Maryland towing laws
Maryland has a state law for tows from private parking lots that covers signs, notice, drop fees, payment and access to your belongings.
More about Maryland
Fees are tied to local public-safety tow rates, and where a county sets no limit the state caps a private-lot tow at 250 dollars and storage at 30 dollars a day. A tower who breaks these rules can owe you three times what you paid to get your car back.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private parking lot tow (where the county or city sets no public-safety tow limit)4DetailsCovers towing and recovery. Where the local government does set a public-safety tow fee, the private-lot limit is twice that local fee instead, unless local law says otherwise. The tower may also add the actual itemized cost of mailing notice, but not if the car is picked up within 48 hours after it reaches the storage lot. | Up to $250 |
| Drop fee (car released before it leaves the lot)5No more than half the cost of a full tow. | Up to 50% of the tow fee |
Daily storage after a private parking lot tow (where no local limit is set)4DetailsWhere the local government sets a daily storage fee for impounded cars, that local fee is the limit instead. | Up to $30 / day |
Police-ordered towsParking tickets, no insurance, arrests
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Police-ordered tow4Set by counties and cities. | Set by city or county |
Local rates. Counties and cities such as Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Baltimore County set their own public-safety tow and storage fees, and many also set private-lot tow limits. The local rate controls when one exists. Local numbers are not confirmed yet.
What will I owe in Maryland?
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Type what the lot charged for each line. We flag anything above a confirmed legal cap.
Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
If you reach your car before it leaves the parking lot and it can be driven, the tower must release it to you, even if it is already lifted, for a drop fee of no more than half the cost of a full tow.5
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
The storage lot must let the owner, the owner's agent, the insurer or a lender inspect the car and take out personal belongings that are not attached to it, under the lot's supervision.5
Payment they must take
The storage lot must take cash or at least two major credit cards. A cash-only lot must have a working ATM on site, and if a lot cannot process a card and has no ATM, it must take a personal check.5
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The tower must tell local police within 1 hour after a private-lot tow. It must also notify the owner, insurer and any lender by certified and first-class mail within 7 days, not counting days the tow business is closed.4
Storage rules
A private-lot tow must go straight to the storage lot named on the signs, no more than 15 miles away (unless local law sets another distance) and never out of state. The car cannot be moved to another lot for at least 72 hours, and the lot must be open for pickup at least 6 a.m. to midnight every day.35
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
Signs must be at least 24 by 30 inches, easy to see, and show where cars are towed, the tow company name, the maximum tow charge, a phone number, and that the car can be picked up at least 6 a.m. to midnight every day. Lots need at least one sign per 7,500 square feet, or one at every entrance of a regional mall.2
Not verified Right to a hearing, What to bring. We have not confirmed these in Maryland law yet. Why
Other deadlines
- Claim damages for an illegal tow: A tower who breaks the private-lot towing law is liable for your actual damages and for three times the amount you paid to get your car back.6
By situation
Maryland cities
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Maryland, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.
Guides: how to fight a tow · what to bring · impound costs by city
Questions
Is there a limit on towing fees in Maryland?
Yes. Private parking lot tow (where the county or city sets no public-safety tow limit): up to $250. Drop fee: up to Unknown. Storage: $30 per day.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Maryland if I get there first?
If you reach your car before it leaves the parking lot and it can be driven, the tower must release it to you, even if it is already lifted, for a drop fee of no more than half the cost of a full tow.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Maryland?
The storage lot must let the owner, the owner's agent, the insurer or a lender inspect the car and take out personal belongings that are not attached to it, under the lot's supervision.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Maryland?
The storage lot must take cash or at least two major credit cards. A cash-only lot must have a working ATM on site, and if a lot cannot process a card and has no ATM, it must take a personal check.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Towing from parking lots, definitions and scope (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-01), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing from parking lots, signs (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-02), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing from parking lots, distance limits (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-03), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing from parking lots, fees and notice (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing from parking lots, storage, drop fee, payment and personal property (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-05), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Towing from parking lots, penalties (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-06), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.