Towing Laws in Maryland: Your Rights, Costs & Impound Rules

If your car was just towed in Maryland - from an apartment lot, a store parking lot, or a crash scene - this page explains what state law says about the fees you can be charged, how to get your vehicle and belongings back, and where to take a complaint. Every fact below comes directly from Maryland statutes and state agencies, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Maryland

Towing complaints in Maryland go to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, which assigns a mediator to work between you and the towing company. You can file through the online Complaint Portal or by mail to 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, and there's also a Consumer Hotline at 410-528-8662 if you'd rather talk it through first.

What a tow can cost

For tows from parking lots, Maryland's Transportation Article 21-10A-04 caps towing charges at twice the total fees normally charged or authorized by the local political subdivision - or $250 if no local limit exists. Storage is capped at whatever daily rate the jurisdiction has set, or $30 per day if the jurisdiction hasn't set one. Outside of parking-lot tows, maximum rates are otherwise set locally by each political subdivision, so the specific ceiling can vary depending on where your car was towed.

Because the applicable cap depends on local rules, it's worth asking the towing company which local rate schedule applies to your invoice. Our towing cost calculator can help you compare a bill against these statewide caps before you pay.

Getting your car back from impound

Maryland requires storage facilities to give you real access to your vehicle: under Transportation 21-10A-05, facilities must allow retrieval of unattached personal property and provide access at a minimum from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. If storage and towing charges go unpaid for 30 days, Commercial Law 16-207 allows the lienor in possession to sell the vehicle at public sale - but only after the required notice goes out: publication once a week for the two weeks immediately preceding the sale, plus a notice sent by registered or certified mail at least 10 days before the sale to the owner, any secured parties, and the Motor Vehicle Administration.

If you're towed from private property

Private lot towing in Maryland requires conspicuous signage - at least 24 by 30 inches - stating the tow facility, the company doing the towing, the maximum charge, reclaim hours, and contact information. State law also requires that vehicle reclamation be available from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, so a lot can't make you wait until normal business hours to get your car back.

After an accident

If you're in a crash that causes injury or death in Maryland, you're required to report it to the Motor Vehicle Administration in writing within 15 days - though no driver report is required if police investigate the crash and file their own report. If you do need an official copy of a crash report afterward, Maryland State Police says to wait at least 10 days before requesting one, and there's a non-refundable document search fee of $4.00.

The Move Over law

Maryland's Move Over law, Transportation 21-405, requires drivers approaching a stopped vehicle displaying hazard lights or warning signals - which includes tow trucks working the roadside - to change into an available lane if it's safe and practicable, or to reduce speed to a level that's reasonable and prudent for existing weather, road, and traffic conditions. The statute doesn't spell out a specific fine amount for violations.

Chains & winter traction

Maryland's Transportation 22-405.2 permits tire chains "of reasonable proportions" on any vehicle when they're needed for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions that could cause a vehicle to skid. The law also carves out a seasonal exemption from the state's studded-tire prohibition: from November 1 through March 31, vehicles registered in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, or Washington County are exempt.

FAQ

Is there a statewide cap on Maryland parking-lot tow fees? Yes, for parking-lot tows specifically: the charge can't exceed twice the local public-safety tow fee, or $250 if the jurisdiction hasn't set its own rate. Storage is capped at the local daily rate, or $30 per day if none exists.

How long before an unpaid Maryland tow can be sold? Charges must be unpaid for at least 30 days, and the lienor must publish notice once a week for the two weeks before the sale and send registered or certified mail to you, any secured parties, and the MVA at least 10 days before the sale.

Who do I complain to about a Maryland towing company? The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division mediates towing complaints. File online through the Complaint Portal, by mail, or call the Consumer Hotline at 410-528-8662.

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