Towing Resources

In May of 2021 Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 1181, the "towing bill," into law. This law provides a self-storage facility the ability, in lieu of foreclosure, to tow certain vehicles away from the facility following a tenant’s default on their lease. The law went into effect on September 1, 2021. 

Read step-by-step instructions and learn how to utilize the new towing option, as detailed by TSSA Legal Counsel, here. *Please note: If you want to take advantage of the new towing option, your tenants will need to sign an updated rental agreement that includes the required towing language. Learn more below.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (the “TxDMV”) has updated their form VTR-265-SSF (the “Self-Service Storage Facility Lien Foreclosure” form) that TSSA members should use to satisfy the requirement of the licensed vehicle storage facility accepting possession of the vehicle. View and download VTR-265-SSF here


New Towing Language Added to TSSA Rental Agreements and e-Lease


*Please note: If you want to take advantage of the new towing option, your tenants will need to sign an updated rental agreement that includes the required towing language.
If you do not offer vehicle or trailer parking at your facility, we still advise that you use the most recent version of the TSSA lease. As a result of a significant lawsuit against a large self-storage operator (recently settled), additional protection has also been added in the way of liability language addressing the removal of property as a result of a casualty or weather event.

Print Leases - Visit the TSSA Shop or contact us at 512-374-9089 to order regular and/or vehicle/trailer/boat rental agreements that include the required towing law language. 

Electronic Leases
- If you currently use TSSA's electronic lease (e-Lease), a new version of both the standard lease and the vehicle/trailer/boat lease will need to be installed to utilize the new towing option. To facilitate the install of the new version of the lease, click here to be put on the update list. Installs will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.


Additional Towing Resources

Towing Law Summary
by TSSA Legal Counsel

Towing Option Becomes Law
by TSSA Legal Counsel

Towing Law Q&A
by TSSA Legal Counsel

 

Towing Law FAQs
by TSSA Legal Counsel

 

Searching for a licensed towing operator?

Click here to search the online TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation) database for a licensed towing operator and vehicle storage facility. You can search by company name, license number, city or ZIP. Please note: Select 'vehicle storage facility' from the dropdown menu when searching by city or ZIP.