Wrecker Services Agreement

The City of Lago Vista requires wreckers operating within the city responding to incident management events to obtain a permit, be included on a rotation list, and have all vehicles in their fleet inspected. There is a limited number of permits issued at any time and many requirements for permit holders. To find out more about when a wrecker is required to have a permit, and the requirements of permit holders, please see the document titled "Lago Vista Wrecker Ordinance" below in the documents section.

Most notably is the requirement of EACH company owner, driver, and tow truck that operates on the City of Lago Vista's wrecker list is required by Texas State Law to have an Incident Management license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

We appreciate your continued partnership with the City of Lago Vista and the Lago Vista Police Department and each of you doing your part to make Lago Vista the safest city in the Texas Hill Country. 

Applications

To apply for an Application to Engage in Wrecker Business,  

1. Fill out the form in person at the Lago Vista Police Department, 5901 Municipal Complex Way, Lago Vista, TX 78645

2. Use our fillable PDF,

3. Complete our online form below

3. or email it to Lt Franco

4. Pay for the Engage in Wrecker Business once your wrecker application and inspection are complete. 

The application period for the Lago Vista Police Department’s Open Enrollment selection of rotation tow providers for 2024-2025 will begin in January 1. Applications will be accepted January 1, 2025, thru March 31, 2025. No late applications will be accepted.

 Wrecker Permits:  $100.00 per wrecker

Payment Options:

1. for wrecker permit applications, make checks, money orders, and cashier's checks payable to the City of Lago Vista and address them to: 

Lago Vista Police Department

5901 Municipal Complex Way

Lago Vista, TX 78645-5281

2. You can also make online payments through our easy pay option under the Police Department. Please be aware that there will be additional processing fees for online payments.

Locating a Towed Vehicle

If you believe your vehicle has been towed:

• Call the non-emergency line for the Lago Vista Police Department at (512)267-7141
• Have the following information ready: 
  • License plate number (if possible),
  • Location vehicle was towed from,
  • Time frame the vehicle might have been towed,
  • Description of the vehicle, including make, model, and color. 

Please note that vehicles may ne reported to the Lago Vista Police Department immediately if it was a repossession or a private tow company. 

Towing regulations, registrations, ordinance, and applications

Towing companies performing non-consent tows (the towing of a vehicle without the consent of the owner or lienholder) within the city shall make an application in writing, on a form provided for this purpose, to the Chief of Police. Every application when filed shall be sworn to by the applicant and accompanied by a fee as set forth in the fee schedule to be apart of the Lago Vista Police Department rotation list are regulated locally, by ordinance of the City of Lago Vista, and, on a larger scale, by the State of Texas.

Towing companies and their vehicle storage facilities are licensed through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Complaints regarding towing business practices and storage facilities of the same may be directed to TDLR.

City Ordinance

Towing and Wrecker companies seeking to perform wrecker services to the City of Lago Vista must comply with the Lago Vista Code of Ordinances: Article 4.700 - Wrecker Service Regulations.  

Wrecker Complaints

If you feel a wrecker company has overcharged you or that a wrecker company has violated any other City Ordinance, a written complaint is required by the Lago Vista City Code Section Sec 1.109 General Penalty For Violations Of Code; Continuing Violations. You can submit a complaint by emailing Lt Franco.

Upon receipt of your complaint, the Lago Vista Police Department will send a letter to the tow company notifying them of the complaint. The company must reply to you in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt of the complaint. They must also send the Lago Vista Police Department a copy of their response. When a response is received, the Lago Vista Police Department will determine if the wrecker company has committed a violation and what actions will be taken against the company. If a violation is determined to have occurred, the Lago Vista Police Department may decide to do any combination of the following:

• Issue a citation to the company.
• Suspend the company from the police rotation system for not exceeding 90 days.
• Suspend the company's non-consent towing registration for not exceeding 90 days.
• Issue a warning.

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You should be aware that the Lago Vista Police Department has no authority to order a refund of any money. To secure a refund, you must request a hearing with a Justice of the Peace court in Travis County within 14 days after you pay your tow bill.

If you have questions about the status of your complaint, you may contact the Lago Vista Police Department, Lt Franco, at (512)267-7141