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Can a towing company keep personal belongings that are in a vehicle that has been towed?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
If you car was towed for a good and legal reason, then the company has the right to charge you money for the recovery of the vehicle - costs of towing and storage fees, usually.
What they do with your personal belongings is usually let someone pick them up. In some cases, they may feel that they have the right to hold them, as "security" for your payment to them. (In cases of a repossession, they should give the personal items back, as the finance company is paying their fee, and has no desire for your stuff.)
In theory, if you disagree with that, you could sue. But usually the cost of suit would exceed the value of most personal property in a car, and frankly, the tow company could as easily throw your stuff out and claim ignorance.
By all means, consult a local attorney. Always a good idea. But it might - in this case - be even better to just settle with the tow company, or plea in such a fashion that they take pity on you.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThere are actually two answers to this question:
1) No, if the car is towed and you pay the bill and pickup the car, taking contents is theft.
2) Yes, if the car is towed and abandoned long enough the towing company can claim ownership of the car the contents are also property of the towing company.
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Can the towing company charge you a fee to get your belongings out of the vehicle?
yes, depends on how long it sits in your car
Is it legal for a towing company to charge 50 dollars to get your personal belongings out of the car?
If the vehicle is not a repossession and is in fact a law enforcement impounded vehicle, in California the answer is, NO. The law in California says "we towing companies" must allow you to pick up your property, however, we are only going to give the property to the legal owner of the vehicle. Therefore, bring them with you, picture ID in hand. No they cannot charge you to get your personal belongings from your car.They can charge a fee if they actually do something like inventory and store your belongings.
How do you get your personal belongings back after a car has been towed?
Pay the towing and storage bill.
Can a tow company sell a vehicle without a pink slip?
In most states, a towing company can sell a vehicle without a pink slip or its title. However, the towing company, in most states, has to first file a lien on the vehicle for the fees of towing and storage. After the term of the lien expires, the towing company can get a title for the vehicle and sell it legally.
A car was left on your property when a renter moved out what can you do?
You can have it towed at the owner's expense (meaning you can call a towing company and it will come and tow the vehicle. The owner, if he wants the vehicle, then needs to go to the towing company and reclaim the vehicle by paying the towing and storage fees).
What are the state laws for vehicle repossession in Maryland?
AnswerI have recently learned that the Department of Finance regulates collection agencies as well as finance companies. I was emphatically told that in a vehicle repossession, the towing company/repo company cannot, repeat, cannot charge a separate storage fee for your personal belongings. They belong to you. If you are told that they can charge for the goods, the goods, under the credit law means the good that can be repossessed under the loan which is the vehicle or the home, not the personal belongings. Call your local Consumer Protection agency to get help. I know this is the law in Maryland for a fact. It took me 30 days, but I am going to pick up my personal belongings tomorrow and I do not have to pay a storage fee for them. Tammy//This is true but you are not getting charged for your personal property it is for their time to remove it and give it to you. J D Recovery LLC
If your transmission was damaged during the towing of your repossessed vehicle which you recovered can you get the towing company or lender to pay for the damages?
Probably not. The risk was yours since towing was the logical next step for failing to meet the requirements of the loan. It was your failure to meet the requirements of the loan which led to the vehicle being repossessed which subsequently caused the vehicle to be towed. All the towing company needs to do is to prove that they used standard towing practices.
Can the owner legally abandoned the car in the towing company?
If you no longer owe on the car and own it free and clear then it's your choice. You can pick it from the towing company or not. After a period of time, the towing company will place a lien on the vehicle and take ownership. If you still owe money on the car then you have a contractual responsibility to protect the vehicle from liens and you will still be responsible to pay what you owe to the finance company.
How many days does a towing company have to notify owner of recovery of stolen vehicle?
generally they have ten days
How much does it cost to get a vehicle lift?
Depends on the towing company. Usually not more than 100 dollars.
Can the towing company charge you to retrieve your personal property in Minnesota?
If your vehicle is in a private impound or police impound then yes. They only are obligated to give you without charge your government issued ID card(s), medication(s), and corrective lenses. They can hold anything else, even your house keys, clothes, food, whatever. Also if you "abandoned" your vehicle at an impound in Minnesota and the towing company goes through the legal process of placing a lien on your vehicle the property goes with the car.
Who is responsible for stolen items when police tow the car?
If impound was caused by your vehicle parked illegally, then the impound lot or the towing company could be held responsible. If it was impounded because it was retrieved as a stolen vehicle, then no one can be held responsible. However, in both cases, the personal belongings in the vehicle can be covered by either your own auto insurance under the Comprehensive portion of your policy or by your own homeowners/renters insurance under the Personal Property portion of your policy. They are subject to your deductible/s.
