Car towed in Virginia? Start here

1. Find your car

We don't have an official towed-car lookup for Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia rules we checked are below.

Key towing rules in Virginia

Fees and caps

• For a private-property tow without your consent, the hookup and first tow of a passenger car may not cost more than $210. An after-hours, weekend or holiday charge of up to $30 may be added, at most twice. There is no storage charge for the first 24 hours. A city or county ordinance can set different limits.

  Official text: “No hookup and initial towing fee of any passenger car shall exceed $210.”

  Source: Va. Code § 46.2-1233.1. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Signs and permission to tow

• Where the state sign rule applies, signs must be posted at every entrance, and charges higher than those posted cannot be collected. If you come back before the car is towed away, the fee is limited to $25 or a local limit. (Places with their own towing ordinance follow it instead.)

  Official text: “Charges in excess of those posted shall not be collectable”

  Source: Va. Code § 46.2-1231. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Getting money back

• Breaking the private-tow fee and sign rules (§§ 46.2-1231 and 46.2-1233.1) is a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

  Official text: “Violating any provision of §§ 46.2-1231 and 46.2-1233.1”

  Source: Va. Code § 59.1-200(A)(32). Last checked October 5, 2026.

• Under that Act a person who suffers a loss can recover actual damages or $500, whichever is more; for a willful violation, up to three times actual damages or $1,000, whichever is more. The court may also award attorney's fees.

  Official text: “actual damages, or $500, whichever is greater”

  Source: Va. Code § 59.1-204(A)-(B). Last checked October 5, 2026.