AboutRichard Expertise Professional towing and recovery operator for 29 Plus years, dealing with light to heavy duty towing operations... Nationally certified by various agencies - associations..
I know that many people do not understand vehicle towing when ordered by Law Enforcement or from Private Property Parking lots, which I will try to help with. BUT, I am not versed in RV TOWING ISSUES, or actual law cases or proposed cases...
Experience I have 29+ years of towing experience dealing with everything from Light duty ( cars and pickups ) to tractor trailer rigs, motor homes and buses.. Motor clubs to police calls, lockouts to jumpstarts and tows. I have experienced alot of fun times doing my job. Some have been good experiences and some of have been heart wrenching experiences.
Organizations Been affiliated with TRAA(towing and recovery association of america), Oregon Tow Truck Association, Washington Tow Truck Association, Wyoming Tow Truck Association , and Alabama Tow Truck Association
Publications Tow Times Magazine
American Towman
STA Phantom Towing News
Towing and Recovery Phootnotes
Education/Credentials TRAA Heavy duty Trained operator 1987
TRAA Management Classes 1986
Wreckmaster training programs (since 1992)
Several other training programs (to many to list )
Expert: Richard Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: Towed by Bluegrass Towing in Lexington, Kentucky
Question I was towed by the local towing company here in Lexington and the fees are SOOO high with that company. I ended up not getting the car outta tow lot b/c it was gonna cost more to get it outta impound than it was worth. And I couldn't afford it so I never got it. They said that since I didn't pick it up that they salvaged it for whatever they could get outta it. I still have the title and really could use my car but don't have any money to pay anything...
Answer DEFINE "SOOO HIGH"
Was it $ 100.00 for the tow, $ 500.00 for the tow, or $90.00 for the tow and then the "DAILY STORAGE FEES" which increased the "TOW BILL" to $ 475.00 or what ever...
Remember the tow fee is the price for "the actual and physical TOWING of the vehicle to the storage yard..
STORAGE FEES are the "daily ground rental fees" for the space the vehicle takes up while in the yard.
And then there are "Administrative fees" which add up also...
So what you describe as "SOOO HIGH" might not be when you consider all the expenses that the tow company has in daily operations.
Now as to the title, I am sure that the piece of paper you have is nice but the tow company has laws to follow in regards to disposing of the vehicle which are set by the state.
That includes notifying the "last registered owner" according to what the DMV office has on file.
Was the vehicle registered to you and was the information current and correct ?
If you moved and the tow company did send the notices (which are required by law) to the old address via "Certified mail" (which the post office does not forward) then it becomes a mute point as they tried to follow the law.
I could go on and on, but it boils down to a lot of interconnecting issues which all affect the outcome here...
And then it also depends on your feelings and definition of "sooo high"
FYI, where I am a basic impound tow here where I work for tows ordered via the police or a property owner is $ 175.00 and 3.50 per mile, and that is in Alabama...
I know of other parts of the country, they run upwards of $ 250.00 or more and up to $ 6.00 a mile...
Cost is a variable all over the country for the towing industry, as each company determines its own cost of doing business.
