Towing rules in Maryland
What the state says about towing, with the page each rule comes from. It's a summary of the published rules, not legal advice, and your city or county can have rules of its own.
Updated October 6, 2026
Tow company licensing
Maryland has no state tow license. Counties and Baltimore City license tow companies; the Baltimore County Department of Permits, for example, issues a trespass towing license.1-2
Limits on police and private-property tow fees
In Maryland, unless local law sets a different limit, the most a company may charge for a parking lot tow is twice the local public safety impound tow fee. If the county or city sets no such fee, the most is $250 for towing and recovery.3
Storage fees
For a parking lot tow in Maryland, the most a storage lot may charge is the local daily impound storage fee. If the county or city sets none, the most is $30 a day.3
Towed from a private lot
In Maryland, the tower needs the lot owner's authorization naming the person who authorized the tow, and photos of the violation. The tower must notify local police within one hour after the tow, and the owner, insurer and lienholder by certified mail within seven days. Spotters and payments to lot owners are banned.3
Where to complain
Keep your receipt and photos of your car, and ask the tow company in writing to correct a charge you think is wrong.
Get quotes from tow companies in your county
One request instead of calling tow companies one at a time. It's free, and you don't have to hire anyone. Your request may go to contractors nearby.
Sources
Tow companies in Maryland
Maryland has 2,113 tow companies listed, and 1,990 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Browse them by county and call one directly, or schedule a tow and we'll pass it to tow companies near you.
Cite this page
“Towing rules in Maryland.” FindTowingTruck.com, updated October 6, 2026. https://findtowingtruck.com/md/rules/