charge in Alabama?
The maximum fee for towing vehicles weighing up to 7,000 pounds is $190.00. For vehicles with weights ranging from 7,001 to 17,000 pounds, the maximum fee is established at $250.00.
How much is the legal fee that a towing company can charge Tennessee?
The highest storage fee for any vehicle removed from private property is $40 daily. Vehicles stored for two hours or less will not incur any storage charges.
How long before a tow company can sell your car in Georgia?
It is advisable to retrieve your vehicle promptly to avoid accumulating daily storage fees. Vehicles left unclaimed for more than 30 days may be subject to sale through a public car auction.
Can you sue for illegal towing in Texas?
If you suspect that your car was improperly towed, stored, or booted or were charged an amount exceeding the permitted fee, you can seek a TOW HEARING at any Justice of the Peace Court within the county where the towing occurred. To do so, initiating the request within 14 days of the towing incident is essential.
What is the towing limit?
Each vehicle is assigned a maximum towing capacity, a limit the manufacturer sets. This maximum towing mass can be identified by examining the vehicle identification plate (VIN plate), typically beneath the car bonnet or on a door pillar. The VIN plate, consisting of four lines, provides crucial information about the vehicle’s specifications.
Conclusion
If you are one of the drivers with the question, “Does getting your car towed affect your license,” I believe you understand that getting your car towed does not affect your license. Car towing rules differ from one state to another. The primary thing is that you should ensure you pay any towing fee if your car gets legally towed. You can get an attorney or lawyer to defend your rights if it was towed illegally.
