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Frederick, MD Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Q: How far can a Frederick tow company move my car without my consent?

No more than 10 miles by road from where it was parked, per City Code § 13-72(b). The tow truck operator must also be registered under state law, and neither the operator nor the towing company may misrepresent itself as an approved emergency road service or falsely use another company's name.

Q: What must warning signs at a Frederick parking lot say before I can be towed?

Signs must go up at least 24 hours before any tow, per § 13-74. Each sign must be at least 24 by 30 inches, clearly visible to drivers entering the lot, and must state the tow-to location, the towing company's name, a phone number reachable around the clock, and the maximum fee the owner can be charged.

Q: How much can a Frederick towing company charge me?

For a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds, § 13-80(b) caps the first 24 hours of towing and storage at $200, including hook-up, mileage, and dolly use; each additional 24-hour storage period is capped at $50. Heavier vehicles carry higher caps: $500 up to 26,000 pounds and $750 above that weight.

Q: Can I get my car back if I return before it's towed away?

Yes. Under § 13-77, if you reach the vehicle after it's hooked up but before it leaves the lot, the operator must release it back to you. The company may only charge the drop fee set in § 13-80(d), capped at $75 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds or $200 for heavier vehicles, and nothing more.

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max tow distance without consent: 10 miles by road
Tow/storage cap, first 24 hrs (<=10,000 lbs): $200
Signage size and notice: 24x30 in., posted 24 hrs ahead
Police notification deadline: within 1 hour of tow
Signage violation fine: $50 per day
Payment options required: cash, Visa, Mastercard debit/credit

Summary

Frederick regulates non-consent towing from private parking lots under City Code Article IV, §§ 13-70 through 13-80. Tow companies cannot haul a vehicle more than 10 miles from the pickup site without owner consent, must post 24x30-inch warning signs at least 24 hours before towing, and face capped fees for towing and storage.

(a)A towing company shall operate its business within the City in compliance with every applicable provision of State law. A tow truck operator may not operate a tow truck within the City unless the tow truck is registered in accordance with Section 13-920 of the Transportation Article of the Maryland Annotated Code.(b)Without the prior consent of a vehicle owner or operator, a tow truck operator or towing company may not move or tow any motor vehicle to any location that is more than ten (10) miles by road from the place of removal.(c)A tow truck operator or towing company may not, by any statement or action, make any false representation to the effect that the tow truck operator or towing company represents or is approved by any organization which provides emergency road service for motor vehicles, and may not make false representation as to the name of the towing company.(d)A tow truck operator or towing company may not use any public space for the storage of a motor vehicle removed from the scene of an accident or breakdown, except as directed by a member of the Frederick Police Department.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).

Full Breakdown

The ordinance applies to towing from a private parking lot without the vehicle owner's consent (§ 13-71), exempting owner-initiated tows, government-operated tow companies, and tows ordered by police, fire, or rescue personnel. Under § 13-72, a tow truck operator must be registered under Section 13-920 of the Transportation Article, cannot move a vehicle more than 10 miles without consent, cannot falsely claim to be an approved emergency road service, and cannot store an accident vehicle on public space except as directed by the Frederick Police Department.

Before towing, § 13-74 requires signs at least 24 by 30 inches, posted at least 24 hours in advance, one per 7,500 square feet of lot, listing the towing company's name, the tow-to address, a 24/7 phone number, and the maximum chargeable fee; violating the signage rule is a $50 municipal infraction, with each day a separate offense. Section 13-75 requires the lot owner to sign a sworn complaint and tow slip (unless a written towing contract exists), and the tow company must photograph the vehicle and keep the photo three years.

Section 13-76 requires notifying Frederick Police within one hour of the tow, providing 24/7 vehicle retrieval, and bans 'spotters' and kickback payments to lot owners. Section 13-77 lets an owner who returns before the vehicle leaves the lot get it back for only a drop fee. Section 13-80 caps towing and the first 24 hours of storage at $200 for vehicles up to 10,000 pounds, with additional days capped at $50; heavier vehicles are capped at $500 or $750.

Violations & Fines

Signage and tow-slip violations are municipal infractions punishable by a $50 fine, with each day a separate offense. A vehicle owner who withholds payment and loses in court owes the towing company double the validly charged amount, up to $1,000, plus attorney's fees and court costs (§ 13-80(h)). General misdemeanor violations of the chapter not otherwise specified carry a fine up to $500 under § 13-69.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can a Frederick tow company move my car without my consent?

No more than 10 miles by road from where it was parked, per City Code § 13-72(b). The tow truck operator must also be registered under state law, and neither the operator nor the towing company may misrepresent itself as an approved emergency road service or falsely use another company's name.

What must warning signs at a Frederick parking lot say before I can be towed?

Signs must go up at least 24 hours before any tow, per § 13-74. Each sign must be at least 24 by 30 inches, clearly visible to drivers entering the lot, and must state the tow-to location, the towing company's name, a phone number reachable around the clock, and the maximum fee the owner can be charged.

How much can a Frederick towing company charge me?

For a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds, § 13-80(b) caps the first 24 hours of towing and storage at $200, including hook-up, mileage, and dolly use; each additional 24-hour storage period is capped at $50. Heavier vehicles carry higher caps: $500 up to 26,000 pounds and $750 above that weight.

Can I get my car back if I return before it's towed away?

Yes. Under § 13-77, if you reach the vehicle after it's hooked up but before it leaves the lot, the operator must release it back to you. The company may only charge the drop fee set in § 13-80(d), capped at $75 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds or $200 for heavier vehicles, and nothing more.

Sources & Official References

[1]Frederick, MD Code of Ordinances, Ch. 13, Art. IV (Nonconsensual Towing)

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