Can a car towing company put a lien against your property

Attorney Tom Olsen: Bill, you're on WDBO, go ahead.

Bill: Yes, I sold the motor scooter. That person I guess never changed the title.

Tom: Got it.

Bill: It was then sold somewhere else. He sold it. He didn't want it. Somehow, it ended up in a flea market. That person sold it to someone. That person ended up going to jail because he put the wrong tag on it. Yet it's still in my name and the towing company says I'm responsible for it and they're going to put a lien on my property if I don't go and pay the towing bill.

Tom: Bill, I'm going to give you some advice and I want you to double-check my advice to you, Bill. Bill, when a tow company tows a vehicle and stores it and they don't get paid, they will eventually put a lien against the vehicle itself. Then there is a process for them to contact the state of Florida and change the title into the tow company's name to reimburse themselves for towing and storing it.

When they say they're going to put a lien against your property, I think what they're saying is they're going to put a lien against your scooter, what do you care? You sold it anyway. Are they going to put a lien against your home or another piece of real estate? I seriously doubt that they have the ability to do that, Bill.

Bill: If the state of Florida pays them, what does the state of Florida do?

Tom: I don't know. How does the state of Florida get involved in this?

Bill: Oh, I thought you said something about the state of Florida.

Tom: No, I'm saying the tow companies have a legal process where they can ask the state of Florida to transfer the title to the vehicle out of the owner's name and into the name of the tow company to reimburse themselves for towing and storing the vehicle.

Bill: Oh, I see. They can sell it again with a title. I understand.

Tom: Exactly. You got it, Bill. You got it.

Bill: They're just threatening me. They want their money, they're threatening me. I just leave it alone.

Tom: I think it's a hollow or an idle threat, Bill, what do you think? Chrisy?

Chris: I was about to add though, Bill, because of the tag situation, you may want to just double-check with the state of Florida and make sure that your license is not suspended.

Bill: It wasn't my tag. He took it off of another vehicle and put it on that scooter.

Chris: Okay. Was not your tag. Okay, because I was misunderstanding because there's two parts to your situation, certainly, the towing company situation, but as well as if for some reason the tag and they never switched the tag or got a new tag, then you could be if you will on the hook for too. Hopefully, it's just really the tow company.

Bill: Yes. I took my tag off of it. I understand all that. I'm just sure they want their money.

Tom: Bill, did you surrender that tag back to the state of Florida or is it just sitting in your garage somewhere?

Bill: No. Sitting in my garage.

[00:03:24] [END OF AUDIO]