Q: How can I address my truck being towed without notice, leading to accumulating storage fees in Alabama?

A: This is an incredibly frustrating situation, especially when you had no knowledge your truck had been towed and storage fees piled up without your consent or timely notice. In Alabama, the law does require that vehicle owners be notified after a tow, but unfortunately, the responsibility for notification isn’t always clearly enforced, especially if law enforcement and the towing company are pointing fingers at each other. The two-week delay in learning about the tow significantly limited your ability to recover the vehicle before fees became unmanageable.

You should request in writing from both the police department and the towing company the exact dates and methods they used to attempt notification. If neither can provide proof that they sent you a timely certified letter or documented attempt to reach you, you may have grounds to argue that the storage fees should be reduced or waived. Keep a record of all communication, and ask the tow yard for an itemized statement showing each day’s charges and any additional fees.

Next, file a formal complaint with the **Alabama Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division**, which handles abandoned vehicle and towing disputes. You may also consider small claims court if you feel you’re being unfairly charged due to a breakdown in communication between agencies. You didn’t abandon your vehicle—you were never told it was towed. You have every right to push back and seek a fair resolution.