Pennsylvania towing companies face stronger enforcement requirements following the passage of a new consumer-protection law targeting abusive towing and vehicle storage practices.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 779 into law as Act 46 of 2026 on July 20, 2026. The law adds Section 7332, “Unlawful Towing and Towing Storage Facility Practices,” to Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code.
Act 46 takes effect 150 days after enactment, or December 17, 2026. That gives towing companies several months to review their vehicle registrations, pricing disclosures, accident-scene procedures, payment policies and vehicle-release practices. View the official SB 779 legislative history.
Here’s what you need to know.
Does Act 46 Create a New Towing Company License?
No. Act 46 does not establish a new statewide towing-company license or a new licensing application.
Instead, it makes certain towing and storage violations punishable under Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code. These include operating a tow truck without proper PennDOT registration.
Many of the operational standards included in Act 46 already existed under Pennsylvania’s 2012 Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act. Previously, violations could be treated as violations of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
Act 46 raises the stakes by establishing direct fines and allowing law enforcement to impound tow trucks in certain enforcement situations.
The biggest takeaway for towing companies is that registration and operational mistakes can now lead to more immediate and costly consequences.
Which Towing Operations Does Act 46 Cover?
The law defines a “tow” as moving, removing or recovering a motor vehicle at the scene of a motor vehicle accident for a fee.
Therefore, Act 46 is primarily directed at:
- Accident-scene towing
- Vehicle recovery following an accident
- Storage of vehicles towed from an accident
- Interactions between towing companies, vehicle owners, insurers and law enforcement following an accident
Towing companies should consult qualified legal counsel about how the law applies to other services, including private-property towing, repossessions, roadside assistance and non-accident vehicle transport.
Registration Requirements for Pennsylvania Tow Trucks
Act 46 makes it an offense to operate a tow truck without proper registration through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Before the law takes effect, towing companies should confirm that:
- Every tow truck has a current and valid registration
- Each truck is registered at the correct weight and vehicle classification
- Registration cards and license plates match the correct vehicle
- Business names and addresses are current with PennDOT
- Registration renewals have been completed
- Proof of insurance is current and available
- Interstate vehicles have any required apportioned registration or operating credentials
- Repair or Towing registration plates are valid and being used only as permitted
Pennsylvania allows qualifying repair and towing businesses to apply for Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Business registration plates. These plates may be used on qualifying vehicles in place of registering each vehicle individually, but the business and the plate use must meet PennDOT requirements. The applicable application is PennDOT Form MV-359.
Act 46 does not require every tow truck to use a Repair or Towing plate. It requires the truck to be properly registered. The correct registration depends on the vehicle, ownership, weight, territory and how the truck is used.
Operational Requirements for Tow Companies
Under Act 46, a tow truck operator or towing storage facility operator can be penalized for failing to meet several basic operating requirements.
Maintain an Accessible Physical Address
The business must maintain a physical street address that is accessible to the public during posted business hours.
A post office box alone will not satisfy this requirement. Towing companies should make sure the physical address is:
- Accurate on business and PennDOT records
- Clearly posted at the facility
- Open and accessible during advertised hours
- Consistent across invoices, notices, websites and vehicle markings
Display Business Information on Tow Trucks
Each tow truck must clearly display the towing business’s:
- Name
- Physical address
- Telephone number
Companies should inspect every vehicle to make sure lettering is present, accurate and readable. Trucks with outdated decals or information from a former business location should be updated before the law takes effect.
Post Fees and Hours at the Storage Facility
Every covered towing storage facility must post:
- Towing fees
- Storage fees
- Related service fees
- Hours of operation
The fee schedule should be easy for customers to find and read. Companies should also be prepared to provide the same information when requested.
Avoid relying exclusively on a website or verbal explanation. Act 46 specifically requires fees and hours to be posted at the storage facility.
New Accident-Scene Procedures
Towing companies should review how drivers are dispatched and what information they provide at an accident scene.
Provide Written Retrieval Information
If the vehicle owner or operator is present, the tow truck operator must provide written notice containing the name, address and telephone number of the contact responsible for vehicle retrieval.
Companies should create a standardized accident-scene notice that drivers can provide before leaving the scene. Consider using a duplicate form or digital record to document that the notice was provided.
Do Not Solicit Unauthorized Tows
A tow truck operator may not solicit or undertake an accident-scene tow unless summoned by:
- The vehicle owner or operator
- A law enforcement officer
- Authorized municipal personnel
Dispatch records should identify who requested the tow, when the request was made and where the vehicle was taken.
When law enforcement or municipal personnel request a tow, the towing company must follow an applicable municipal rotational towing ordinance. Act 46 also confirms that municipalities may establish rotational towing ordinances.
Separate Towing From Repair and Long-Term Storage Authorization
A towing company may not require a vehicle owner or operator to sign a document authorizing vehicle repairs or more than 24 hours of storage as a condition of performing the tow.
Tow authorization, repair authorization and extended storage authorization should be separate documents or clearly separated decisions.
Drivers and dispatchers should never imply that a customer must approve repairs before the vehicle can be removed from an accident scene.
Vehicle Release and Payment Requirements
Act 46 also regulates how towing and storage facilities handle vehicle retrieval.
Release Vehicles During Posted Hours
A towing company generally cannot refuse to release a vehicle during its posted hours to:
- The vehicle owner
- The vehicle operator
- An authorized representative of the owner or operator
An exception applies when law enforcement has requested that the vehicle be held.
The company may condition release on payment of towing, storage and related service charges. However, employees should be able to explain the charges and complete the release during posted hours.
Provide an Itemized Bill
Towing and storage facilities cannot refuse to itemize all charges in writing.
Invoices should separately identify applicable charges, such as:
- Basic towing charge
- Mileage
- Recovery or winching
- Storage
- Administrative services
- After-hours services
- Additional equipment or labor
Bundled or unexplained charges may create unnecessary compliance risk.
Accept Required Payment Methods
The law prohibits a towing or storage facility from refusing payment through:
- Cash
- A credit card from a common issuer
- A check from an insurance company
- A check from an authorized tower or salvor acting for an insurance company
Companies that currently accept only cash should update their payment systems and written policies before December 17, 2026.
Allow Authorized Vehicle Inspections
Towing facilities must allow legally authorized vehicle inspections, including inspections conducted under Pennsylvania insurance and vehicle-damage appraisal laws.
Staff should be trained to verify the inspector’s authorization without creating unreasonable delays or denying lawful access.
Do Not Charge Storage When Access Is Unreasonably Denied
A towing company cannot charge a storage fee for a period when the owner, operator or authorized representative was unreasonably denied access during posted business hours.
Accurate access logs can help document:
- When access was requested
- Whether the facility was open
- Who handled the request
- Whether access was provided
- Why access was delayed or denied
Penalties for Violating Act 46
The financial penalties depend on the type and frequency of the violation.
| Violation category | First violation | Subsequent violation |
| Operational requirements, including registration, truck markings, physical address and posted fees | Up to $750 per violation | Up to $1,500 |
| Improper towing conduct, vehicle retention, payment, access or fee practices | Up to $2,500 | Up to $5,000 |
Law enforcement may also impound a tow truck owned by the tow truck operator or towing storage facility operator. The impoundment may remain in effect until the penalties are satisfied and the operator demonstrates compliance as determined by a court. Read the final bill text.
Pennsylvania Towing Company Compliance Checklist
Tow companies should complete the following before December 17, 2026:
- Audit the title and registration status of every tow truck
- Confirm registrations reflect the correct vehicle weight and use
- Review Repair or Towing plate authorization, if applicable
- Update business names, addresses and contact information with PennDOT
- Verify that business information is displayed on every tow truck
- Post a complete fee schedule and hours at every storage facility
- Confirm the public can access the physical location during posted hours
- Create a written accident-scene vehicle retrieval notice
- Document who summoned every accident-scene tow
- Review municipal rotational towing requirements
- Separate tow authorization from repair and extended-storage authorization
- Create standardized, itemized invoices
- Accept all payment methods required by the law
- Establish written vehicle-release and inspection procedures
- Stop storage charges during periods when access was unreasonably denied
- Train drivers, dispatchers, managers and storage-facility employees
- Keep records showing that the business followed each requirement
Get Tow Truck Registration Help Before Act 46 Takes Effect
A missed renewal, incorrect registration class or outdated business address can become more than an administrative inconvenience once Act 46 takes effect.
CNS Licensing can help Pennsylvania towing companies review tow truck title and registration paperwork, process applicable PennDOT transactions and prepare their fleets for the December 17, 2026, deadline.
Contact CNS Licensing to review your tow truck registrations before the new penalties take effect. Call 717-625-7355 or email info@cnslicensing.com.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Towing companies should consult legal counsel regarding Act 46, local towing ordinances and requirements that apply to their specific operations.
