How to verify a New Orleans tow company is legitimate

What to actually check

Louisiana doesn't issue a single statewide towing license the way some states do, so there's no one-number lookup that proves a company is legitimate on its own. What you can verify is real and specific to how Louisiana regulates towing: registration under the Louisiana Towing and Storage Act, a rate that matches the LPSC's published schedule, and a clean signage and paperwork trail.

Step 1: ask about their Towing and Storage Act registration

The Louisiana Towing and Storage Act (La. R.S. 32:1711 et seq.) regulates towing and storage businesses through the office of state police, not a county business-tax-receipt system. A legitimate operator can tell you this without hesitation. Any operator doing nonconsensual tows off private property must also post signage at the property naming the company, its address, and its phone number in lettering at least 2 inches tall (La. R.S. 32:1736).

Step 2: compare the rate to the LPSC schedule

The Louisiana Public Service Commission sets maximum statewide rates for nonconsensual towing, updated every April 1st. Under the current schedule (effective 4-1-2025): Light Duty runs $146.50/hour with a 1.5-hour minimum (or a $146.50 flat rate off private property), Medium Duty runs $322.00/hour with a 1-hour minimum, Heavy Duty runs $414.00/hour with a 1-hour minimum. Storage runs $32.50/day outside or $39.00/day covered. A gate fee or after-hours retrieval fee is capped at $62.00, and there's no fee at all for retrieving personal property during normal business hours. If a quoted price for a nonconsensual tow is well above these numbers, ask why.

Step 3: check the driver's license class on a heavy-duty call

Louisiana requires a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate a tow truck rated 26,001 pounds or more; lighter trucks run on a standard Louisiana driver's license - there's no separate towing-specific license class here. If a heavy-duty rig shows up for a box truck, bus, or RV, ask to see the CDL.

Step 4: look at the truck and the paperwork

Every invoice a Louisiana tow company gives you is required to be itemized and to list the LPSC's own complaint address, so any legitimate operator's paperwork should already show this. Before the hook, a legitimate operator tells you every document you'll need to get the vehicle back.

Step 5: verify the business itself

Confirm the company is a real, active Louisiana entity through the Louisiana Secretary of State's business search at sos.la.gov. If the name on the truck doesn't match what's registered, that's worth a second call before you hand over your keys.

Red flags - signs the operator is not legitimate

• Truck has no visible company name or contact number on the doors.
• Operator can't or won't produce an itemized invoice or tell you their registration status.
• Operator demands cash only and refuses to provide a written, itemized invoice.
• Operator quotes a price wildly different from what you were told on the phone, or well above the LPSC's published maximum.
• Operator threatens you for asking questions or wanting to see paperwork.
• Driver appears impaired or asks you to sign blank paperwork.
• The company has no traceable business address, no phone number that connects to a live dispatcher, or no online presence.

What to ask before the truck arrives

A dispatcher who knows what they're doing should be able to answer these on the first call:

• "What's the flat-rate price for this specific job?"
• "Are you insured, and can I get that in writing?"
• "What's the ETA?"
• "Can you text or email me a written quote before you dispatch?"

If the dispatcher hedges on any of these or tells you to "just trust us," call someone else. Quick Tow New Orleans answers all four questions on the first call.

What to verify when the truck arrives

1. Truck door panel shows a company name that matches the dispatcher's quote.
2. Driver introduces themselves before touching the vehicle.
3. Driver provides a written, itemized invoice before the hook.
4. Driver explains which method (flatbed vs. wheel-lift) and why.
5. Driver knows your destination and the route.
6. If any of these don't happen, ask before you sign anything.

Louisiana verification resources

Lookup	Where	What it confirms
Louisiana business registration	sos.la.gov	The company is a real, active Louisiana business entity
LPSC towing rate schedule and complaints	lpsc.louisiana.gov	The current maximum rates for nonconsensual towing, and where to file a complaint
City of New Orleans, Find My Towed Vehicle	nola.gov	Confirms whether your vehicle was towed to the city pound and by whom (Orleans Parish)
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office	jpso.com/378/Payments	Impound-related payments and matters for unincorporated Jefferson Parish

If you suspect you've been scammed

• Document everything: photos of the truck, the driver, the invoice, and any paperwork shown or refused.
• File a written complaint with the Louisiana Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 91154, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, or through lpsc.louisiana.gov. A complaint stops storage fees from accruing as of the day you file, and the Commission can order a refund of up to 200% of any overcharge. You don't have to pay the invoice first to have standing to complain.
• If charges were placed on your credit card without authorization, dispute the charges with the card issuer.

Quick Tow New Orleans's credentials

• Registered under Louisiana's Towing and Storage Act framework.
• Rates that match the LPSC's published schedule for nonconsensual tows.
• Registered as an active Louisiana business entity.
• Every truck shows our company name and contact information on both doors.

If you're on scene with one of our drivers and want to see any of the above, just ask.