{"id":12272,"date":"2024-11-11T13:06:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T21:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=12272"},"modified":"2025-08-08T09:52:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T16:52:59","slug":"tennessee-towing-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/state-laws\/tennessee-towing-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"All You Need to Know About Tennessee Towing Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In <a href=\"\/car-insurance\/tennessee\/\">Tennessee<\/a>, the law gives police and property owners the right to tow vehicles that are parked illegally or have been abandoned\u2014but that\u2019s not the full story. Retrieving your vehicle after it\u2019s been impounded will also require paying pricey fees, so it\u2019s crucial to be aware of the laws surrounding towing in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-can-police-tow-a-vehicle-in-tennessee\">When can police tow a vehicle in Tennessee?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Tennessee, the towing laws are comparatively straightforward, but we\u2019ll just hit the top three most pertinent towing laws to make it even simpler. To start things off, let\u2019s look at the circumstances that could lead to police towing a vehicle in the Volunteer State.<br><br>Tennessee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawserver.com\/law\/state\/tennessee\/tn-code\/tennessee_code_55-16-111#:~:text=Notwithstanding%20any%20law%20to%20the,private%20property%2C%20or%20parked%20illegally.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law 55-16-111<\/a> outlines that an immobile vehicle cannot legally be towed without authorization from the owner until it\u2019s been immobile or unattended for 12 hours. The exceptions to this include if the vehicle is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Creating a hazard<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preventing access to public or private property<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being illegally parked<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For legal purposes, a vehicle is considered \u201cimmobile\u201d if it cannot be moved due to a breakdown, weather, accident, or another emergency. Be sure to note that this law means your car can be towed in less than 12 hours if it\u2019s parked illegally.<strong><br><\/strong><br>According to Tennessee <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/tennessee\/2010\/title-55\/chapter-5\/part-1\/55-5-129\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law 55-5-129<\/a>, police can also tow and impound a vehicle if the car is thought to be stolen or unregistered. However, if the car is on private property, the police must gain permission from the property owner before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get your car out of an impound lot in Tennessee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So your car got towed, and now it\u2019s in an impound lot\u2014what do you do next? The process will differ depending on what city you\u2019re in. To get your vehicle back, the first step you\u2019ll need to take is to call your local impound lot to locate your car, or call the local police department to find out where your vehicle was taken.<br><br>When you go to retrieve your vehicle, you\u2019ll need to bring the following items with you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Proof of ownership<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proof of insurance<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driver\u2019s license or photo ID<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also be expected to pay a fee to get your car back, which can cost up to $200 for average vehicles\u2014but it can vary depending on the city and circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-can-private-property-owners-tow-a-vehicle-in-tennessee\">When can private property owners tow a vehicle in Tennessee?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we know all the scenarios that could cause you to be towed by police in Tennessee, but private property owners can also legally have your car towed.<br><br>Tennessee<a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/tennessee\/2019\/title-66\/chapter-28\/part-5\/section-66-28-518\/#:~:text=Towing%20of%20unauthorized%20vehicles.,-Universal%20Citation%3A%20TN&amp;text=(a)%20A%20landlord%20may%20have,same%20upon%20the%20subject%20vehicle.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Law 66-28-518 <\/a>lays out all the circumstances when a landlord can have a vehicle towed from their property\u2014they just have to give tecn days written notice posted on the vehicle first. The landlord doesn\u2019t have to provide notice, however, if the vehicle has violated a posted parking policy. This could also include violating posted parking signage regarding traffic lanes, fire hydrants, or accessible parking areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-separator-jerry-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn More: <a href=\"\/car-insurance\">How much does it cost to tow a car?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-separator-jerry-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-can-your-car-be-towed-from-a-parking-lot-in-tennessee\">When can your car be towed from a parking lot in Tennessee?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Tennessee <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/tennessee\/2019\/title-55\/chapter-8\/part-1\/section-55-8-160\/#:~:text=%2D8%2D160.-,Stopping%2C%20standing%20or%20parking%20prohibited%20in%20specific%20places%20%2D%2D%20Penalty,and%20persons%20with%20physical%20disabilities.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law Code 55-8-160<\/a>, a car can be towed from a parking lot if it fits the criteria from the previous two sections. A vehicle can also be towed if it is parked in a spot reserved for disabled parking without a proper permit.<br><br>To avoid being towed, be sure to look out for any posted signage\u2014no matter where you\u2019re parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-separator-jerry-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn More: <a href=\"\/car-insurance\">Tennessee DUI laws<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-save-on-car-insurance-in-tennessee\">How to save on car insurance in Tennessee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle was towed in Tennessee, not only will you have to deal with the hassle of getting your car back and paying hefty fees, but if your tow was the result of an at-fault accident, DUI, or a traffic violation, you can expect your <a href=\"\/car-insurance\/\">car insurance<\/a> premium to increase by quite a bit.<br><br>You\u2019re not locked into sky-high premiums, though\u2014not when you have a handy insurance expert in your literal back pocket. The <a href=\"\/signup\/\">Jerry<\/a> app is always there to help you find the cheapest rates on car insurance in the quickest way possible. Jerry works like magic: just sign up, and you\u2019ll see competitive rates sourced from over 55 insurance providers in less than two minutes\u2014no matter what your record looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-cta\"><div class=\"flex flex-col items-start gap-4 rounded-xl border border-zinc-200 px-12 py-8 md:flex-row md:items-center md:gap-14\"><div class=\"flex-1\"><span class=\"text-xl font-black text-gray-900\">SIMPLIFY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IN MINUTES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"flex-1\"><a href=\"\/signup\/insured?service=insurance \" class=\"bg-primary block w-full rounded-full px-14 py-2 text-center font-black text-white hover:no-underline\">Find savings now<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"!mbs-12 !mbe-12 wp-block-jerry-faqs wp-block-jerry-faqs\">\n  <!-- Title -->\n    <h2 class=\"medium-title text-black mb-1.5 pt-12 uppercase\">\n    FAQ  <\/h2>\n  \n  <!-- Accordion -->\n  \n<div class=\"max-w-screen-lg my-6 [&amp;_li:last-child]:border-b-0\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-jerry-accordion\">\n<li class=\"font-circular flex cursor-pointer list-none flex-col items-start gap-1 border-b border-zinc-200 py-6 text-lg text-slate-500 md:flex-row md:gap-5 wp-block-jerry-accordion-item font-circular flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-start border-b border-zinc-200 py-6 text-lg text-slate-500 is-style-accordion-item-box wp-block-jerry-accordion-item\" data-wp-interactive=\"accordion-item\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onInit\">\n  <!-- Accessory -->\n  \n  <div class=\"flex flex-1 flex-col text-gray-600\">\n    <div class=\"flex flex-row items-start justify-between gap-4\">\n      <!-- Title -->\n      <span class=\"accordion-q align-middle text-black font-medium\">\n        What is the maximum towing fee in Tennessee?      <\/span>\n\n      <!-- Icon -->\n      <span class=\"accordion-i text-black font-medium mr-4 mt-1 shrink-0 align-middle transition iconify i--plus\"><\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Content -->\n    \n<div class=\"jerry-block-content accordion-a mt-5 hidden\">\n<p>There\u2019s no statewide maximum towing fee or policy in Tennessee, and the fees will vary depending on the city or county you\u2019re in. For instance, a vehicle towed from the inner loop of Nashville to the Metro Impound Lot will cost $155. To get an exact number, you\u2019ll need to call your local police department and ask.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-circular flex cursor-pointer list-none flex-col items-start gap-1 border-b border-zinc-200 py-6 text-lg text-slate-500 md:flex-row md:gap-5 wp-block-jerry-accordion-item font-circular flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-start border-b border-zinc-200 py-6 text-lg text-slate-500 is-style-accordion-item-box wp-block-jerry-accordion-item\" data-wp-interactive=\"accordion-item\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onInit\">\n  <!-- Accessory -->\n  \n  <div class=\"flex flex-1 flex-col text-gray-600\">\n    <div class=\"flex flex-row items-start justify-between gap-4\">\n      <!-- Title -->\n      <span class=\"accordion-q align-middle text-black font-medium\">\n        Can a landlord tow your car without notice in Tennessee?      <\/span>\n\n      <!-- Icon -->\n      <span class=\"accordion-i text-black font-medium mr-4 mt-1 shrink-0 align-middle transition iconify i--plus\"><\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Content -->\n    \n<div class=\"jerry-block-content accordion-a mt-5 hidden\">\n<p>In some cases. If a vehicle violates the landlord\u2019s posted signage regarding parking and traffic restrictions on the property, the landlord can have a car removed without notice. If the vehicle isn\u2019t violating any posted rules, the landlord must provide ten days&#8217; written notice before towing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n  <!-- Contact link -->\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-meet-experts\" data-wp-interactive=\"jerry\/meet-experts\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;modalVisible&quot;:false}\">\n  <div class=\"font-circular text-2xl font-extrabold text-slate-900\">Expert-driven. Built for you.<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-3\">\n    <div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-3 border-b border-neutral-200 cursor-pointer font-semibold text-gray-900\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.toggleModal\">\n  <button class=\"text-left text-base\" type=\"button\">\n    Why you can count on Jerry&#8217;s articles  <\/button>\n\n  <div class=\"transition data-[visible=true]:md:rotate-180 text-xs iconify i--chevron-down text-gray-500\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"modal-backdrop fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-50 overflow-hidden overscroll-contain bg-black\/70 font-body transition-transform delay-100 duration-0 md:relative md:z-auto [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:bg-black\/0 [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onModalInit\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n  <div class=\"modal-view fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 flex max-h-[75%] w-full flex-col rounded-t-3xl bg-white pb-7 pl-7 pt-3.5 transition md:relative md:rounded-none md:pl-0 md:transition-none [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n    <div class=\"modal-header md:hidden flex justify-between items-center pb-1 mb-1 border-b border-zinc-200\">\n      <div class=\"modal-title text-base font-semibold\">Summary<\/div>\n\n      <div\n        class=\"modal-close-btn wp-block-group w-11 h-11 mr-2.5 content-center text-center\"\n        data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"iconify i--close text-gray-500 cursor-pointer\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"modal-body pr-7 overflow-y-auto\"><div class=\"wp-block-template-part\"><div class=\"flex flex-row items-center gap-2.5 rounded-lg bg-gray-pink px-4 py-5\">\n  <span class=\"iconify mt-0.5 shrink-0 self-start text-xs text-primary i--shield-check\"><\/span>\n\n  <div>\n    <div class=\"font-body text-xs font-bold text-primary\">Our goal is clear, trustworthy information.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"mt-1 font-body text-xs text-gray-600\">\n      Our content is created, edited and fact checked by a team of licensed insurance agents, automotive pros and\n      experienced journalists who know the industry inside and out. Facts are thoroughly researched, verified and kept\n      current, and our editorial team is separate from our business partners, so our opinions &#038; tips are unbiased. All\n      insights drawn from Jerry\u2019s proprietary, aggregated customer auto insurance quotes data provide unique, real-world\n      guidance.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-900\">Our experts<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-8 flex flex-col gap-8 items-center justify-center\">\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Macy-Fouse.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Macy-Fouse.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Macy-Fouse-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Macy-Fouse-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Macy-Fouse-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Macy Fouse            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Macy Fouse is an insurance writer with over five years of experience in publishing and writing. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Macy\u2019s mission is to create content that equips car owners with the tools they need to reduce car ownership costs, master repair skills, and ensure they have the best insurance coverage for their drive. Macy has written nearly 1,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from state-specific driver\u2019s license regulations to how your marital status can affect car insurance costs. Prior to joining Jerry, Macy leveraged her background in journalism, social media, and educational curriculum as a production editor for LifeWay Christian Resource.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jessica-Barrett.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jessica-Barrett.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jessica-Barrett-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jessica-Barrett-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jessica-Barrett-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Jessica Barrett            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica\u2019s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie\u2019s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The best way to avoid getting your car towed in Tennessee is by knowing the law. Click here to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":66571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jerry_authors":"[{\"id\":\"208\",\"type\":\"main-author\"},{\"id\":\"158\",\"type\":\"reviewer\"}]","jerry_author_ids":[208],"jerry_idx_page_label":"","jerry_meta_desc":"The best way to avoid getting your car towed in Tennessee is by knowing the law. Click here to learn more.","jerry_related_posts":"[6079,5177,9650]","jerry_summary":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[515],"tags":[346,353,366],"class_list":["post-12272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-state-laws","tag-state-laws","tag-tennessee","tag-towing"],"modified_by":"harveen.sran@getjerry.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12272"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66572,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12272\/revisions\/66572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}