Franklin Township, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Who may tow
- Township-approved storage garages only
- Reclamation flat fee
- $50, $25 forwarded to PennDOT
- Unclaimed vehicle report
- After 15 days, filed with PennDOT
- Transfer to salvor
- After 30 days unclaimed
- Violation fine
- $50 plus disposal costs
Summary
In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, only township-approved storage garages may tow and store vehicles removed for parking violations, and those garages must be bonded or insured and stick to a township-approved rate schedule.
Removal and impounding of vehicles under this Part shall be done only by "approved storage garages" that shall be designated from time to time by the Township. Every such garage shall submit evidence to the Township that it is bonded or has acquired liability insurance in an amount satisfactory to the Township as sufficient to indemnify owners of impounded vehicles against loss or damage to those vehicles while in the custody of the garage keeper for the purpose of towing or storage. The approved storage garage shall submit to the Township its schedule of charges for towing and storage of vehicles under this Part and, when the schedule is approved by the Township, those charges shall be adhered to by the approved storage garage; no different schedule of charges shall be demanded of or collected from any person whose vehicle is removed or impounded under this Part by any approved storage garage.
Full Breakdown
Township Code § 15-504 requires that removal and impounding of vehicles under Chapter 15, Part 5 be done only by "approved storage garages" the township designates. Each approved garage must submit proof it is bonded or carries liability insurance sufficient, in the township's judgment, to indemnify vehicle owners for loss or damage while the vehicle is in the garage's custody for towing or storage. Garages must also submit a schedule of towing and storage charges for township approval, and once approved, must adhere to that schedule; no garage may demand or collect a different charge from any vehicle owner.
The township can strike a garage from its approved list for making any unapproved charge. Section 15-505 makes clear that paying towing and storage fees does not relieve an owner from any separate fine for the underlying parking violation. Section 15-506 sets reclamation costs at towing and storage charges plus a flat $50 fee, of which $25 must be forwarded by the garage to PennDOT. Garages must keep records of impounded vehicles and be able to tell owners where a vehicle is stored (§ 15-507), and vehicles may not be towed if the owner or person in charge is present and willing to move it immediately (§ 15-508). § 7311; after 30 days it may go to a licensed salvor. § 7301 et seq.
Violations & Fines
An approved storage garage that charges more than its township-approved towing/storage schedule, or fails to maintain required bonding or insurance, can be removed from the township's approved-garage list; a person violating this Part is subject to a $50 fine plus the costs of disposing of the vehicle under 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301 et seq. (§ 15-509).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tow company impound a car in Franklin Township?
How much does it cost to get my car back after it's towed in Franklin Township?
What happens to a towed car nobody claims?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin Township
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