Craven County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Who can tow
- Towers under county contract, per § 38-53
- Lien basis
- Towing & storage fees only, under G.S. Ch. 44A
- Redeem the vehicle
- Pay the fee or post a double bond
- Appeal freeze
- Lien can't be enforced during a district court appeal
- Liability shield
- None for removal damage or injury caused
Summary
When Craven County's Solid Waste Director orders a junked vehicle towed without the owner's consent, the tower that hauls it earns a statutory lien for towing and storage fees, enforceable only under North Carolina's general lien statute. The county can contract with one or more towers or junkyards to handle removals, and owners can redeem a towed vehicle by paying the fee or posting a bond.
Upon towing a junked motor vehicle at the solid waste director's request pursuant to this article, the tower shall have a lien upon the vehicle for towing and storage fees as by law provided. Such lien may be enforced only in accordance with applicable provisions of G.S. Ch. 44A. ... At any time after the junked motor vehicle has been towed, the owner may obtain possession of the vehicle by:(1)Paying the towing fee; or(2)Posting a bond for double the amount of the towing fee.
Full Breakdown
Craven County Code § 38-53 lets the county sign contracts with one or more towers, automobile graveyards, or junkyards to remove and dispose of junked vehicles once the multi-step determination process in § 38-50 is complete: the Solid Waste Director must view the vehicle, weigh removal's aesthetic benefit against owner hardship, and give notice before any tow. S. Chapter 44A, not by the tower's own private terms. The owner is not without recourse before the lien can be enforced: if the owner requests a hearing before a county magistrate within 30 days and then appeals a probable-cause finding to district court, § 38-50(5) blocks enforcement of the tower's lien until the district court rules.
Once towed, § 38-52 lets the owner get the vehicle back at any time by either paying the towing fee outright or posting a bond for double that amount. Section 38-55 shields anyone who removes a vehicle under this article from liability to the owner, lienholder, or others entitled to possession, except where the remover intentionally or negligently damages the vehicle or injures a person during the removal.
Violations & Fines
A tower who tows outside this process, or who tries to enforce a lien while a district court appeal is pending, is not acting under county authority and can be held liable for damages under § 38-55 if the removal causes damage or injury. The underlying junked-vehicle violation itself carries the county's general $500.00 civil penalty under § 1-11, which accrues daily until it is paid or the vehicle is removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tow company tow my vehicle from my own property without asking me first?
What fees can the tower collect?
How do I get my car back after it's towed?
Is the tower liable if it damages my car during the tow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craven County
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