Greenville County, SC Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Towing cap, under 10,000 lb
- $75
- Storage cap, under 10,000 lb
- $10 per day
- Towing cap, over 30,000 lb
- $300
- Storage cap, over 30,000 lb
- $50 per day
- Minimum sign size
- 18 in wide by 24 in tall
- Sign mounting height
- 5 to 8 feet above ground
- Adopted by
- Ord. 4278 (2009), amended Ord. 4692 (2015)
Summary
Towing a vehicle without the owner's consent from a commercial parking lot in unincorporated Greenville County is capped at $75 to tow and $10 a day to store a vehicle under 10,000 pounds, rising to $300 to tow and $50 a day to store one over 30,000 pounds. Tow operators can add no charges beyond documented expenses, and warning signs must meet exact size and wording rules.
1. Rates. The following maximum rates shall be established for all non-consent towing from commercial parking facilities in the unincorporated area of Greenville County. For purposes of this section, these rates only apply to the towing, removal and storage of a vehicle without the authorization of the owner or authorized driver... Maximum rates for towing, removing, and storing vehicles with a gross weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds removed from commercial parking facilities Towing $75 Storage $10 per day... Maximum rates for towing, removing, and storing vehicles with a gross weight rating of greater than 30,000 pounds from commercial parking facilities Towing $300 Storage $50 per day. No charges, other than documented expenses incurred by the towing company, such as mailing registered letters or wrapping vehicles, shown on an invoice, may be charged to the owner of a towed vehicle.
Full Breakdown
C. Code § 56-5-5810. The schedule runs in four weight tiers: under 10,000 pounds costs $75 to tow plus $10 per day storage; 10,000 to under 15,000 pounds costs $100 plus $25 per day; 15,000 to under 30,000 pounds costs $200 plus $40 per day; and over 30,000 pounds costs $300 plus $50 per day. No charge beyond documented expenses shown on an invoice, such as certified mail or wrapping a vehicle, may be added, and the ordinance expressly bars gate or yard fees, administrative fees, repositioning fees, absorbent material fees, license plate removal fees and vehicle cleaning fees.
A vehicle cannot be towed at all unless the lot posts a weather-resistant sign at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall, mounted 5 to 8 feet above the ground on a permanent pole, wall or barrier at or near every driveway, bearing the international tow symbol, the words "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner's or Operator's Expense," the days and hours towing is enforced, and a phone number answered 24 hours a day so the owner can locate the vehicle. Towing a vehicle beyond Greenville County's boundary lines without the owner's consent is separately unlawful under subsection 3.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 14-45, including exceeding the posted rate caps, charging a barred fee, or towing a vehicle without a compliant sign, is a misdemeanor tried within the jurisdictional limits of magistrate's court under subsection 4. Towing a non-consent vehicle beyond the county's boundary lines is separately prohibited by subsection 3, exposing an operator to the same misdemeanor enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a tow company charge to tow my car from a private lot in Greenville County?
Can a towing company add extra fees to my invoice?
What must a no-parking sign look like before my car can be towed?
Can my car be towed outside Greenville County without my consent?
What happens if a wrecker company breaks the rate schedule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
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