Sales & services 2 signers 2 pages 24 blanks to fill in

Vehicle Towing Authorization Form Template

Who asked for the tow, on what authority, where the vehicle went and what it costs to get it back — signed on the spot from a phone.

Use this template — free See the agreement Signers don’t need an account
Vehicle towing authorization
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. FileIt adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Vehicle towing authorization — page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Vehicle towing authorization — page 2 of 2
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Use this template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from FileIt eSignature.

What is a vehicle towing authorization?

A towing company needs written authority before it moves someone's vehicle, whether the owner has broken down on the roadside or a property manager wants an unauthorised car out of a resident's bay. A vehicle towing authorization records who is giving that authority and in what capacity, describes the vehicle and its condition before it's touched, and says where it's going and how its owner gets it back.

This template covers owner-requested tows (breakdowns, accidents, moving a vehicle to a garage) and tows from private property (unauthorised parking, blocked accesses, abandoned vehicles). It records the vehicle, plate, VIN and existing damage, a photo walk-around before hook-up, the reason, pick-up location and destination, the right to authorise the tow, signage and notice rules for property tows, reporting to the police where required, the towing fee, mileage and daily storage charges after a free period, who pays, an itemised receipt, release on ID and proof of ownership, access to personal items, and inspection before payment.

Best for
Towing and recovery companies, property managers, HOAs and vehicle owners
Signed by
The person authorising the tow and the towing company's driver or dispatcher
Tow types
At the owner's request, or removal from private property
Length
About 2 pages

When to use a vehicle towing authorization

  • A driver whose car broke down asks for a tow to their own garage
  • An apartment manager has a car removed from a resident's reserved bay
  • A shopping centre removes a vehicle blocking a fire lane
  • An owner has a non-running car moved to a new address
  • A business removes a vehicle abandoned in its car park

What you fill in

24 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: person authorising the tow, towing company.

1 The parties

  • Towing company*
  • Towing company phone*
  • Towing licence or permit number
  • Person authorising the tow*
  • Their phone*
  • They are authorising as* the owner of the vehicle · someone authorised by the vehicle's owner · the owner or manager of the property where the vehicle is parked · an agent authorised by the property's owner
  • Property name (property tows)

2 The vehicle

  • Year, make and model*
  • Colour*
  • Licence plate and state or region*
  • VIN
  • Visible condition and damage before towing*

3 The tow

  • Reason for the tow* breakdown or accident, at the owner's request · moving the vehicle to a garage or another address, at the owner's request · parked without permission on private property · blocking an access, fire lane or reserved space on private property · abandoned on private property
  • Pick-up location*
  • Taken to*
  • Storage yard opening hours (for release)
  • Date of the tow*

4 Fees

  • Currency*
  • Towing fee*
  • Per mile or kilometre beyond the base distance
  • Storage fee per day
  • Free storage before charges start (hours)
  • Who pays* The person authorising the tow pays the Towing Company · The vehicle's owner pays the Towing Company when the vehicle is released
  • Governing law*

5 Who signs

  • Person authorising the tow signature and date · The vehicle owner, or the owner, manager or agent of the property the vehicle is parked on.
  • Towing company signature and date, job title · The towing company's driver or dispatcher.

What the vehicle towing authorization covers

  1. The vehicle
  2. The tow
  3. Right to authorise the tow
  4. Fees and storage
  5. Release
  6. General

Using the vehicle towing authorization, step by step

1 Who is authorising

Enter the person authorising the tow and their phone, and choose their capacity: the owner, someone authorised by the owner, the property owner or manager, or the property's agent.

2 Describe the vehicle

Enter the year, make and model, colour, plate and VIN, and write down every visible dent, crack or flat tyre before the vehicle is moved.

3 Set the tow

Choose the reason, enter the pick-up location, where the vehicle is being taken, the date and the storage yard's release hours.

4 Fees and sign

Enter the towing fee, any mileage and daily storage charges with the free period, and choose who pays. Both of you sign on a phone at the scene.

Tips before you send it

  • Take the walk-around photos every time. They settle most damage claims in minutes.
  • Private-property towing is closely regulated in many cities and states — signage, notice, fee caps and police reporting. Check the rules before you tow.
  • Post your storage yard's release hours clearly. Owners who can't get their car back on a Sunday rack up storage charges and complaints.
  • Let owners collect medication, documents and child seats from the vehicle without paying first. Many places require it.

Sign it online in minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Use the vehicle towing authorization template — it’s free

Vehicle towing authorization: frequently asked questions

Who can authorise a tow from private property?

The property's owner or manager, or an agent the owner has authorised. The person signing confirms they have that right, that the vehicle is parked without permission, and that any signs and notices local law requires have been given.

How does the owner get the vehicle back?

The registered owner, or someone with their written authority, shows photo ID and proof of ownership and pays any charges due from them. They can inspect the vehicle first and report new damage before leaving the yard.

Are towing and storage fees limited?

Often, yes, for tows from private property — many places set maximum fees. The template says the towing company won't charge more than local law allows, and gives an itemised receipt for every charge.

Is a towing authorization signed online valid?

In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an authorization like this. Some local towing rules require specific forms or wording, so check yours. FileIt keeps an audit trail with the signed PDF.

Can I change the wording?

You fill in the blanks and choose the options on the setup page; optional clauses appear only when you fill them in. If you need different clauses, draft your own document and upload it to FileIt eSignature instead — you can still place the signature boxes in the editor.

Is this template free?

Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in FileIt. The person authorising the tow doesn't need a FileIt account to sign.

Use this template — free