What does it cost to have a vehicle towed?

Illegal parking on private property is an everyday nuisance. When a stranger's vehicle blocks your driveway or stands in your parking space without permission, the question comes up quickly: what does towing cost — and who pays for it?

Who pays? It depends on the reason

• Breakdown or accident: if you commission a towing company yourself, you generally also bear the costs. Insurance or breakdown cover may step in.
• Illegal parking on private land: when a vehicle is parked without authorisation in a private space, the possessor may have it towed (§ 859 BGB). The towing costs must generally be borne by the person responsible, as damages (Federal Court of Justice (BGH), judgment of 05.06.2009 – V ZR 144/08).
• Towing by the authorities: on public roads, illegal parking is an administrative offence under the German road traffic regulations (StVO). The public order office (Ordnungsamt) or the police are responsible; costs and fees then follow the rules of the authority concerned.

What do towing costs depend on?

There is no flat rate. The amount depends on the case and the provider. Typical cost components are:

• the tow truck's journey to the site
• the towing itself — depending on vehicle, location and effort
• the time of the job, for example at night or at the weekend
• storage of the vehicle, if it is taken to a tow yard
• where applicable, an aborted job if the driver returns before the vehicle has been removed

The key rule: only customary local costs are recoverable

For tows from private land, the Federal Court of Justice has drawn a clear line (BGH, judgment of 04.07.2014 – V ZR 229/13):

• Only towing costs at the customary local rate (ortsüblich) are recoverable. The illegal parker does not have to pay excessive prices in full.
• The costs of general parking monitoring — such as regular patrols — are not recoverable.

For you as the property possessor this means: commission a towing service on terms that are usual in your area, and make sure the services are invoiced transparently.

How it works with FalschParker

1. Open FalschParker, scan the number plate and take a photo
2. Confirm the location — FalschParker handles the contractual penalty process and collections. If needed, you can request a towing service via the app.

FalschParker is free for parking-space owners and operators, and the evidence is captured digitally from the start.

Conclusion

Towing costs are rarely a flat rate. After a breakdown you generally pay yourself. But anyone suffering from illegal parking on their own property can claim the towing costs at the customary local rate from the person responsible — and handle the whole process digitally and in a structured way with FalschParker.

This article is general information and not legal advice.