Prince William County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- License requirement
- Sec. 13-498(a), county or listed town license
- Max passenger car tow fee
- $210.00
- First-24-hour storage
- No charge permitted
- Report-to-police window
- Within 30 minutes of tow
- General violation fine
- Up to $500.00 (Sec. 13-504)
Summary
Prince William County requires every tow truck company to hold a valid county (or specified town) business license before removing a vehicle, and caps what it can charge: $210 to hook up a passenger car and no storage fee for the first 24 hours.
(a)No tow truck company or operator shall remove any vehicle from public or private property unless the tow truck company possesses a valid Prince William County business license, or a business license issued by the City of Manassas, the City of Manassas Park, the Town of Dumfries, the Town of Haymarket or the Town of Occoquan.(b)All tow trucks operated by a tow truck company shall display the name, address and telephone number of the owner thereof on both sides of the tow truck on permanently mounted signs or painted directly on the body of the truck in contrasting letters large enough to be readily legible, but in no case less than three inches in height. It shall be unlawful to operate a tow truck displaying an incorrect name, address, or telephone number.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 46 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
County Code Sec. 13-498(a) makes it unlawful for a tow truck company or operator to remove any vehicle from public or private property without a valid Prince William County business license, or a license from the City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Town of Dumfries, Town of Haymarket, or Town of Occoquan. Sec. 13-498(b) requires every tow truck to display the owner's name, address, and phone number on both sides in letters at least three inches high; displaying an incorrect name, address, or number is itself unlawful.
Licensed operators are then bound by the fee caps in Sec. , or weekends/holidays) allow $25 to $30 more, capped at two such fees. No storage or impound charge may be assessed for the first 24 hours; after that it is capped at $60 to $180 per 24-hour period depending on vehicle length. Sec. 13-499 requires the operator to notify Prince William County Public Safety Communications within 30 minutes of a tow, reporting the towing firm's information, the vehicle's plate and VIN, and the driver's BTRO license number.
Sec. 13-500 requires a fenced, secured storage lot and posted signage listing maximum charges and complaint contacts for the Police Department and the Virginia Board of Towing and Recovery Operators.
Violations & Fines
Failing to report a tow as required by Sec. 13-499 is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100.00 and limits recoverable storage to one day. Sec. 13-504 sets the general penalty for the towing article at a fine of not more than $500.00 for any other violation, and tow truck drivers and operators may also face separate civil penalties under Virginia Code Sec. 46.2-1233.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tow company operate in Prince William County without a business license?
How much can a tow company charge to hook up my car?
Does the tow company have to tell police when they tow my car?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince William County
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