Alexandria, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Light tow max fee
- $150 (under 7,500 lbs)
- Heavy tow max fee
- $500 (over 10,000 lbs)
- Storage cap
- $50/24 hrs, first day free
- After-hours fee cap
- $30, max 2 charges per tow
- Registration deadline
- Annually by January 31
- Storage location limit
- Within 3 miles of city
Summary
Alexandria caps what a tow truck service can charge to remove a vehicle from private property without the owner's consent: $150 for light vehicles, $250 for medium tows and $500 for heavy tows, plus limited storage and after-hours fees. Companies must register annually with the transportation department and post the fee schedule.
For the towing of a motor vehicle (i) less than 7,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $150; (ii) for medium tows, 7,500 to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $250; (iii) for heavy tows, greater than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $500... It shall be unlawful for any person to charge a towing fee, storage fee or retrieval fee that exceeds the fees established by subsection (a).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 156 | Zoning: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Title 9 Chapter 13 governs non-consent towing from private property in Alexandria. Sec. 9-13-3 sets maximum fees: $150 to tow a vehicle under 7,500 pounds, $250 for a medium tow (7,500-10,000 pounds), and $500 for a heavy tow over 10,000 pounds. or on weekends and holidays, capped at two such fees per tow. A lienholder-notification fee cannot exceed $75 and only applies after three full business days of storage. Charging more than these posted maximums is unlawful under subsection (b). Towed vehicles covered by the chapter must be stored within the city or within three miles of its boundary (Sec.
9-13-3(c)). Every tow truck service must register annually with the department of transportation and environmental services by January 31 (Sec. 9-13-11), post its fee schedule referencing Sec. 9-13-3 at every place of business (Sec. 9-13-8), keep a one-year towing log available for city and vehicle-owner inspection (Sec. 9-13-9), and post a warning sign at least 12 by 18 inches at each entrance to any lot where trespassing vehicles may be towed (Sec. 9-13-10). Storage facilities must accept cash, MasterCard/Visa debit and at least two major credit cards, and be retrievable 24 hours a day (Secs. 9-13-5, 9-13-6).
Violations & Fines
A violation of the towing chapter is a class four civil violation under Sec. 1-1-11(b)(4), enforced by the department of transportation and environmental services under Sec. 9-13-12. If a tow truck service is hit with two civil penalties for violations at the same property, the department must issue the property owner a written warning; a further violation at that property within six months of the warning makes the property owner separately liable for a class four civil violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a tow company charge in Alexandria for towing my car from private property?
Does an Alexandria tow company need city registration?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alexandria
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