If an unfamiliar car has been blocking your driveway in Dallas for more than 48 hours, Texas law treats it as an abandoned vehicle on private property under Transportation Code Chapter 683, and you can start a removal process. The clock matters, and so does the paperwork. Call (469) 902-4411 when you’re ready to have the car moved, and we’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator.
The 48-hour rule, and why it matters
Under Transportation Code Chapter 683, a vehicle left on private property without the owner’s consent for more than 48 hours is, by definition, abandoned. That status is what unlocks your right to have it removed through a documented process rather than calling for a tow on day one. If the car is on a public street instead, the rule changes, and a different set of city and state processes applies.
A car parked across your driveway for an hour is annoying, not abandoned under the law. Wait until the 48-hour mark and document when you first noticed it, since that timestamp becomes part of the record.
Document the car and where it sits
Before you do anything else, write down the license plate, make, model, color, and the exact location of the car, including how it’s blocking your driveway. Take dated photos from multiple angles. Keep notes about when you first saw the vehicle and whether anything in the car suggests who owns it. If the plates are out of state, that detail also goes in the file.
This is also the moment to check whether the car has been reported stolen. A quick non-emergency call to Dallas police at 311, with the plate in hand, can rule out a stolen-vehicle scenario before you spend any time or money on removal.
Notify the property owner if you rent
If you’re renting the home, the property owner or management company needs to be part of the conversation. They are typically the ones authorized to initiate a non-consent tow under Occupations Code 2308.301, which sets the signage requirements and the 24-hour operator phone number that must appear on posted signs. Most Dallas apartment and rental-house parking enforcement runs through the landlord, not the tenant.
Once the 48 hours have passed
With documentation in hand, you have two practical paths:
Contact a licensed tow operator directly. Under Texas law, a private-property owner can authorize a non-consent tow of an abandoned vehicle once the 48-hour clock has passed and proper notice has been given or attempted. A licensed operator will know the local process and what paperwork to leave on the vehicle. We connect Dallas residents with licensed operators for exactly this kind of job.
Request police assistance for a hazard. If the car is blocking emergency access, sitting in a fire lane on your private drive, or creating a safety issue, call 911 for an immediate hazard. For a non-emergency abandoned vehicle report on a public street, use 311.
Costs and what’s capped
If the removal happens as a non-consent tow from your private property, Dallas City Code 48A-43 sets the maximum fee based on vehicle weight: $121 for vehicles up to 10,000 lbs, $191 from 10,001 to 26,000 lbs, and $445 above that. Operators cannot add linkage or dolly charges on top. The owner of the removed vehicle pays these fees when they come to pick the car up; you do not pay the tow operator for the removal itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just call a tow truck the moment someone blocks my driveway? Not without consequences. Texas treats a vehicle on private property as abandoned only after 48 hours. Pulling a car before that can expose you to civil liability for an unauthorized tow.
What if the car is from out of state? The 48-hour rule still applies. Document the plates and call Dallas police non-emergency at 311 to confirm it isn’t stolen before you arrange removal.
Does the car owner pay the tow fee? Yes. The owner of the removed vehicle pays the tow and any storage fees when they pick up the car. If the vehicle goes unclaimed, the storage facility handles it under TDLR rules, including a $50 notification fee cap and a 24-hour notice requirement.
Do I need a sign on my driveway? If you’re a homeowner authorizing a one-time removal, formal posted signage isn’t required the same way it is for an apartment complex running ongoing enforcement. The 48-hour abandonment status is what authorizes the action.
If a car has been blocking your Dallas driveway for more than two days and you’re ready to move forward, call (469) 902-4411. We’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator who knows the local process.