Longview, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- City permit plus registered tow truck
- Light-duty tow fee cap
- $150 per nonconsensual tow
- Heavy-duty tow fee cap
- $348 per hour
- Max fine
- $500 per 24-hour violation
- Storage facility
- Must be state-licensed
Summary
Longview requires wrecker companies to obtain a city permit and register every tow truck before performing nonconsensual tows dispatched through the police rotation list, under Chapter 103's Wrecker Business Regulations.
A wrecker company which desires to tow or remove wrecked or disabled vehicles from the public streets of Longview at the call or upon request of the police communications center or its authorized agent shall obtain a permit from the city and register each tow truck to be used in nonconsensual towing with the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: June 2026: This code is current through Ordinances 4635 passed 06.25.26).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 103-64, any wrecker company that tows wrecked or disabled vehicles at the request of Longview's police communications center must hold a city permit and register each tow truck used for nonconsensual towing. Applicants must show a state-licensed storage facility, required liability insurance, and minimum equipment: three light-duty trucks or one heavy-duty truck, winches, chains, and emergency lighting (Sec. 103-65). Permits expire December 31 each year and require an annual fee under Texas Transportation Code § 643.201 (Sec. 103-66). Nonconsensual towing fees are capped at $150 for light-duty tows and $348 per hour for heavy-duty tows within city limits (Sec. 103-70).
Violations & Fines
Towing without a valid permit, exceeding the capped fees, or missing rotation calls can trigger administrative suspension or revocation of the permit plus a fine of up to $500, with each 24-hour period a separate offense (Sec. 103-78, Sec. 103-80).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tow truck perform a police-requested tow in Longview?
What can a wrecker company charge for a nonconsensual tow?
What happens if a permit holder overcharges or misses a rotation call?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Longview
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