Everyone knows that most tow truck operators are decent, hard-working people. They rescue your vehicle when it is broken down and take it to be repaired. Besides this valuable service, tow trucks clear the city streets and private parking lots of illegally parked vehicles.

    Parking spots are becoming more difficult to find and business owners depend on turnover in those spaces to accommodate their own customers. Illegal parking can hurt the revenues of businesses if there is nowhere to park.
    Overall towing is a legitimate business that serves the needs of the consumer. So what is driving all this talk about towing scams and “bandit” tow truck operators?
    “Bandit” tow operators employ the practice of monitoring private parking lots in order to tow away vehicles whose owners are not patrons of the businesses associated with that lot. Often, the tow operators dismiss the fact that the car owner does patronize a business associated with the lot before going elsewhere.
    If you are a victim of a “bandit” tow truck operator, remember these facts: In California, the tow operator does not have a legal lien on your vehicle until it is in transit on a public highway.
    •If your car is already on the tow truck, but still in the parking lot, the tow operator can ask you for half of what an official police garage would charge for towing.
    •If you will not or cannot pay the requested amount, the issue becomes a civil matter, and the tow operator must release your vehicle.
    •If the tow operator leaves the lot with your vehicle because you would not or could not pay the requested amount, the tow operator is in violation of California Vehicle Code 10851, which is taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. The law may be different in other states but most have statutes that protect you and your car from disreputable tow truck operators.

Towing scam
    1) In some scams, businesses are ripped off by con artists posing as tow truck operators. They call the business telling them that they are bringing a vehicle in for repairs or services. The scammer does whatever paperwork is required then hands the business owner or employee the keys.
    The business then pays the tow truck operator the towing fee thinking they will be reimbursed the money. Only there is no car being towed and the keys are just some random keys that go to who knows what.

    2) In many municipalities there are laws against towing companies prowling around looking for parking violations so that they can tow vehicles away. The towing company gets around this by having another company do the looking. Sometimes the same person that owns the towing company owns the business that’s actively looking for cars to tow. Believe it or not, this is perfectly legal in many areas. To make matters worse, these unscrupulous towing companies target low-income housing and apartment complexes.
    3) Some bandit towing operations profile vehicles for the best chance at making money. They don’t want old, beat up cars because their owners are usually low-income people that might not be able to afford the impound fees. In that case the towing company might have to deal with police to have the vehicle disposed of, while taking up valuable lot space.

    They also shun more expensive models like Mercedes, Porsche and BMW because of the possibility of damage being done to the car during the tow. Reimbursement due to tow damage is rare but all the same they don’t want to run the risk of getting sued. This leaves everyone else a potential target with Toyotas and Hondas topping their favorites list.
    4) Sometimes a tow truck operator will try to insist that your vehicle be towed to “his” shop for servicing. Don’t give into this. They should be able to tow your car wherever you need it to go. If they won’t do it , find someone else to tow your car.
    5) If you are riding with the tow truck driver to your destination, he may offer a cash deal. In my experience, this turned out to be beneficial to me. The driver even left me with twenty bucks to get the rest of the way home. However, this is a fraudulent practice, and while the consumer ultimately pays, tow truck owners are victims as well.

Avoiding tow truck scams
    1) Know the local laws concerning towing.
    2) Do not leave the property of a business where you are parking. If a bandit tow truck operator is watching that particular parking lot, your vehicle could be hooked up and towed away in minutes.
    3) If you think you are the victim of a towing scam, take the time to fill out a police report. If you just let it go, not only are you out hundreds of dollars, but the bandit tow truck driver can continue to prey on people unobstructed. Do your part to fight these scams by filing a report with police.

Vetting the tow truck
• Make sure the tow truck has a municipal license number on its side before using its services.
• Look to see if the tow truck is affiliated with a reputable company such as an automotive roadside assistance group or automobile association.
• Listen for obvious clues. Does the driver recommend a particular repair facility without being asked? If he/she does, this might be an indication that a referral fee arrangement exists, which may be illegal.
• Carefully read everything the tow truck driver asks you to sign.
• Ask that your vehicle be taken to a secure location where an adjuster or appraiser from your insurance company can have access to it.
• Contact your insurance company, if possible, for information on towing.

Who could object?
Once again, most tow truck operators are completely legitimate and working with their states to impose regulations that might limit fraud and improve their image.
    While you would think everyone would be behind such legislation considering the current state of affairs, AAA Auto Club South is opposed the proposed legislation under consideration in the state of Florida. They warn that the result would in effect be a tow tax that consumers would end up paying needlessly. Some independent towing groups are also against the legislation.
    For more info on avoiding fraudulent schemes, visit www.fraudguides.com.