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Towed from your apartment complex in Tennessee

Towing from a lot open to the public requires clearly visible signs at each entrance and exit saying unauthorized cars will be towed, with the tow company's name and phone number. Without signs, a car can still be towed if it has been left more than 12 hours or is blocking access, creating a hazard or parked illegally.

Checked Nov 15, 2026 against the Tennessee 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.

Tennessee rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

Towing from a lot open to the public requires clearly visible signs at each entrance and exit saying unauthorized cars will be towed, with the tow company's name and phone number. Without signs, a car can still be towed if it has been left more than 12 hours or is blocking access, creating a hazard or parked illegally.1

Notice

If the owner is not present, the tower must report the car's VIN, plate, description, tow location and storage location to the local police within one hour, or to the state's online motor vehicle portal once it is running. Garagekeepers holding an abandoned car must verify the owner and send notice to the owner and lienholders within three business days after getting ownership details.12

Drop fee release

If the car has not left its parking spot, the tower must release it immediately when the owner pays a release fee. That fee is capped at $100 statewide.1

Personal belongings

For tows ordered by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the tow company must hand over personal property and cargo to the owner on request, and may not charge for it during normal business hours. You must show photo ID. State law sets no such rule for private-property tows.14

Hearing to contest the tow

No general tow hearing was found in state law. The owner or lienholder can appeal a police finding that a car is abandoned or immobile, and a garagekeeper that refuses to release a car after payment can be sued for costs and attorney's fees.1

Payment

State law does not list payment types a tow company must take. On tows ordered by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a card surcharge may not be more than what the company itself pays to accept the card. Paid boots must allow payment by credit or debit card.14

Related

Tennessee cities: Nashville, Memphis

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Tennessee, 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 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. Public Chapter 457 of 2025 (SB 1068), MOTION Act creating T.C.A. title 55, chapter 31 (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-31-201 to 55-31-305), Tennessee Secretary of State. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  2. Tenn. Code 66-19-103 Garagekeeper liens (2025 code via Justia) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-19-103), Justia (mirror of the Tennessee Code). Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  3. Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission Rules and Procedures (September 16, 2026), Metro Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  4. Tennessee Highway Patrol Towing Service Standards Manual (revised January 2017, as posted in 2026) (THP Towing Service Standards Manual, sections XIII and XIV), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  5. Vehicle Storage and Release, Memphis Police Department. Checked Nov 15, 2026.