No, a towing company cannot suspend your license directly — only the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) can do that
A towing company has no legal power to suspend, revoke, or restrict your driver's license. That authority belongs exclusively to the state of Florida through DHSMV. However, a towing company's actions can trigger a chain of events that leads to suspension, and understanding that chain is what matters for your license.
The most common path runs through unpaid towing and storage fees. When you don't pay a tow bill, the towing company can report the debt to a collection agency or file a civil judgment against you. If a judgment goes unpaid long enough, or if you ignore court orders related to it, DHSMV can suspend your license — but the suspension is issued by the state, not the towing company.
Another route involves vehicle impoundment for unpaid traffic violations or criminal charges. If your car is towed and impounded because of a suspended license, unpaid fines, or a criminal hold, you cannot retrieve it until those underlying issues are resolved. The towing company holds the vehicle, but they are following a law enforcement or court order, not acting on their own authority.
Key Takeaways
- Towing companies cannot suspend licenses themselves; only DHSMV can issue a suspension.
- Unpaid towing and storage fees can lead to a judgment, and an unpaid judgment can result in license suspension by the state.
- If your vehicle is impounded due to a suspended license or unpaid fines, you must resolve the underlying violation or debt before the towing company will release it.
- Ignoring a towing company's bill or a court order related to towing costs can escalate the situation to criminal or civil court involvement.
How unpaid towing fees can lead to license suspension
When you don't pay a towing and storage bill, the towing company's first step is usually a demand letter or phone call. If payment is not made within a set period — often 30 to 60 days — the company can send the debt to a collection agency or file a civil lawsuit in small claims or county court.
If the towing company wins a judgment against you and you do not pay it, Florida law allows them to pursue collection methods including wage garnishment, bank levies, or a lien on your vehicle. At this point, the debt is still between you and the towing company or collection agency — your license is not yet at risk.
The license suspension happens when DHSMV gets involved. Under Florida Statute 322.058, DHSMV can suspend your license if you have an unpaid judgment related to a motor vehicle. The towing company does not request this suspension directly; instead, after a certain period of non-payment, the judgment creditor (the towing company or collection agency) can report it to DHSMV, or DHSMV may discover it through its own records. Once DHSMV suspends your license for an unpaid judgment, you will receive a notice in the mail.
Impoundment and why your car stays with the towing company
If your vehicle is impounded — towed and held by a towing company — it is almost always because of a law enforcement or court order, not because the towing company decided to keep it. Common reasons include a suspended license, unpaid traffic fines, a criminal investigation, or a court order in a civil or family case.
Once a vehicle is impounded, the towing company becomes the custodian of that vehicle on behalf of the state or the court. They cannot release it to you until the underlying reason for the impound is cleared. If your license was suspended and that is why the car was towed, you cannot get the car back until your license is reinstated. If the impound is tied to unpaid fines, you must pay those fines or set up a payment plan before release.
The towing company will charge storage fees for each day the vehicle remains in their lot — these fees accumulate quickly and can easily exceed the value of an older car. You are responsible for these fees even if you dispute the original tow. The only way to stop the meter is to resolve the underlying issue (pay fines, reinstate your license, clear a criminal hold) and retrieve the vehicle.
What happens if you ignore a towing company's bill or court order
Ignoring a towing bill escalates the situation in stages. First, the debt goes to a collection agency, which will contact you by phone, mail, and email. Collection calls can be aggressive, but they have no legal power to suspend your license or seize your property beyond what a court order allows.
If the towing company or collection agency sues you and wins a judgment, and you ignore that judgment, the creditor can ask the court to hold you in contempt. In Florida, contempt of court for ignoring a judgment can result in fines or even jail time in extreme cases, though jail for debt alone is rare. More commonly, the court will authorize wage garnishment or a bank levy to satisfy the judgment.
If you ignore a court order related to vehicle impoundment — for example, an order to pay fines or appear in court — the consequences can include additional criminal charges, a warrant for your arrest, or further license suspension. At that point, you are no longer dealing with just a towing company; you are dealing with the court system and law enforcement.
How to get your license back if it was suspended over a towing debt
If DHSMV suspended your license because of an unpaid judgment related to towing fees, you have two paths: pay the judgment in full, or work out a payment plan with the judgment creditor.
To pay in full, contact the towing company or the collection agency holding the judgment. Ask for a payoff amount — this is the total owed including the original bill, court costs, and any interest or collection fees. Once you pay, ask for a written satisfaction of judgment, which the creditor should file with the court. DHSMV will not lift the suspension until the court records show the judgment is satisfied.
If you cannot pay in full, ask the creditor whether they will accept a payment plan. Not all will, but many collection agencies and some towing companies will work with you if you show good faith by making regular payments. Get any agreement in writing. Once the judgment is satisfied or a court-approved payment plan is in place, contact DHSMV to request reinstatement. You may have to pay a reinstatement fee (currently $150 in Florida, though this can change) in addition to the judgment amount.
Retrieving an impounded vehicle and stopping storage fees
To get your car out of impound, you must first resolve the reason it was towed. If it was impounded because your license was suspended, reinstate your license. If it was impounded for unpaid fines, pay the fines or set up a payment plan with the court. If it was impounded as part of a criminal investigation, wait for law enforcement to release the hold.
Once the underlying issue is cleared, contact the towing company with proof — a reinstatement letter from DHSMV, a court receipt showing fines paid, or a police release letter. The towing company will calculate storage fees owed (usually $25 to $50 per day, though this varies) and give you a total amount due. You must pay this before they will release the vehicle.
If storage fees have accumulated to an amount you cannot pay, ask the towing company whether they will negotiate. Some will reduce fees if you pay quickly; others will not. If the fees exceed the vehicle's value, you may decide to abandon the car, though this can have tax and insurance consequences. Get everything in writing before handing over money.
The difference between a tow for unpaid fines and a tow for a suspended license
Florida law allows law enforcement to impound a vehicle if the driver's license is suspended, revoked, or disqualified. This is called a suspended license impound, and it happens automatically when an officer discovers the suspension during a traffic stop. The vehicle stays impounded until the license is reinstated.
A tow for unpaid traffic fines is different. If you have outstanding fines and do not pay or appear in court, the court can issue a suspension of your license. Once suspended, your vehicle can be impounded under the suspended license rule. So the chain is: unpaid fine → license suspension → vehicle impound. The towing company is enforcing the suspension, but the suspension itself came from the court.
In both cases, the towing company is acting on a state or court order, not on its own authority. Your path out is the same: resolve the underlying violation or debt, reinstate your license, and pay the towing and storage fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a towing company put a lien on my car to keep it if I don't pay storage fees?
Yes. Florida law allows towing companies to place a lien on a vehicle for unpaid towing and storage charges. If the lien is not paid within a set period, the towing company can sell the vehicle to satisfy the debt. This is separate from impoundment — the company is exercising a creditor's right, not enforcing a law.
What if the towing company towed my car illegally — can I still get suspended?
If the tow itself was illegal, you may have a civil claim against the towing company for damages. However, if you do not pay the bill they issue, they can still pursue collection and potentially trigger a license suspension. You would need to resolve the debt or win a lawsuit against the company to stop that process. Consult a lawyer if you believe the tow was unlawful.
How long does it take for an unpaid towing bill to result in license suspension?
There is no set timeline. It depends on how quickly the towing company pursues collection, how long the court case takes, and when the judgment creditor reports it to DHSMV. The process can take several months to over a year. The sooner you address the bill, the sooner you can stop it from reaching DHSMV.
If I pay the towing bill, will my license suspension be lifted automatically?
No. You must pay the bill, get a written satisfaction of judgment from the creditor, and then contact DHSMV to request reinstatement. DHSMV will not lift the suspension until they receive proof that the judgment is satisfied. You may also owe a reinstatement fee.
Can I get my car out of impound without paying all the storage fees?
Typically, no — the towing company will not release the vehicle until all fees are paid in full. However, you can ask them to negotiate or offer a payment plan. Some companies will work with you; others will not. If you cannot reach an agreement, your only other option is to pursue a legal claim against the towing company if you believe the charges are excessive or the tow was improper.