My apartment towed my car with no warning — is that legal?

Use the free tool — Tow & Impound Dispute FL

Is it legal for your apartment to tow you without warning?

Maybe. Florida law lets a private property owner, like an apartment complex, tow a car without asking you first — but only if certain rules were followed first. If those rules weren't met, the tow may not have been compliant with Fla. Stat. 715.07.

What Florida law requires before a private-property tow

Signs must be posted on the property.
The towing company must be located within 10 miles.
The lot must offer 24-hour release of your car.
Rates must be posted.
Cash or card must be accepted for payment.
Charges cannot exceed the county's maximum rates.

"No warning" doesn't automatically make a tow illegal — Florida law doesn't require the complex to call or text you first. What matters is whether the signage, distance, release hours, posted rates, and payment options met the standard above.

What this means for your tow

Tow & Impound Dispute FL takes what you describe — the signs, the distance to the lot, the hours, every charge, how you paid — and checks it against Fla. Stat. 715.07 and your county's rate rules. It flags which requirements this tow may have missed. It cannot see the actual signs or your receipt, so this is not a legal determination. Confirm the outcome with a professional or the county if you plan to dispute the charge.

How to get your car back today

If your car is still held, pay the bill — by card if possible — and pursue a refund afterward. Storage fees keep growing every day the car sits, so getting it out first usually costs less overall.

If the tow wasn't legal

A refund demand letter can go to the tow company and to the property owner who authorized the tow.
You can also file a county complaint.
If they refuse to refund you, small claims court is a possible next step.

Note: this applies only to private-property tows under Fla. Stat. 715.07. If your car was towed by police or after an accident, different statutes apply (316.193/323.002), and this tool's analysis doesn't cover those situations.

What to do next

Use the free tool to describe exactly what happened: the signs, the distance, the hours, every charge, and how you paid. It reads your own details against Florida's tow rules and your county's rate rules, tells you which requirements may have been missed, and can help draft the refund or demand letter. This is informational only, not legal advice — check the outcome with a professional or the relevant agency before you dispute the charge.

Use the free tool

Tow & Impound Dispute FL is an informational tool based on Florida Statutes 715.07, 713.78 and county towing ordinances as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice, does not file complaints, and cannot verify rates for your county — check the county's published schedule. Law-enforcement and accident tows are governed by other statutes. It is not affiliated with any tow company, property owner or agency.