Car towed in Maryland? Start here

1. Find your car

We don't have an official towed-car lookup for Maryland on our list yet.

If it isn't listed, call the police non-emergency number for the city or county where you parked. Ask whether the car was towed, by whom and where it was taken. We never charge to help you find your car.

What to do right now

1. Make sure it was towed, not stolen. Use an official lookup if there is one, or call the police non-emergency number for the place where you parked. Ask who towed it, where it is, and the lot's hours.
2. Take photos now. The spot where you parked, every sign at the entrances (or the lack of one), curb paint and meters. When you get the car back, photograph all sides, the inside and the odometer before you leave the lot.
3. Get the paperwork. Keep every notice, receipt and letter, and the envelope it came in. Ask for a copy of anything that shows who asked for the tow.
4. Ask for an itemized bill before you pay. Compare each charge with the posted rates and, where we list one, your state's or city's maximum.
5. Pay by credit card if you can. A card payment leaves a record, and card issuers have a process for disputing charges. Ask for a receipt either way.
6. Write down what happened. Times, names, what people said, and any damage you notice.
7. Note every deadline. Look for dates on every paper you get. Some deadlines to ask for a hearing or to stop a sale are only days long, and storage charges usually grow every day.

This is general information to help you keep track. It is not legal advice, and it does not decide whether a tow or a charge was lawful.

2. Know your deadline

We haven't verified a Maryland deadline yet, so there is no calculator here. Look for dates on every notice or letter you get from the police, the tow lot or the DMV, and act before that date.

3. Get your money back

Common ways people ask for a refund:

• Ask the tow company in writing to refund any charge you think was wrong, and keep a copy.
• File a complaint with the agency that regulates tow companies, if there is one.
• If you paid by card, ask your card issuer how to dispute a charge.
• Ask for a hearing if your state has one (see the deadlines above), or file in small claims court.
• If you want advice about your own situation, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.

The Maryland rules we checked are below.

Key towing rules in Maryland

Fees and caps

• For a tow from a private parking lot, the tow charge may not be more than twice the local police-impound tow rate, and storage may not be more than the local impound storage rate. Where the county or city sets no limit, the caps are $250 for the tow and $30 a day for storage.

  Official text: “$250 for towing and recovering a vehicle and $30 per day for vehicle storage”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04(a)(1). Last checked October 5, 2026.

Signs and permission to tow

• Before towing from a parking lot, the tow company must have the lot owner's authorization, including photographs of the violation that led to the tow.

  Official text: “Photographic evidence of the violation or event that precipitated the towing”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04. Last checked October 5, 2026.

• The tow company must notify the police within 1 hour after the tow, and notify the owner (and insurer and lender) by certified and first-class mail within 7 days, not counting days the business is closed.

  Official text: “within 1 hour after towing or removing the vehicle”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04. Last checked October 5, 2026.

• Signs must be at least 24 inches high and 30 inches wide and show where cars are towed, the tow company's name, that the car must be available from 6 a.m. to midnight every day, the maximum charge and a phone number.

  Official text: “At least 24 inches high and 30 inches wide”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-02. Last checked October 5, 2026.

• A car may not be towed more than 15 miles from the parking lot, or out of state, unless local law sets a different distance.

  Official text: “more than 15 miles from the parking lot”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-03. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Paying

• The lot must let you get your car from at least 6 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, and accept cash or at least two major credit cards. If you return before the tow is finished, the drop fee may not be more than half the cost of a full tow.

  Official text: “at a minimum from 6 a.m. to midnight, 7 days per week”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-05. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Getting money back

• A tow company that breaks these rules is liable for the owner's actual damages plus triple the amount the owner paid to get the car back.

  Official text: “triple the amount paid by the owner or the owner's agent to retake possession of the vehicle”

  Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-06. Last checked October 5, 2026.