# Sec. 5-268. Issuance of license; categories of license

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Sec. 5-268. Issuance of license; categories of license

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-268 (2026)

(a) The Director shall issue regulations specifying the prerequisites, qualifications and procedure for the issuance of two categories of license to provide towing services in the County.

  (1) Level 1: Consensual Towing, the towing of a motor vehicle at the request of the owner or the owner's agent, insurer, primary lienholder or law enforcement officer;

  (2) Level 2: Non-Consensual Towing, the towing of a motor vehicle from private property at the request of the owner of the property, the owner's designee, or law enforcement officer, and Consensual Towing.

(b) The annual license fee for each category of license shall be as follows:

  (1) Level 1: Consensual Towing: $1,000.00;

  (2) Level 2: Non-Consensual and Consensual Towing: $2,000.00.

(c) Each licensee shall be assigned a license number which shall be displayed on each licensed tow truck in accordance with subsection (g) of this section or the regulations issued by the Director.

(d) Each tow truck operating under a license shall be assigned a tow truck medallion number, which must be displayed on the tow truck in accordance with subsection (g) of this section or the regulations issued by the Director. A licensee shall be subject to a truck fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per tow truck medallion issued by the Director.

(e) The Department is authorized to conduct an investigation prior to issuing a towing license as it deems necessary to determine the applicant's qualifications for each license, ability to engage in the licensed activity without detriment to the public and compliance with the regulations issued by the Director. The investigation shall include a determination of whether there is adequate storage and/or repair facilities at the locations specified on the application. Each storage facility listed on the application shall be in a place that is properly zoned for that use, allow entry and exit in a fashion not to jeopardize the safety of any operator or vehicle, and be readily available for the recovery of towed motor vehicles in a safe manner. The Director shall also provide for the inspection of licensed tow trucks to determine whether the towing apparatus is safe and capable of providing towing services.

(f) The license issued under this Division shall be prominently displayed at the licensee's established place of business. In case of loss, mutilation or destruction of a license, a duplicate may be issued at a cost of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per license.

(g) Each tow truck shall have permanent signs or markings on both sides of the vehicle, in a color that contrasts with the color of the body paint and in letters not less than three (3) inches in height, the name, telephone number, and license number of the licensee for that tow truck. Each tow truck shall also display on the driver side fender a tow truck medallion number issued by the Department that contains the license number of the licensee for that tow truck.

(h) The licensee shall file with the Director a towing service price list. The licensee shall not make any changes in the towing service price list without first submitting revised price lists with the Director.

(i) Before providing any consensual towing service, each tow truck operator shall inform the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or the owner's representative of the towing service charges and provide an itemized Towing Service Work Order Statement, except no Towing Service Work Order Statement shall be required where the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or the owner's representative is not reasonably available or otherwise consents to the tow. In addition to such items as the Director deems appropriate by regulation, each Towing Service Work Order Statement shall contain the following:

  (1) The name, business address, license number, and telephone number of the towing company, and the License Number and Tow Truck Medallion Number assigned to the tow truck;

  (2) A brief description of the motor vehicle including the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the motor vehicle license plate number;

  (3) The location from which the vehicle is being towed and the location where the vehicle will be towed;

  (4) The towing charge except in those cases where it is impractical under the circumstances to give a fixed charge, the Towing Service Work Order Statement shall describe the basis for such charge and provide an estimate of the anticipated cost;

  (5) If appropriate, the rate chargeable per day for storage where the motor vehicle is to be stored.

(j) Upon payment of any fees for towing services, the tow truck operator shall sign and deliver a receipt for any payment to the owner and/or operator of the motor vehicle. The receipt shall be signed in a legible manner and be accompanied with a printed signature or a tow company issued employee identification number, as well as the license number of the towing company and the tow truck medallion number of the tow truck providing the towing service.

(k) The motor vehicle shall be moved to the licensee's storage or repair facility within Prince George's County unless directed otherwise by the Police Department or the owner of the vehicle, or the owner's authorized agent. The storage or repair facility shall not under any circumstances be any area other than his established place of business as designated in the license issued by the Department of Environmental Resources. Supplementary or overflow storage shall require separate offices, must be within Prince George's County and comply with all applicable zoning requirements. Any motor vehicle so moved shall only be stored and no work shall be done on such motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or operator. Storage charges may only commence eighteen (18) hours after the motor vehicle is towed.

(l) Each towing company licensed under the provisions of this Division shall be required to maintain a daily towing log. Such daily towing log shall be maintained by the licensee for one (1) year. The daily towing log shall include the following:

  (1) The license plate number of the motor vehicle towed;

  (2) The location the motor vehicle was towed to and from;

  (3) The reasons for towing;

  (4) The name and telephone number of the person authorizing the towing of the motor vehicle;

  (5) The year, make and model of the vehicle towed;

  (6) Copy of each notification letter, return receipt, and notice of publication for each motor vehicle towed;

  (7) Additional pertinent information, other than financial, as required by the Director.

(m) Each towing company licensed under the provisions of this Division shall be required to make available for inspection by the Department of Environmental Resources or the Police Department such daily towing log as provided for in Subsection (l), above, and shall make available for inspection by the Police Department those motor vehicles so listed in the daily towing log which have been impounded or stored upon the storage or repair facility of the towing company.

(n) Each towing company licensed under the provisions of this Division which provides towing services shall have personnel present at its storage yard at all times when towing services are available for the purpose of releasing vehicles impounded pursuant to State or County law.