How do I get my car back if the tow lot is closed?

Use the free tool — Tow & Impound Dispute FL

If the lot is closed, does Florida law still require them to release your car?

Yes. For a private-property tow, Florida Statute 715.07 requires a 24-hour release. That means the lot cannot make you wait until normal business hours to get your car back.

What to check first

Was there a posted sign warning about towing?
Is the towing company within 10 miles of where your car was parked?
Are the rates posted, and do they match the county's maximum rates?
Does the lot accept cash or card, not just one or the other?

These are things Florida Statute 715.07 and your county's towing rules require. If any of them are missing, the tow may not be compliant.

If no one answers when you call or show up

Florida Statute 715.07 requires 24-hour release, but a closed lot with no one there is still a common problem. The material here doesn't say what to do if literally no one responds, so if that happens, note the time you tried, keep any message you left, and follow up in writing.

If you can get in but they still won't let the car go

Pay the bill if you can, by card if possible, and pursue a refund afterward. Storage fees keep growing every day the car sits, so getting it out often matters more than fighting the charge on the spot.

Police tows and accident tows are different

This applies to a private-property tow — a parking lot, an apartment complex, or a similar location. Police tows and accident tows follow different statutes (316.193/323.002), so the 24-hour private-property rule and the other rules above don't apply the same way to those.

What to do next

This is general information, not legal advice, and it can't see the actual signs, your receipt, or your county's exact rate schedule. The free tool at Tow & Impound Dispute FL reads what you describe — where the tow happened, the signs, the distance, the hours, every charge — and shows you what Florida Statute 715.07 and your county's rate rules required, whether this tow looks compliant, and how to ask for your money back if it wasn't. Confirm anything you plan to act on with a professional or the relevant agency.

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.