| Going to the Vehicle Storage Facility to retrieve your vehicle |
It is very important to remember when arriving the storage facility, that when you park, do not block the gate. When walking up to the release window, the first thing you
ask for is employee's vehicle storage facility employee's license card. They are required to show it to all consumers upon request, should they wish to file a complaint
for their rude conduct towards you. Once the license issue is out of the way, you need to request a copy of the nonconsent tow fee schedule, another document the
storage facility must provide, upon request.
Then, when talking about the charges they are demanding, ask what services, the date, the time, they were performed that allows the $20 impound fee. You can only
be charged $20 day, if the vehicle is less than 25' long. A daily storage fee may be charged for any part of the day, except that a daily storage fee may not be charged
for more than one day if the vehicle remains at the VSF less than 12 hours. In this paragraph a day is considered to begin and end at midnight. (as an example,
vehicle placed into storage at 11pm Saturday, pickup the vehicle at 9am Sunday, only charged one day)
Remember, you are not required by State Law to sign any document the storage facility gives you to sign, it's best not to sign anything, because in most cases,
your signature releases the towing and storage companies of any damage you may find.
Be sure to check your vehicle for damage or missing personal property BEFORE driving off the storage facility property. If you discover damage or missing personal
property, call 911 to have an offense report issued, so you can follow up with a complaint with TDLR.
ask for is employee's vehicle storage facility employee's license card. They are required to show it to all consumers upon request, should they wish to file a complaint
for their rude conduct towards you. Once the license issue is out of the way, you need to request a copy of the nonconsent tow fee schedule, another document the
storage facility must provide, upon request.
Then, when talking about the charges they are demanding, ask what services, the date, the time, they were performed that allows the $20 impound fee. You can only
be charged $20 day, if the vehicle is less than 25' long. A daily storage fee may be charged for any part of the day, except that a daily storage fee may not be charged
for more than one day if the vehicle remains at the VSF less than 12 hours. In this paragraph a day is considered to begin and end at midnight. (as an example,
vehicle placed into storage at 11pm Saturday, pickup the vehicle at 9am Sunday, only charged one day)
Remember, you are not required by State Law to sign any document the storage facility gives you to sign, it's best not to sign anything, because in most cases,
your signature releases the towing and storage companies of any damage you may find.
Be sure to check your vehicle for damage or missing personal property BEFORE driving off the storage facility property. If you discover damage or missing personal
property, call 911 to have an offense report issued, so you can follow up with a complaint with TDLR.
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It's important to remember, the person working at the vehicle storage facility taking your money DID NOT tow your vehicle. Their sole job is to accept and release vehicles.
Keep all the paperwork you are given at the storage facility, as these documents will be required upon filing complaints and providing to the Court for the Tow Hearing.
Make sure the documents are legible.
Make sure the documents are legible.
85.722. Responsibilities of Licensee--Storage Fees and Other Charges.
(1) owned by a governmental entity; and
(2) used to store or park at least 10 vehicles each year.
(b) The fees outlined in this section have precedence over any conflicting municipal ordinance or charter provision.
(c) Notification fee.
(1) A VSF may not charge a vehicle owner more than $50 for notification under these rules. If a notification must be published, and the actual cost of publication exceeds
50% of the notification fee, the VSF operator may recover the additional amount of the cost of publication. The publication fee is in addition to the notification fee.
(2) If a vehicle is removed by the vehicle owner within 24 hours after the date the VSF receives the vehicle, notification is not required by these rules.
(3) If a vehicle is removed by the vehicle owner before notification is sent or within 24 hours from the time VSF receives the vehicle, the VSF operator may not charge a
notification fee to the vehicle owner.
(d) Daily storage fee. A VSF operator may not charge less than $5.00 or more than $20 for each day or part of a day for storage of a vehicle that is 25 feet or less in
length. A VSF operator shall charge a fee of $35 for each day or part of a day for storage of a vehicle that exceeds 25 feet in length.
(1) A daily storage fee may be charged for any part of the day, except that a daily storage fee may not be charged for more than one day if the vehicle remains at the VSF
less than 12 hours. In this paragraph a day is considered to begin and end at midnight.
(2) A VSF that has accepted into storage a vehicle registered in this state shall not charge for more than five days of storage fees until a notice, as prescribed in §85.703
of these rules, is mailed or published.
(3) A VSF operator that has accepted into storage a vehicle not registered in Texas shall not charge for more than five days before the date the request for owner
information is sent to the appropriate governmental entity. Such requests shall be correctly addressed, with sufficient postage, and sent by certified mail, or electronic
certified mail, return receipt requested, to the governmental entity with which the vehicle is registered requesting information relating to the identity of the last known
registered owner and any lienholder of record.
(4) A VSF operator shall charge a daily storage fee after notice, as prescribed in §85.703, is mailed or published for each day or portion of a day the vehicle is in storage
until the vehicle is removed and all accrued charges are paid.
(e) Impoundment fee. A VSF operator may charge a vehicle owner an Impoundment fee if Impoundment is performed in accordance with these rules. The
Impoundment fee may not exceed $20. If the VSF operator charges a fee for Impoundment, the written bill for services must specify the exact services performed for that
fee and the dates those services were performed.
(f) Governmental or law enforcement fees. A VSF operator may collect from a vehicle owner any fee that must be paid to a law enforcement agency, the agency's
authorized agent, or a governmental entity.
(g) Environmental hazard fee. A VSF operator may collect from a vehicle owner a fee in an amount set by the commission for the remediation, recovery, or capture of an
environmental or biological hazard.
(h) Additional fees. A VSF operator may not charge any additional fees related to the storage of a vehicle other than fees authorized by these rules or a
nonconsent-towing fee posted on a nonconsent towing fees schedule on file with the department and posted at the VSF.
(a) The operator of a vehicle storage facility shall accept payment by an electronic check, debit card, or credit card for any charge associated with delivery or storage of a
vehicle. The facility shall conspicuously post a sign that states: "This vehicle storage of a vehicle." The operator of a vehicle storage facility may not refuse to release a
because of a power outage or a machine malfunction.
A vehicle storage facility may not charge a credit/debit card user fee.
vehicle. The facility shall conspicuously post a sign that states: "This vehicle storage of a vehicle." The operator of a vehicle storage facility may not refuse to release a
because of a power outage or a machine malfunction.
A vehicle storage facility may not charge a credit/debit card user fee.
facility, so that you can obtain his/her license number to file a complaint
against this person for their conduct towards you.
If the employee at the storage facility does not have this license on the
right, you are urged to call 911, because this person is not authorized by
State Law (Occupations Code - 2303.1015(a), 85.204(b)) to work
there and take your money!
against this person for their conduct towards you.
If the employee at the storage facility does not have this license on the
right, you are urged to call 911, because this person is not authorized by
State Law (Occupations Code - 2303.1015(a), 85.204(b)) to work
there and take your money!
If you fail to pay the total charges owed on your vehicle, expect to hear from a
collection agency, as it is not uncommon for a vehicle storage facility to recover
the amount owed when vehicles are auctioned.
collection agency, as it is not uncommon for a vehicle storage facility to recover
the amount owed when vehicles are auctioned.