SB 1332: Towing and storage of certain vehicles; limitation on charges. - Virginia

Governor Substitute → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was converted from a Governor's substitute version to a chaptered version, meaning it has been officially enacted into law. The substantive content of the towing and storage fee limits remains unchanged, with no new policy modifications.

TECHNICAL

Document formatting changed from Senate Substitute to Chaptered Act format with official approval date of April 2, 2025.

Senator Marsden, David W. Substitute → Governor Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted with significant whitespace changes and a new bill number (25108432D) replacing the original (25106542D). The substantive policy content regarding towing fees, storage limits, and fuel surcharges remains unchanged. The document title now reflects it is a Governor's substitute amendment rather than a Senator's substitute.

TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from 25106542D to 25108432D

Document title updated from 'Senator Marsden, David W. Substitute' to 'Governor Substitute' with updated date of March 24, 2025

Significant whitespace and formatting changes throughout the document, including line breaks and spacing

Commerce and Labor Substitute → Senator Marsden, David W. Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a Senate Committee substitute to a Floor Amendment substitute, with minor text adjustments. The substantive policy content regarding towing and storage fees remains unchanged, including the $210 initial towing fee limit, $30 additional fee for after-hours towing, and the $20 fuel surcharge authorization.

TECHNICAL

Document formatting changed from Senate Committee Substitute to Floor Amendment Substitute with updated bill numbers and dates.

Minor text adjustments in the fuel surcharge provision, adding language about ordinance reviews by December 31, 2025.

Reenrolled → Commerce and Labor Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Virginia's towing and storage fee limits for vehicles removed from private property. The primary substantive change adds a new provision allowing fuel surcharges of up to $20 per tow, but with a critical exception: localities that establish reasonable fee limits after July 1, 2025 cannot charge this surcharge. The bill also repeals previous 2023 and 2024 enactments related to this topic.

Scope change

The bill maintains the same scope of applicability (vehicles towed from private property without owner consent) but adds a new fee category with geographic limitations based on future local ordinances.

REQUIREMENT

Added authorization for towing operators to charge a fuel surcharge of up to $20 per vehicle towed from private property without owner consent

Added exception preventing fuel surcharge in localities that establish reasonable fee limits after July 1, 2025 under existing towing regulations

TIMELINE

Repealed previous 2023 and 2024 enactments related to towing and storage fees to replace with updated provisions

TECHNICAL

Changed section reference from § 46.2-1233.1 to § 46.2-1233 in the bill text

Enrolled → Reenrolled · 3 edits · Apr 2, 2025

MINOR

This bill reenrolls SB 1332, which sets limits on towing and storage fees for vehicles removed from private property in Virginia. The main substantive change is an increase in the maximum initial towing fee from $150 to $210. The bill also includes a temporary fuel surcharge authorization of up to $20 per tow, effective until July 1, 2025, which localities can choose to adopt or reject.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on towing and storage fees for passenger vehicles removed from private property without owner consent, with no changes to the geographic or vehicle type applicability.

REQUIREMENT

Increased maximum initial towing fee from $150 to $210 for passenger cars removed from private property

Added temporary authorization for towing operators to charge a fuel surcharge of up to $20 per vehicle, expiring July 1, 2025

TECHNICAL

Changed document status from 'Enrolled' to 'Reenrolled' with associated formatting and session updates

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 2, 2025

MODERATE

This bill transitions Virginia's towing fee regulations from a commission-established fee system to a locally-regulated system. It repeals the State Corporation Commission's authority to set statewide towing fees and instead grants localities the power to establish their own fee limits through ordinances, while maintaining a baseline fee cap of $210 for hookup and initial towing. The bill also adds a new advisory board requirement for localities to ensure balanced representation from law enforcement, towing operators, and the public when setting these regulations.

Scope change

The bill shifts regulatory authority from the State Corporation Commission to local governing bodies, allowing counties, cities, and towns to set their own towing fee limits rather than following a statewide standard.

FISCAL

Removed the State Corporation Commission's authority to establish statewide hook-up and initial towing fees that were previously set by the Commission based on transportation consumer price index adjustments.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for localities to establish an advisory board with equal representation from law enforcement agencies and licensed towing operators, plus one public member, to advise on towing ordinance provisions.

Increased the maximum hookup and initial towing fee from $150 to $210 for passenger vehicles, with an additional $30 fee allowed for night, weekend, or holiday towing (maximum two such fees per vehicle).

Added a temporary fuel surcharge provision allowing operators to charge up to $20 per vehicle for towing from private property, with an expiration date of July 1, 2025, unless localities have already set reasonable fee limits by December 31, 2025.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for fee adjustments from July 1 annual adjustments to local ordinance-based periodic reviews with no specific timeline mandated by state law.

SCOPE

Repealed the section that allowed localities to establish reasonable limits on storage fees, administration fees, and additional fees for heavy vehicles (over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating) that were previously established by local ordinance.

Towing and storage of certain vehicles; limitation on charges.

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