Flagrant Abuse by Towing Company in Florida

[Pistonhonda]

My question involves towing laws for the State of: Florida


Long story short:

My car was towed. The car was still in my fathers name at the time of the tow, and he lives in another state. He then signed the title over to me (gifted). Sent it to me via overnight delivery. I then went to the towing company with my title (the car is now legally mine), and they would not release the car to me because I am not the "REGISTERED" owner of the vehicle.

The car is my property, and they will not release it to me.

Should I just get a lawyer and be done with it? Are they in serious violation of the law?

[That Guy]

The car is my property, and they will not release it to me.

Have you gone to the DMV to pay the title transfer fees, change the title to your name, and get the vehicle REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME?

It is possible that you are not considered the "REGISTERED owner" of the vehicle unless and until you have a title that was "issued in your name".

[aardvarc]

ThatGuy is correct...the car is yours...and if you want to pay to have the car towed somewhere, you could probably do that. But you'll have to leave the TAG, which ISN'T yours. The tow company isn't going to release the car with a tag on it to you since the tag, which is required if the car is to be driven on the street or parked where visible from the street, isn't registered to you. Getting the title was only PART of the solution of making the car and tag, as a set, yours.

[Pistonhonda]

No I haven't, and heres why:

To get the car registered in my name (since we just moved here from out of state), I have to BRING THE CAR to the tag office for them to do a VIN # check. How can I do that if they won't release it to me?

The Florida statue says nothing about releasing the car to the registered owner. It does however say the car must be released to the "Owner" not "regsitered owner".