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Towed from your apartment complex in Maryland

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. If the car is towed, the most a company may charge for a private-property tow of a car in Maryland is $250, plus storage.

Checked Nov 14, 2026 against the Maryland statute and regulator pages.

What to do now

  1. Call the property office or check the tow-away sign at the lot entrance. It must name the tow company and its phone number in most states.
  2. Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
  3. Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
  4. Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
  5. Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
  6. If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.

Maryland rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

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

Notice

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

Drop fee release

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

Personal belongings

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

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

Related

Maryland cities: Baltimore

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.

Questions

Can my apartment tow my car without warning?

In many states yes, if proper tow-away signs are posted at each entrance. Some states and leases require a warning sticker first for things like expired tags. Check your state rules and your lease.

Who do I call if my car was towed from my apartment?

Start with the tow company named on the posted sign or the property office. In Houston and Harris County you can also search FindMyTowedCar. Police usually get a report of private tows within a few hours.

Sources

Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. Towing from parking lots, definitions and scope (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-01), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  2. Towing from parking lots, signs (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-02), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  3. Towing from parking lots, distance limits (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-03), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  4. Towing from parking lots, fees and notice (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-04), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  5. Towing from parking lots, storage, drop fee, payment and personal property (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-05), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  6. Towing from parking lots, penalties (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-10A-06), Maryland General Assembly. Checked Nov 14, 2026.