How to dispute a tow in Orlando
Think a tow in Orlando was wrong? Florida and Orange County give you a real way to push back, even before you pay.
What Florida law says
Florida doesn't run a fixed administrative hearing the way some states do. Orange County's towing ordinance gives you two real options instead. First, if you believe the tow was wrong or you were overcharged, you don't have to pay to get your car back. You can post a bond in circuit court instead, and the tow company has to release the vehicle once you show proof of that bond. Second, you can file a complaint with the Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit at ocfl.net/consumerprotection or (407) 836-2490. A tow operator who breaks the county's rules, on signage, fees, or the process itself, can face a fine up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail per violation, enforced through code enforcement and a special magistrate. Quick Tow Orlando is a private tow company, not the Sheriff's Office or the Consumer Fraud Unit. We can't resolve a dispute or waive fees on someone else's tow.
How it works in Orlando
- 1 Decide if the tow was actually wrong
Check whether the signage, notification timing, and fees matched what Florida and Orange County require. A missing sign or an overcharge is a real basis to dispute.
- 2 Gather your evidence
Photos of the signage, your registration, and any timing records all help your case. Do this before the lot changes or the signage comes down.
- 3 Choose your path
You can post a bond in circuit court to get your car back without paying, or pay and file a complaint afterward.
- 4 File with the Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit
Reach them at ocfl.net/consumerprotection or (407) 836-2490. They investigate operators who broke the county's towing rules.
- 5 Follow up
A violation can mean a fine up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail for the operator, handled through code enforcement and a special magistrate.
- 6 Retrieve your vehicle
Once your dispute or bond is resolved, you can pick up your car. Quick Tow Orlando isn't the Sheriff's Office, but we can help with transport once it's released.
What this looks like around Orlando
Disputed tows in {c} often follow a stop downtown or a private-lot tow near the bar district. The Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit handles complaints regardless of where in the county the tow happened.
Orlando is our highest-volume call area, and the map runs from Church Street Station and the Orange Avenue nightlife strip downtown out through the SR-408 loop toward Lake Nona on the airport side of town. College Park, Mills 50, Lake Nona, MetroWest, Pine Hills, Conway, Azalea Park, Eatonville, and Winter Park each carry their own dedicated page. The most common Orlando call types are DUI and after-hours tows off Church Street and Orange Avenue, downtown parking-garage lockouts near Amway Center on event nights, and I-4 shoulder breakdowns through the stacked SR-408 interchange, one of the most rebuilt stretches of the whole corridor. We reach downtown, Lake Eola Park, the Amway Center, ORMC, and the SR-408/I-4 interchange in about 25 to 40 minutes for standard calls. Flatbed is our default through downtown's tight garages and for rental-car traffic filling the surrounding hotel lots, and afternoon thunderstorms from June through September mean we run the same don't-crank-a-flooded-engine protocol on every call near Lake Eola and the low-lying downtown streets.
Common Orlando questions
Can I get my car back without paying if I think the tow was wrong in Orlando?
Yes. You can post a bond in circuit court instead of paying, and the tow company has to release the vehicle once you show proof of it.
Who do I call to dispute a tow in Orlando?
The Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit, at ocfl.net/consumerprotection or (407) 836-2490, handles complaints against tow operators.
What happens if a tow company breaks the rules in Orlando?
They can face a fine up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail per violation, enforced through code enforcement and a special magistrate.
Can Quick Tow Orlando settle my tow dispute in Orlando?
No, we're a private tow company, not the Sheriff's Office or the Consumer Fraud Unit. We can't resolve a dispute or waive fees, but we can help with transport once it's resolved.
Related help for Orlando
Disputing a tow in the rest of the Orlando Core area
Need your car towed once it's released in Orlando?
We can't waive the yard's fees. We can tow it home the moment it clears.