How Do I Become a Tow Truck Operator in Texas?
If you're planning to be come a tow-truck driver in Texas, you'll need one of three types of operator licenses and you'll need to meet all the requirements for your chosen license.
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Instructions
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Learn the different kinds of Texas tow-truck operator licenses. Texas has three different towing-operator licenses: incident-management license, private-property license and consent license. Incident management involves towing directed by a peace officer. Private-property towing occurs when towing a car from a parking facility. Consent towing occurs when the owner gives permission to tow the vehicle.
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Choose the license for incident management if you want a license to do all three types of towing. The license for private property also allows consent towing. Licenses for incident management and private property require a certification process to get a license. Choose the consent-towing license if you wish to skip certification requirements and do only consent towing.
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Obtain a Texas driver's license. The three types of tow-truck operator licenses each require a driver's license issued in Texas. Do not confuse driver's licenses and Texas tow-truck licenses. A driver's license is the standard license issued to vehicle drivers. Local offices of the Texas Department of Public Safety issue driver's licenses in Texas. Visit that office for information and testing if you do not currently have a Texas license.
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Obtain certification if you want a Texas towing license for incident management or private property. Visit the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) page for tow-truck licensing. Click on the links for the approved certification organizations. Follow the instructions of the organization to apply for tow-truck certification. You typically only need to get a study guide and pass a test to obtain certification. As of 2010, the organizations charge from about $100 to $200 for the exam fee.
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Apply for a tow-truck operator's license with the TDLR online application (see Resources). Fill out all the information and pay the fee by credit card. As of 2010, the fee is $100. Call 877-452-9060 if you have any questions about the online application.
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Tips & Warnings
You may also contact TDLR for a paper application or additional questions. Use the following contact information:
TDLR Towing Program
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-6599
license.state.tx.us
towing@license.state.tx.us
Renew your license once a year. You must fill out a new application and pay the fee every year to keep your tow-truck operator's license.
You will also have to apply for a tow-truck permit if you intend to own a truck. Obtaining a permit also requires the purchase of liability insurance. Contact the TDLR Towing Program for permit applications.
TDLR will review any criminal convictions on your record. You may lose or fail to receive a tow-truck operator's license based on a criminal record.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit towing truck image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
