Usually no, not yourself. In most cases the person who can order the tow is whoever controls the spot: your landlord or property manager for a rented space, your HOA or condo board for an owned one, and a business owner for a commercial lot. A private property owner cannot have a car towed off the public street in front of their house on their own, though police or the vehicle’s owner can.
Quick Tow EP is a referral service. The site lists independent local tow operators, and the driver contacts and hires the operator directly. The driver pays the operator directly, and the operator quotes the price. Quick Tow EP does no towing, roadside work or storage itself.
First, figure out who controls the spot
The answer changes completely depending on what kind of space you’re dealing with. Get this wrong and you can waste a call and a fee on a tow that never should have been ordered.
Assigned apartment or rental spot
You rent the space through your lease, but the parking facility owner, usually your landlord or property manager, holds the authority. Texas Property Code Section 92.0131 requires a landlord at a multiunit complex to give you the parking rules before you sign, under a heading marked “Parking” or “Parking Rules” (Texas Property Code Chapter 92). Read that document first. It tells you what the property allows and who to call.
Condo or HOA spot
Your board or management company controls enforcement, not you individually. Ask for the written parking policy and the process for reporting a violation.
Business or commercial lot
If you own or manage the business, you may be able to use a licensed private property tow company, but only with compliant signs or proper notice. More on that below.
Public street in front of your house
This one is settled. A parking facility owner or towing company may not remove a vehicle from a public roadway except under the chapter, a complying city ordinance, or at the direction of a peace officer, an authorized city employee, or the vehicle’s owner (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308). A private property owner cannot have a car towed off the public street in front of their house on their own.
What to do first, in order
- Photograph the vehicle, the plate, and something that shows the date and time.
- Confirm the spot is yours and pull your lease, HOA letter, or permit.
- Check the lot signs. Are they visible, mounted, and readable from the entrance?
- Report it to the property manager or authorized agent in writing, not just by phone.
- Ask for the written parking enforcement policy if nothing happens.
- Escalate to the owner, management company, or board.
- Route any tow request through the property manager. The parking facility owner must request the specific tow or have a standing written agreement with the tow company, and the property owner or manager provides the written verification to the tow company.
- Stay back and let the operator handle the driver.
- Keep copies of every photo and message.
Documents to have ready
- Your lease or rental agreement with the parking clause
- Your parking permit or assigned space number
- HOA rules or board authorization, if applicable
- Photos of the vehicle, plate, and signage
- Copies of your written complaints and the dates sent
The signage rules that decide whether a tow is legal
A parking facility owner may have an unauthorized vehicle towed without the owner’s consent if compliant signs were posted at the time of towing and for the preceding 24 hours; or the driver got actual notice; or a windshield notice was posted and a certified-mail notice sent (the car may be towed if not moved before the 15th day after the postmark); or the car is blocking an aisle, entry or exit, a fire lane, a disabled space without a placard, is leaking hazardous fluid, or is in or obstructing a paved driveway, and on request the owner is told which tow company and vehicle storage facility will be used (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308).
A compliant sign has to face and be conspicuously visible to drivers entering, sit on the right or left of each driveway or curb-cut entrance, be permanently mounted with the bottom edge between five and eight feet above the ground, and for wide undefined entrances over 35 feet be placed so no entrance point is more than 25 feet from a sign. Each sign must be weather-resistant, at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall, show the international towing symbol, say who may park and that all others are prohibited, carry the words such as “Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner’s or Operator’s Expense”, state the days and hours of enforcement, and give a phone number with area code answered 24 hours a day to locate a towed car (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308). For a deeper walkthrough, see our post on Texas tow-away sign rules.
What if the signs are missing or wrong?
That blocks a sign-based tow. Report the signage problem to the property manager in writing and ask them to fix it. Don’t order a tow yourself on the strength of bad signs.
Who pays, and who carries the risk
The owner pays to reclaim a car from a vehicle storage facility. The owner is liable for reasonable towing and storage fees when a peace officer removes a vehicle under Transportation Code Section 545.305 (Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545). Before you request any tow, confirm authority with the property manager, since the parking facility owner must request the specific tow or have a standing written agreement with the tow company.
A towing company, booting company or parking facility owner who violates the chapter is liable for damages from the removal, storage or booting plus the fees charged, and the owner need not prove negligence. If the violation was intentional, knowing or reckless, liability is $1,000 plus three times the fees (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308). Under Section 2308.405, violating the chapter is a misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $1,500 (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308).
On the landlord side, Property Code Section 92.0131 says a landlord who violates the notice rules owes a $100 civil penalty plus the tenant’s towing and storage costs (Texas Property Code Chapter 92). That landlord is also liable for damage to the tenant’s car caused by a negligent contracted tow company that lacks insurance covering it.
El Paso fee caps
Inside El Paso city limits, City Code Section 12.54.020 caps a nonconsent tow at $100.00 for a light duty tow, $350.00 for a medium duty tow, and $450.00 for a heavy duty tow, per the City of El Paso ordinance published by the El Paso Police Department (El Paso Police Department towing page). An additional fee of no more than $25 may be charged for dollies or go-jacks. Places outside city limits, including Socorro, Horizon City, Canutillo, Anthony TX, Fabens, Clint, San Elizario, Vinton and Tornillo, are not covered by that chapter. Our breakdown of Texas towing fee limits covers the statewide picture.
If the owner shows up mid-tow
Under El Paso City Code Section 12.54.020(D), if the owner or operator is at or comes to the scene and does not want the vehicle towed, there is no charge and they get the vehicle back if it has not been hooked up. If it has been hooked up but not towed from the scene, it must be released on payment of one-half the regular tow fee. Stay back and let the operator handle that conversation. Don’t confront the driver yourself, and don’t leave a note that turns into a dispute later.
When management won’t act
Put everything in writing. Ask for the written parking enforcement policy. Escalate to the owner or management company, then to the board if there is one. If the car is blocking the entrance to a private driveway, call the El Paso Police non-emergency line at (915) 212-4000 (El Paso Police Department towing page). A peace officer may remove a vehicle from a highway if it is unlawfully parked and blocking the entrance to a private driveway, among other grounds, under Transportation Code Section 545.305 (Texas Transportation Code Chapter 545). For a fire lane or a car blocking a private lot, contact the property manager or call the number on the posted sign.
If the car is gone before the truck arrives, document that and keep the report on file. Repeat offenders are a management problem, and the paper trail is what moves it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tow a car parked in my assigned spot?
Rarely on your own. The authority usually sits with the property manager, landlord, HOA, or business owner who controls the parking facility. If you rent, start with your lease parking rules and your property manager.
Who do I call to get it removed?
Call your property manager or the authorized agent for the lot first. The parking facility owner must request the specific tow or have a standing written agreement with the operator. For a car on a public street, call the El Paso Police non-emergency line at (915) 212-4000.
Do I need signs before a tow is allowed?
For a sign-based tow, yes. Compliant signs must be posted at the time of towing and for the preceding 24 hours. There are exceptions, including a car blocking an aisle, entry, exit, fire lane, or paved driveway.
Who pays the tow and storage bill?
The owner pays to reclaim a car from a vehicle storage facility. The owner is liable for reasonable towing and storage fees when a peace officer removes a vehicle under Transportation Code Section 545.305. A towing company, booting company or parking facility owner who violates the chapter is liable for damages from the removal, storage or booting plus the fees charged, and the owner need not prove negligence. If a court finds no probable cause at a tow hearing requested after a nonconsent tow or boot, the tow company, vehicle storage facility, parking facility owner or agency that authorized the tow must pay or reimburse the towing and storage costs.
What if the property manager won’t do anything?
Send a written request for the parking enforcement policy and escalate to the owner, management company, or board. Keep copies of every message and photo. If it’s a safety hazard, call the police non-emergency line.
What should I do if the driver shows up?
Stay back and let the tow operator handle it. Under El Paso City Code Section 12.54.020(D), if the car hasn’t been hooked up, there’s no charge and it’s released. If it’s hooked up but not moved, it’s released for one-half the regular tow fee.
When to call for a tow
If you control the spot and the signage is compliant, the parking facility owner must request the tow or have a standing written agreement with the operator. If the car is blocking the entrance to a private driveway, call the El Paso Police non-emergency line at (915) 212-4000. For a fire lane or a car blocking a private lot, contact the property manager or call the number on the posted sign. For a car on a public street, a peace officer may remove a vehicle from a highway only on the grounds listed in Transportation Code Section 545.305, such as blocking a private driveway, being stolen, abandoned, disabled, or a hazard. Call (915) 320-5573 and Quick Tow EP will connect you with an independent local tow operator.