How to check a Texas tow company license
Before you let a tow truck hook up your car in El Paso, check the company's license. Texas licenses tow companies through TDLR, and you can look up any license in a minute. This guide shows you what to ask, how to check it, and which local rules apply on I-10, Loop 375, or a side street. You'll also see where a car goes after a police tow and what to bring to get it back.
- How to look up a tow company's TDLR license and confirm it's active
- What license and insurance documents the driver should show you
- Which El Paso and Texas fee caps apply to a tow you didn't request
- Where a police-ordered tow goes and what to bring to the lot
Step by step
- Ask the dispatcher for the company's TDLR tow license number before you agree to anything.
- Open the TDLR License Search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch and choose Tow Truck Operators.
- Check that the license status says Active and the company name matches the truck and the invoice.
- Ask the driver to show their individual TDLR tow operator license, which they must carry in the truck.
- Request a certificate of insurance and call the carrier listed to confirm the policy is active.
- If the tow was not requested by you, ask which agency ordered it and where the car is going.
- Write down the truck number, driver name and company, and photograph the invoice before you pay.
How do I check a tow company's license in El Paso?
Texas licenses tow companies through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Occupations Code Chapter 2308. Go to tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch, pick Tow Truck Operators, and enter the company name or license number. Confirm the status is Active, not expired or pending. The name on the record should match the name on the truck, the dispatcher's greeting and the invoice. Ask the driver for their individual tow operator license, which they must carry. If the company can't give you a license number, that's a reason to call a different operator. Quick Tow EP connects you with an independent, separately licensed local operator, and you deal with that operator directly.
What fees can a tow company charge in El Paso?
Inside El Paso city limits, City Code Chapter 12.54 caps every nonconsent tow: $100 for light duty, $350 for medium duty, $450 for heavy duty, plus up to $25 for dollies. If you return before the car is hooked up, there's no charge. If it's hooked but not towed away, you pay half the regular fee. These caps apply to police-ordered, incident management and private property tows. Outside the city, in places like Socorro, Horizon City or Fabens, TDLR statewide maximums apply instead. In New Mexico, including Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, neither Texas rule applies, so call the agency or lot that handled the tow. A tow you request yourself is priced by the operator you hire.
Where does a police-ordered tow go in El Paso?
The City of El Paso Municipal Vehicle Storage Facility is run by UR Vehicle Management Solutions at 11615 Railroad Drive, El Paso, TX 79934. The phone is (915) 212-0205 and the lot is open 24 hours. Call first, because some vehicles have a hold, and charges are only good through midnight of the day quoted. Bring a federal or state photo ID plus registration, title or insurance. If you're not the owner, call ahead for the document list. The lot takes cash, Discover, Mastercard or Visa, with a 1.98% fee on cards. For a tow ordered by the El Paso County Sheriff in the unincorporated county, call (915) 273-3800 ext. 5431 to find the lot.
Common questions
How do I verify a tow company's license in El Paso?
Use the TDLR License Search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch and choose Tow Truck Operators. Enter the company name or license number and confirm the status is Active. The name on the record should match the truck, the dispatcher and the invoice. Ask the driver for their individual tow operator license too. If the company can't provide a license number, call a different operator.
What is the maximum a tow company can charge in El Paso?
Inside El Paso city limits, City Code 12.54 caps nonconsent tows at $100 for light duty, $350 for medium duty and $450 for heavy duty, plus up to $25 for dollies. If you return before hookup, there's no charge. If the car is hooked but not towed, you pay half. Outside the city, TDLR statewide maximums apply. In New Mexico, call the agency or lot that handled the tow.
Can someone else pick up my car from the El Paso impound lot?
Yes, but the non-owner should call the lot first at (915) 212-0205 to get the exact document list. The owner normally brings a federal or state photo ID plus registration, title or insurance. A power of attorney, court order or rental agreement may also work. Bring payment, since the lot takes cash or card with a 1.98% card fee.
What can I do if I think I was overcharged for a tow in El Paso?
For a nonconsent tow, you can request a tow hearing in justice court within 14 days, excluding weekends and holidays. The filing fee is $20. You can also file a complaint with TDLR at tdlr.texas.gov. If a card was charged without your authorization, dispute it with your card issuer. Keep photos of the truck, the driver's credentials and the invoice.
Need a tow in El Paso?
Call (915) 320-5573 to reach an independent, licensed local tow operator who quotes the job and does the work.