Towed from your apartment complex in New Mexico
Commercial lots and apartments need visible signs saying illegally parked cars may be towed and the exact hours enforced. The tow company needs written authorization from the property and must photograph the car and the sign before towing. If the car is towed, the most a company may charge for a private-property tow of a car in New Mexico is $100, plus storage.
Checked Nov 14, 2026 against the New Mexico statute and regulator pages.
What to do now
- 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.
- Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
- Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
- Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
- Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
- If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.
New Mexico rules that matter here
Tow-away signs
Commercial lots and apartments need visible signs saying illegally parked cars may be towed and the exact hours enforced. The tow company needs written authorization from the property and must photograph the car and the sign before towing.2
Notice
The tow company must request owner information within three business days and mail a certified notice to the owner and lienholder within two business days of getting it. If it misses either step, it cannot collect storage on an unclaimed car.2
Personal belongings
Unless police ordered a hold, the owner can inspect the car and remove personal property for free during normal business hours by showing proof of ownership.2
Hearing to contest the tow
If you dispute the charges or think the tow was illegal, the tow company must give you a written statement explaining how to file a complaint with the state transportation department.2
Payment
Tow companies must accept cash, plus either a credit card or a check, and must post which forms of payment they take.2
Related
- All New Mexico towing laws and fee limits
- Calculate what you owe in New Mexico
- Apartment complex: rules in every state
- How to fight a tow
New Mexico cities: Albuquerque
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in New Mexico, 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.
- New Mexico Statewide Wrecker Tariff, effective February 1, 2017, NM Public Regulation Commission, posted by NMDOT. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- 18.3.12 NMAC Towing Services (18.3.12 NMAC (eff. 7/1/2024)), New Mexico Department of Transportation. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Vermont AG draft State Towing Regulation Compendium (rates only), Vermont Attorney General. Checked Nov 14, 2026. Secondary source.