Police ordered tows versus a tow you choose: how rotation towing works after a crash
When police pick your tow company, when you can choose and how to find your car
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reviews, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research, Texas Department of Insurance guidance, federal law and the towing laws of Texas, Florida and Washington. Every source is listed at the end.
Two kinds of tows, two sets of rules
If your car can’t be driven after a collision, it leaves the scene one of two ways. The police call a tow company, or you call one yourself. Towing laws often treat these as different jobs.
Texas rules show the split clearly. A consent tow is one requested by the owner or driver, or by someone else in charge of the car [1]. A nonconsent tow is any tow that is not a consent tow. Texas lists tows called to a crash scene, which it names incident management tows, as one type [1].
A police ordered tow is usually a nonconsent tow. Because many agencies call companies in turn from a list, these are often called rotation tows.
The label shapes who picks the company, whose rules apply, how prices are set and how you learn where the car went. Local rules vary, so treat this table as a starting point.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Police ordered tow versus a tow you arrange
| Question | Police ordered tow | Tow you arrange |
|---|---|---|
| Who picks the company? | An officer or dispatcher, often from an approved list | You, your roadside plan or your insurer |
| Who oversees the company? | The agency that appointed it, plus state or local law | State or local law and your agreement |
| Price limits | Some agencies set maximum rates for their calls [2] | Agree on the price before the tow |
| Where the car goes | A storage yard, unless you name another place [3] | Wherever you tell the driver |
| Paperwork you get | A tow ticket, and in some states a mailed notice [4, 5] | The receipt or work order you sign |
Why the rules change from place to place
Federal law is part of the reason. It generally stops states and cities from making rules about the prices, routes and services of motor carriers, which are companies that move property by truck [6]. But it carves out an exception for towing. States and local governments may still regulate tow truck work done without the prior consent of the owner or driver [6].
That leaves room for each state to write its own rules for nonconsent tows, and the three states in this article each do it differently [1, 2, 7]. Rules can also differ by agency. Washington law, for example, lets local ordinances shape some police impounds [8]. So the agency that called the tow is your best guide to the rules that apply. Write down which agency it was.
How police rotation lists work
A rotation list is a roster of tow companies that a police agency has approved. When an officer needs a tow and the driver has no request, a dispatcher calls the next company in line. Some areas use zones instead, where one company covers a set stretch of road. In Washington, the State Patrol decides area by area whether its tows run on a contract, a rotation or another basis [7].
A 2010 federal review drew on responses from 29 U.S. jurisdictions. Of those, 55 percent used rotation lists and 21 percent used zone based arrangements [9].
A spot on a rotation list comes with strings attached. In Washington, a company towing for the State Patrol must send a truck within five minutes of a call during business hours, and within 15 minutes after hours [10]. If it can’t, it loses its turn and drops to the bottom of the list [10]. It must have someone available around the clock to take calls and release cars [10]. Repeatedly refusing or missing calls can cost the company its appointment [10].
Florida’s Highway Patrol runs its own wrecker system. Any reputable tow company can take part if its trucks and drivers pass accepted safety and mechanical standards [2]. The patrol must also set maximum rates for towing and storage on the tows it orders, and post them online [2].
Why a quick decision at the scene keeps people safer
A wreck on a busy road is a dangerous place to stand. A 2024 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that 123 roadside assistance workers were struck and killed while working in the United States from 2015 through 2021 [11]. That group includes tow operators, mobile mechanics and highway service patrol staff [11]. In 89 percent of those deaths, the speed limit was 55 mph or higher, and 63 percent happened in darkness [11].
Drivers and passengers waiting beside a wreck face the same traffic. That is one reason some states let police move wrecked cars without waiting for the owner. Federal highway officials call these authority removal laws. They let named public agencies remove damaged vehicles or spilled cargo that create a hazard. If the driver can’t or won’t move the car, officials can have it moved without the owner’s consent [12].
So weigh your preferred tow company against the risk of waiting. If your car blocks a lane, sits on a narrow shoulder or the scene is dark, let the rotation tow take it. You can usually have the car moved to a shop of your choice later, though a second move may cost more.
Your right to ask for your own tow company
Many states let you choose your own tow company, within limits. Here is how three states handle it.
- Washington. Name a specific company, and a State Patrol officer will honor it if that company can arrive in a reasonable time [7]. The request must also make sense given conditions at the scene [7]. If you make no request, or you are too hurt to decide or not there, the officer asks dispatch for a tow [7].
- Florida. The law behind the patrol’s wrecker system does not stop you from calling any tow company, on the patrol’s list or not [2]. A company outside the system must tell you it is not one of the patrol’s designated operators [2].
- Texas. The state insurance department tells drivers to confirm that they or the police actually sent for the tow truck that shows up. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives drivers in every state the same advice. The department also says you can tell the driver to take your car to a storage lot or a shop you choose [3].
Officers can also decide for you. In Washington, an officer may take custody of a vehicle and have it moved to a safe place when it is left unattended at an accident scene. The same applies when the driver is not physically or mentally able to make decisions about the car [8]. In short, your choice is a request, not a veto.
A quick routine for the tow decision
- Get yourself and your passengers to a safe spot away from traffic first.
- If you have a preferred tow company or body shop, tell the officer right away.
- Ask how long your company would take. If the wait is long or the scene is risky, accept the police tow.
- When a truck arrives, ask the officer whether police called it or you did.
- Before the truck leaves, get the company’s name, phone number and the address where your car is going.
- Write down the officer’s name, the agency and the report number.
What to check before the truck pulls away
Start with the paperwork. Two minutes of notes can save hours of phone calls later.
In Texas, the tow ticket must show the company’s licensed name, a public phone number, its registration number and the tow operator’s state license number [4]. If the owner or driver is at the scene and available, the company must hand over a copy [4]. Even where no such rule exists, it is fair to ask for the same details.
Finding your car after a police ordered tow
After a police ordered tow, you may have left in an ambulance with no idea which company came. Start with the agency, not a web search.
- Work out which agency handled the crash. Your exchange slip or report number may name it.
- Call that agency’s nonemergency line with the date, place and any report number. Ask which company towed the car and where it is stored.
- Call the yard before you go. Ask about hours and which documents you need to see or release the car.
- After a serious wreck, ask whether anything is holding up release, such as an open investigation.
Some states require the tow company to tell you where your car is. These rules help, but they are a backstop.
Washington law lets a car left unattended at a crash scene be impounded right away [13]. When that happens, the tow company must notify the registered and legal owners by first class mail within 24 hours [5]. The notice must name the tow firm and give its address and phone number. It must say where and when the car was impounded and on whose authority, and explain your hearing rights [5].
In Florida, a company holding a towed car under the state’s towing lien law must send notice by certified mail within five business days after storage. It goes to the registered owner, the insurer and anyone with a lien [14]. The notice must warn that an unclaimed vehicle can be sold 35 or 57 days after storage, depending on the vehicle’s age [14].
Mail takes time, and a letter goes to the address on your registration. If that address is old, the notice may never reach you. A phone call in the first day matters more than any letter.
Florida also requires yards to let owners, insurers and their agents inspect the car and collect it or the belongings inside. During business hours, this must happen within one hour of showing the required papers [14].
State examples at a glance
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
State towing rules at a glance
| State | What the rule says | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Patrol honors your tow choice when reasonable [7] | Speak up early at the scene |
| Washington | Mailed notice within 24 hours of some impounds [5] | It names the yard and your hearing rights |
| Florida | Tow companies outside the system must say so [2] | Ask who sent the truck |
| Florida | Certified mail notice within five business days [14] | Unclaimed cars can later be sold |
| Texas | Tow ticket copy for an owner at the scene [4] | It lists the company and license numbers |
If you think a police ordered tow went wrong
When a police tow goes wrong, send the complaint to the right place.
Washington gives anyone trying to get an impounded car back a right to a hearing in the local district or municipal court. There you can challenge whether the impound was valid or how much was charged for towing and storage [15]. The request must be in writing on the court’s form and reach the court within 10 days of when you were given that chance [15]. Yards there must also accept cash, major bank credit cards and some personal checks with two forms of ID [15].
In Texas, the state insurance department says to report towing problems to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees tow companies and storage lots. It also suggests calling your local police [3].
Tell the agency that called the tow, too, since it decides who stays on its list. Keep your complaint calm and factual. Include the date, place, tow ticket, photos and the names of people you dealt with.
Plan ahead so the choice is easier
The best time to pick a tow company is before you need one.
- Save the number of a tow company you trust, plus any roadside help line you have.
- Pick a body shop you would want your car taken to, so you can give the officer a clear answer.
- Keep the address on your registration current, since mailed tow notices go to the owners on record [5, 14].
- Talk with teen drivers. Tell them their safety comes first, and that accepting a police ordered tow is always fine.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn down the tow company the police called?
You can usually ask for a different company. Washington, for example, honors that request when it is reasonable [7]. But you generally cannot refuse removal of a car that is a hazard. Authority removal laws let officials move a hazardous vehicle without the owner’s consent when the driver can’t or won’t [12]. If you are unsure, accept the police tow and arrange a second move later.
What if my own tow company is too far away?
Then the officer may call the next company on the list, because a long wait on a busy road puts everyone at risk. You can still choose where the car ends up. Once you know which yard has it, arrange a second tow to a shop you pick.
What should I do if a tow truck shows up that no one called?
Ask the officer before you agree to anything. In Washington, patrol tow companies may not roam the roads looking for wrecks. They may not go to a scene unless the patrol, the owner or driver, or the owner’s representative asked [10]. In Florida, a company outside the patrol’s system may not arrive ahead of the designated truck, offer you a tow and then haul your car away [2].
How will I find my car if I left the scene in an ambulance?
Call the nonemergency line of the police agency that handled the crash, or ask a family member to call. Give the date, place and any report number. Ask which company towed the car and where it is. Mailed notices can take a day or several, depending on the state [5, 14], so don’t wait for the letter.
Is a police ordered tow the same thing as an impound?
Not always, and the words vary by state. Washington defines an impound as taking and holding a vehicle in legal custody [13]. Its notice and hearing rights apply to impounded vehicles [5, 15]. Ask the agency whether your car was impounded or simply towed at your request. The answer can affect your rights.
Who should I complain to about a rotation tow company?
Start with the agency that called the tow, since it controls its own list. Then contact your state’s towing regulator, if there is one. In Texas, that is the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation [3].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation urges drivers to put safety first at the scene, speak up early about a preferred tow company and confirm who sent any truck that arrives. After a collision, the tow truck that takes your car may come from a police rotation list or from a company you called. Both can work well. What matters is knowing which one you have, speaking up early if you have a preference, and never trading your safety for it on a dangerous roadside.
If you could not get the tow company’s details at the scene, call the police agency as soon as you can. Rotation companies answer to that agency and to state law, and those rules help you find your car and fix problems.
Related articles
- Towing, storage fees and getting around after a serious crash
- Tow yard storage fees that keep climbing after a crash
- Post crash care: what to do in the first minutes after a crash
- Crash reports and evidence: keeping a reliable record after a serious crash
- How to pick a collision repair shop after a crash
Sources and further reading
- 1Texas Administrative Code, via Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.10 – Definitions. Accessed October 2026. law.cornell.edu/…/16-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-86-10
- 2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 321.051: Florida Highway Patrol wrecker operator system; penalties for operation outside of system. 2026 Florida Statutes. leg.state.fl.us/…/0321.051.html
- 3Texas Department of Insurance. Don’t fall victim to a towing scam. Published July 14, 2022. tdi.texas.gov/…/do-not-fall-victim-to-towing-scam.html
- 4Texas Administrative Code, via Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 86.709 – Responsibilities of Towing Company – Tow Ticket. Accessed October 2026. law.cornell.edu/…/16-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-86-709
- 5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.55.110: Notice to legal and registered owners. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.55.110
- 6Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 49 U.S. Code § 14501 – Federal authority over intrastate transportation. Accessed October 2026 (subsection (c)(2)(C) as amended in 2015). law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14501
- 7Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-91A-150: Towing procedure. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-91A-150
- 8Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.55.113: Removal by police officer – Definition. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.55.113
- 9Federal Highway Administration. Best Practices in Traffic Incident Management, Chapter 2: Task-Specific Challenges and Strategies (FHWA-HOP-10-050). Published September 2010. Data year: survey responses from 29 U.S. jurisdictions, reported 2010. ops.fhwa.dot.gov/…/ch2.htm
- 10Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-91A-180: Additional towing and tow operator qualifications, restrictions, and requirements. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-91A-180
- 11AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (Tefft, Wei and Steinbach). Roadside Assistance Providers Fatally Struck by Vehicles at the Roadside: Incidence and Characteristics. Published January 2024. Data year: 2015 to 2021. aaafoundation.org/…/roadside-assistance-providers-fatally-…
- 12Federal Highway Administration. Traffic Incident Management Quick Clearance Laws: A National Review of Best Practices – Authority Removal Laws (FHWA-HOP-09-005). Published December 2008. ops.fhwa.dot.gov/…/auth_removal.htm
- 13Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.55.010: Definitions. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.55.010
- 14Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 713.78: Liens for recovering, towing, or storing vehicles and vessels. 2026 Florida Statutes. leg.state.fl.us/…/0713.78.html
- 15Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.55.120: Redemption of vehicles – Sale of unredeemed property – Improper impoundment. Accessed October 2026. app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.55.120
This article reflects the safety priorities of roadside safety and fair towing after a collision. It is general education, not legal, insurance or financial advice, and the state rules shown are examples only. Towing rules change, so verify details with official sources. For your own situation, contact the police agency that handled your collision, your state's towing regulator or motor vehicle agency, your insurer, or a licensed attorney in your state. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Police ordered tows versus a tow you choose: how rotation towing works after a crash.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/police-ordered-tow-vs-tow-you-choose/. Reviewed October 2026.
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