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Seminole County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

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

Key Facts

Non-consensual tow (Class A)
$150 plus $6/mile
Trespass tow flat rate
$125 (Class A)
Daily storage cap
$30/day (Class A)
Immobilization/boot fee
$22, capped
After-hours release fee cap
$50
Free storage window
24 hrs trespass / 6 hrs non-consensual

Summary

Seminole County caps what any towing service can charge for a non-consensual or trespass tow that originates in the county. A standard car tow runs $150 plus $6 a mile, storage is capped at $30 a day, and the rules ban extra charges for access, fuel surcharges or business-hours release under the Seminole County Towing Ordinance.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Seminole County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The maximum rates for towing or immobilization of a vehicle, for the storage of a towed vehicle or for the rendition of other services involving the use of a wrecker or other customary towing services when the point of origin of the tow or such services is within Seminole County are as follows:(1)Class A vehicles (gross vehicle weight less than or equal to 10,000 pounds or vehicle carrying a vessel 15 feet or less in length). Trespass Tow (flat rate) .....$125.00 Non Consensual Tow .....$150.00 Non Consensual Tow, per mile .....$6.00 ... Trespass or Non Consensual Tow daily storage per day .....$30.00 Immobilization (includes placement and removal of device) .....$22.00 ... A towing service shall not tow or immobilize a vehicle if there is a natural living person occupying the vehicle.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 2).

Full Breakdown

125, sets maximum rates for non-consensual tows, trespass tows and vehicle immobilization originating in the county. 00. Larger vehicles pay multiples of those rates: Class B (10,001 to 19,500 pounds) pays double, Class C (19,500 to 25,000 pounds) triple, and Class D (over 25,000 pounds) quadruple. 00. ). 00 is allowed outside those hours. 00 administrative fee plus lien-mailing costs may be added after the first day, capped at 25 percent of the maximum towing rate. Subsection (j) forbids towing or immobilizing a vehicle with a person inside it. 8 of the County Code.

Violations & Fines

Charging above the posted maximum rate, billing for banned add-ons such as fuel surcharges, dolly fees or business-hours release, booting an occupied vehicle, or towing a vehicle with someone inside it are each violations the Sheriff's Office can investigate under Section 45.125, with penalties set by Section 1.8 of the County Code. A vehicle owner may also sue the towing company directly under Section 45.124 for full recovery costs, attorney's fees and damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Seminole County tow company charge extra to let me grab my wallet from my towed car?
No. Section 45.123(d) makes the posted maximum rate a flat, all-inclusive fee and specifically bars additional access charges to remove personal property or examine the vehicle. Vehicle tags must also be released to the owner at no extra charge under subsection (f).
What is the most a non-consensual tow of an ordinary car can cost in unincorporated Seminole County?
For a Class A vehicle under 10,000 pounds, Section 45.123(a)(1) caps the tow itself at $150.00 plus $6.00 per mile, with storage capped at $30.00 per day. Heavier vehicles pay set multiples of that base rate depending on their weight class.
Is it legal for a towing company to boot my car if I'm sitting in it?
No. Section 45.123(j) flatly states a towing service shall not tow or immobilize a vehicle if a natural living person is occupying it, regardless of where it is parked or why the tow was requested.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Seminole County

All Seminole County rules

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