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

Section 237-5 makes it unlawful to tow a disabled vehicle from a Harford County accident scene without a license that is neither suspended nor revoked, though a law enforcement agency may still call any towing company, licensed or not, if special equipment is needed or no licensed operator is available in an emergency. Applicants apply to DILP, pay an application fee covering the initial inspection, and if approved pay a per-vehicle license fee set under Section 807 of the County Charter; a certified copy of the license must ride in every tow truck, and the Sheriff's Office issues a decal that must be affixed to each vehicle.

Before a license issues or renews, the operator must carry comprehensive general liability coverage of at least $100,000 per individual, $300,000 per occurrence and $100,000 in property damage per vehicle (Section 237-7), and DILP forwards every application to the Sheriff to confirm 24-hour service capability, mechanically sound equipment and that each truck is registered as a tow truck with the MVA under Transportation Article Section 13-920 (Section 237-8). Dispatch runs off a geographic rotation list: if a truck has not reached the scene within 20 minutes, the officer notifies the agency, and if it will not arrive within 5 minutes of a second call, the county moves to the next operator on the list (Section 237-10).

DILP may revoke or suspend a license for violating the chapter, breaching a Section 237-13 repair agreement, or a conviction for perjury, bribery, impersonating an officer or any felony (Section 237-2); the operator can appeal to the Board of Towing Appeals within 30 calendar days (Section 237-4).