Towing

Information for Vehicle Owners

Need help locating a towed vehicle?
Call the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.

Filing a Complaint
ACPD investigates all trespass towing complaints. If you believe your vehicle was towed in error, or that County regulations were not followed properly, you may ask ACPD to investigate. Submit our online form (below) or call 703-228-4266.

Submit a Complaint

Know Your Rights
Read the County’s towing ordinance to understand the rights of vehicle owners and the obligations/responsibilities of towing and recovery owners and private property owners.

Information for Property Owners and Towing and Recovery Operators

While Arlington County does not license towing and recovery operators performing trespass towing services from properties in Arlington County, all towing and recovery operators and properties from which vehicles are towed must comply with the County’s towing ordinance. Any trespass tows conducted in a manner or from a property not compliant with the County’s towing ordinance at the time of the tow are subject to reimbursement to the vehicle owner.  Prior to performing trespass tows for the first time, operators should contact the Arlington County Manager’s Office by email  or call 703-228-3120.

News Updates

County Board Adopts Trespass Towing Amendments

The County Board held a meeting on February 21, 2021 (see: https://youtu.be/Bxm3YX9RV1k?t=14981) to consider proposed changes to the County’s Towing Ordinance.

The updated ordinance can be found here:

The summary of changes adopted/considered by the County Board were as follows:

1. Adopted various changes which reconcile the County’s Ordinance with Virginia Code
   
2. Adopted enhanced consumer protections which:
   1. Simplifies the signage requirements with the intent of making signs easier to read and understand.
   2. Strengthens the requirements for storage facilities, providing that they must include lighting and a structure where payments can be received; as well as detailed signage or lists of all fees charged.
   3. Improves transparency and accountability for towing operators – including the addition of placards on trucks which show the costs of towing; adding email and postal addresses to receipts; and adding requirements that towing contracts and photographs be furnished upon request to the customer.
3. Considered but did not approve proposed fee increases to the maximums permitted under state law.

County Board Adopts Trespass Towing Amendments
On July 15, 2017, the Arlington County Board adopted amendments to the County’s trespass towing ordinance.  These amendments, considered pursuant to action taken by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year, removed the real-time authorization requirement the County Board enacted in December 2016 and provide a ten (10) minute notification window for the towing and recovery operator to notify Arlington County that they have removed a vehicle from private property.

A copy of the Board Report can be read here (Item #20)

General Assembly Strips Local Authority on Trespass Towing
In the 2017 Session, the Virginia General Assembly approved legislation, HB 1960, that would significantly restrict the authority of local governments in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) to impose reasonable protections for vehicle owners in local trespass towing ordinances, effective July 1, 2017.  Visit the Virginia Legislative Information site to learn more about the bill and its legislative history.  Specifically, beginning July 1, 2017, Arlington County will be prohibited under State Code from implementing the real-time authorization, or “second signature” requirement, as passed by the County Board last year.

County Board Adopts Trespass Towing Amendments
On December 13, 2016, the County Board approved amendments to the County’s trespass towing ordinance.  Key changes include:

1. requiring real-time authorization from the property owner or their designee for every tow from commercial properties during the business’s hours of operation
2. requiring additional interior signage and/or markings at parking facilities where necessary
3. requiring towing and recovery operators to photograph the vehicle at all four corners prior to towing
4. requiring towing receipts to include:
   1. a notice that photographic and/or video evidence of the violation that resulted in towing is available upon request, and
   2. the contact information for the County Department that handles towing complaints
5. extending the distance from the County line to which vehicles can be towed and stored from 3 miles to 3.25 miles

You can read a copy of the Board Report, watch a video of the County Board’s consideration of the amendments, and find other additional background information on the County Board’s Meetings webpage.  Scroll down to item #41.