How do tow companies get so many vehicles?

I can’t say for your exact location but I have a pretty good friend who is in the towing business and they always have a pile of vehicles. I am pretty sure this will depend on the state and maybe county and municipality but my understanding is in certain situations they actually get to keep some vehicles if they are towed by the police. I also know sometimes the owner/ insurance will sign a vehicle over if the towing is more than the vehicle is worth but most of those are pretty well destroyed and only good for parts. I also know they are pretty active in buying cheap auction vehicles to fix and sell as a way to keep there guys busy when there not on a tow call… at least in rural America there’s not enough calls to keep people busy all day, in the city it’s probably different.

 

Repossessions. They make the majority of their money off repos and the bank paying the storage fees.

 

Mostly unclaimed or abandoned vehicles. In general 40% of all impounded vehicles go unclaimed by the owner or insurance company. These then become the property of the tow company provided they process the lien paperwork peoperly they then can scrap, auction or otherwise dispose of it.

Pennsylvania specifically, we have two types of towers, general towers and salvors. General towers can respond to police requests for accidents, breakdowns and arrest impounds. Salvors respond to abandoned vehicles on public or private property. They have different processes for disposal of unclaimed vehicles with salvirs being restricted to scrap or parts.

If the vehicle was just an impound or unclaimed from repair work (but not an abandoned vehicle from othet property or the roadside) then the tower can file a warehouseman lien and get a clear title vacated of all liens and sell the vehicle outright. Otherwise they can declare it abandoned and obtain a dalvage certificate for scrap or parts.

 

PPIs and arrest tows are probably the most common way we get vehicles dumped on us that aren't damaged/wrecked.

 

Get arrested and they tow your vehicle. If they can't afford bail they definitely can't afford the tow bill.

Those are the best ones to buy at auction because you know they were at least able to drive when they got impounded. And they usually come with keys.

 

Someone gets pulled over for a DUI, they go to jail, vehicle goes to impound. The person that can't bail themselves out sit in jail and the impound fees keep growing. Vehicle is intact, owner just can't afford to bail the vehicle out. I knew a guy that lost an almost mint 1969 Ford F-250 Camper Special that way back around 2000/2001

 

They can be. I got a 94 thunderbird that way as a teen. But keep in mind the type of people who tend to get thrown in the slammer also tend to be the type of people to not care for and abuse vehicles. So...always check them well.

 

Bail isn't always given. Or needed.

Not only duis. But no registration or insurance can get you towed also.