06/01/2026
This is shared from another company and different area but it’s very true
Did you know that it is illegal to sell a vehicle that is in impound with unpaid towing and storage fees? It absolutely is! Towing companies in South Dakota have a possessory lien on vehicles that are impounded until all fees are paid in full and the vehicle is released to the owner or insurance company. In the case of someone selling before the fees are paid and it’s released, it puts both the seller and buyer at risk of fines, possible jail time and other penalties. If the fees are not paid within a certain time period in accordance with state laws, the towing company will receive an abandoned title for said vehicle. This voids any other title for that vehicle, so even if you purchased the vehicle from the owner while in impound, that title is now no good. .
At we do not want your vehicle. We want paid for services rendered, the vehicle released and out of our impound to make room for the next. We have plenty of our own vehicles to worry about, besides the fact that unpaid, unreleased vehicles that we get titles to only cost us more money and time to get the titles. Add to that, we have to either sell them to be crushed or to someone to part out. The really nice ones we try to sell as running vehicles but the state limits how much we can sell for without a dealer’s license. These costs that were not recovered per vehicle are then added to our fees for future towing services as our costs of doing business goes up when we are stiffed on a bill. So, those that think that towing services are expensive or that we are greedy, can thank the customers that refuse to pay their bills. If fees are unpaid the vehicle is not unhooked and taken directly to our impound as the laws allow. Yes, towing services are expensive, we don’t disagree. Literally everything is expensive, but those that drink $9 latte’s everyday, have the latest smartphones and wear designer shoes and clothes seem to have the most to say about this when they need our services. Until 2020, towing companies across the country had been stuck charging 1970’s rates. Covid allowed us to break through those barriers and charge enough for living wages for our employees and ourselves. It’s 2026 and ours and everyone’s rates or prices reflect the rising costs of living and running businesses. To those that think it should either be free or only cost $50 for any towing services, you are delusional. You want us to bring a truck that the replacement cost is currently near $200k and an employee who is making North of $20/hr along with any special equipment needed and spend a minimum of an hour for one service for either free or nearly free. That’s the definition of delusional! Are you willing to work for free or for less than you are worth? No, of course not! Neither are we! We do our very best to be affordable but we are the same as any other business. Businesses exist to make money, and profit. If you want towing services for free or stupid cheap, find one that is a not for profit. You won’t, they don’t exist. We are no different than any other business, yet people think we’re greedy or overpriced when we are not. Even at 2026 rates, most only squeeze out a small percentage of the money needed to survive because of equipment prices, insurance, fuel, tires, maintenance, the constant training needed, wages, employer matching for payroll, rent, tools, special equipment that’s required for modern day vehicles, etc…You don’t go to Walmart and argue that their prices are greedy or you deserve free. You don’t go to any other type of business with this attitude. You continue to drink $9 lattes, eat $10 McDonald’s meals, get the latest smartphones and treat our industry as second class citizens. The 1970’s were a long time ago, trust me, I lived it. You pay 2026 prices for everything else so please don’t expect the towing industry to work for nothing. We usually won’t assist someone that has this attitude towards us and won’t take your calls after. You know our worth when you’re stranded on the side of a highway though. Rant over!
