Disputing Towing Charges: What You Need to Know

Key Takeaways:

• Businesses can dispute towing and storage charges for various reasons, including lack of proper authorization/notification, fees exceeding legal limits, unitemized or vague invoices, uncommunicated secondary tows, or denied access to inspect the vehicle/cargo, making early identification of these red flags crucial.

• A qualified towing claims adjuster is essential for disputing charges effectively by verifying rate structures against local regulations, auditing compliance documentation, obtaining full billing breakdowns, and coordinating with legal teams and insurers to minimize unnecessary payouts.

• Towing incidents impact more than just vehicle recovery; they can trigger significant cargo and general liability exposure due to improper storage or delays, necessitating integrated claims management to assess cargo condition, coordinate salvage, and document potential secondary liabilities.

• When challenging a towing invoice, it is critical to promptly request a full itemized invoice, verify timelines, check for legal compliance in all procedures, document the scene with photos, and engage a storage resolution claims adjuster to initiate and manage the dispute effectively.

• Third-party claims administration provides significant value by handling complex, multi-party disputes involving cargo, liability, and storage, ensuring professional oversight, consistent documentation, and faster resolution to protect operational integrity and enhance customer experience.

Towing claims administrator support is essential when it comes to addressing unexpected or excessive towing and storage charges. For commercial fleets, cargo carriers, and logistics providers, disputes over billing aren’t just frustrating—they can delay cargo recovery, inflate operating costs, and lead to avoidable legal exposure.

At Veritas, we help clients proactively manage and resolve disputes through structured oversight, detailed documentation, and coordinated action across all involved parties. Here’s what every fleet operator, claims manager, and risk professional needs to know about disputing towing charges effectively.

When Can Towing Charges Be Disputed?

Not all towing charges are legally valid. Whether due to incorrect documentation, improper procedures, or inflated pricing, businesses have the right to dispute a wide range of charges.

Towing and storage charges may be disputable when:

• The tow was performed without proper authorization or notification

• Storage fees began before a legally compliant notice was provided

• The tow yard or facility is charging beyond jurisdictional fee limits

• Invoices include vague or unitemized charges

• Secondary tows were ordered without proper communication

• The facility failed to provide access to inspect the vehicle or cargo

These red flags are more common than many realize, and identifying them early is key to initiating a strong dispute.

How a Towing Claims Adjuster Protects Your Position

Disputes involving towing invoices require precision and fast coordination. A qualified towing claims adjuster at Veritas acts as your first line of defense by:

• Verifying rate structures against local towing regulations

• Auditing documentation for notification and procedural compliance

• Engaging the tow company and storage facility to obtain full billing breakdowns

• Assembling claim files for legal teams, insurers, or litigation prep

• Coordinating with internal adjusters and legal departments to recommend next steps

Our structured, audit-based approach minimizes unnecessary payouts while keeping your internal teams focused on mission-critical operations.

The Impact on Cargo and Liability Exposure

Towing incidents often don’t end with vehicle recovery, especially when cargo claims management is involved. Improper storage conditions, delays, or rough handling can result in damaged or compromised freight.

Veritas addresses these issues through:

• Cargo condition assessments during recovery

• Coordination with salvage, transload, or disposal vendors

• Cargo claims management documentation to support cost recovery

• Identifying potential general liability risk from third-party property or injury claims

We manage the entire picture—not just the invoice—so clients can resolve claims with speed, clarity, and control.

Best Practices When Challenging a Towing Invoice

If you suspect overcharging or procedural violations, taking prompt and structured action improves your chances of a favorable outcome.

Recommended steps include:

1. Request a full, itemized invoice that separates towing, storage, and other fees

2. Verify the timeline—when was the vehicle removed, and when did storage officially begin?

3. Check for legal compliance in signage, documentation, and notifications

4. Take photos or request footage of the tow location and vehicle status (if available)

5. Engage a storage resolution claims adjuster to review the details and initiate dispute handling

These actions create the foundation for a well-supported claim and keep your recovery timeline on track.

Why Third-Party Claims Administration Matters

Complex towing cases—especially those involving multiple exposures—require experience across cargo, liability, storage, and documentation. That’s where Veritas, as a third-party claims administrator, delivers significant value.

We handle:

• Multi-party claims involving carriers, cargo, third party damages, etc. 

• Oversight of towing and storage resolution, including field logistics

• Support for insurers and self-insured organizations in high-volume claim environments

• Consistent documentation standards that streamline claims processing across departments

Our role ensures that even complex disputes are handled with accuracy, neutrality, and measurable results.

Recognizing Predatory Towing Practices Before They Escalate

In many cases, disputes arise because of predatory towing practices—tactics that target vulnerable situations to maximize towing fees. This can include towing from poorly marked zones, sudden increases in storage rates, or refusing to release vehicles without excessive payment demands.

Common signs of predatory practices include:

• No visible signage indicating towing enforcement

• The towing company demands cash-only payments

• Delays in notifications sent to the vehicle owner

• Overlapping charges for towing and administrative fees

• No access to view or recover the vehicle without additional payments

At Veritas, we help clients recognize and respond to these patterns quickly, preventing avoidable financial losses and restoring control to the claims process.

Why Experience Matters in Dispute Resolution

When a towing invoice becomes a dispute, the quality of your response often depends on your partner’s depth of knowledge. With Veritas, you gain a team backed by extensive experience in managing disputes across transportation, logistics, and fleet sectors.

Our involvement ensures:

• Immediate intervention by a qualified insurance adjuster or storage resolution claims adjuster

• Proper documentation to support the denial or renegotiation of charges

• Oversight of the entire process from tow verification to claim resolution

• Seamless coordination with insurers, internal risk teams, and legal advisors

This level of professional oversight dramatically reduces processing delays and ensures each dispute is resolved based on facts, not assumptions.

Driving Better Customer Experience Through Claims Precision

Disputes don’t only affect your internal operations—they influence your external reputation. Late deliveries, missed pickups, and unresolved claims all affect your end customers. By improving the claims handling process, Veritas supports a stronger, more reliable customer experience.

We focus on:

• Accelerating the claim process to limit business interruptions

• Ensuring fairness and transparency in how towing services are evaluated

• Resolving disputes efficiently to protect service timelines

• Improving internal workflows for ongoing customer satisfaction

Whether it’s a high-value cargo delivery or a fleet truck removal, a smooth resolution process reflects your brand’s reliability and professionalism.

The Right Partner Makes Disputes Manageable

Disputing towing charges isn’t just about pushing back on a bill—it’s about protecting your operations, your cargo, and your financial outcomes. From unauthorized tows to excessive storage billing, Veritas delivers the insight, oversight, and action required for fast, fair resolution.

As your trusted towing claims administrator, we work across sectors and exposures to deliver seamless towing and storage resolution, cargo protection, and liability support.

Connect with Veritas today to bring clarity, compliance, and expertise to your towing disputes—before they impact your business.