How to verify a Houston tow company is licensed

The 3 credentials every legitimate Texas tow operator must have

1. TDLR tow license. Issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Required for the tow company, each tow truck, and each tow operator in Texas. Has a license number, an issue/expiration date, and the registered company name and address.
2. USDOT number for the carrier. Texas tow carriers must register with USDOT and display the number on the truck. It ties the truck to a registered, insured business.
3. Commercial general liability insurance plus on-hook cargo coverage. TDLR rules require both: liability for damage to people and property, and on-hook cargo coverage to cover damage to your vehicle during the tow.

An operator missing any one of these is operating illegally in Texas. A reputable operator can produce all three within seconds when asked.

Step-by-step: verify the company's TDLR license

1. Ask the operator: "What is your TDLR tow license number?" A legitimate operator will know this without checking - it's printed on every truck door.
2. Visit TDLR License Search or call TDLR Customer Service at 800-803-9202.
3. Enter the license number or company name. The lookup returns the registered company name, address, license type, and status.
4. Confirm: does the company name on the TDLR record match the company name on the truck door, the dispatcher's greeting, and the operator's invoice? If any of these don't match, that's a major red flag.
5. Confirm the license is "Active" - not expired, suspended, or in pending status.

Step-by-step: verify the driver's TDLR license and USDOT number

1. Ask the driver to show their individual TDLR tow operator license. They must carry it in the truck.
2. The license shows the operator's name, license number, issue date, and expiration date.
3. Confirm the name matches the company's roster and the license is current, and check the USDOT number painted on the truck.
4. If you suspect the license is forged, you can look it up on the TDLR License Search or call TDLR to verify whether a license number is currently active.

Step-by-step: verify insurance

1. Ask the operator for a Certificate of Insurance (COI). Reputable operators have a current COI on the truck or available by email.
2. The COI lists the insurance carrier, policy number, effective dates, and coverage limits.
3. Confirm: commercial general liability that meets TDLR minimums, and on-hook cargo coverage that exceeds the value of your vehicle.
4. If you want to verify the COI is real, call the insurance carrier listed and reference the policy number. They will confirm whether the policy is active without giving out claim details.

Red flags - signs the operator is not legitimate

• Truck has no visible company name, TDLR license number, or USDOT number on the doors.
• Operator cannot produce a TDLR license number when asked.
• The TDLR license number, when looked up, returns a different company name.
• Driver has no TDLR tow operator license or refuses to show it.
• Operator demands cash only and refuses to provide a written invoice.
• Operator quotes a price wildly different from local market rates (e.g., $400+ for a 5-mile local tow).
• Operator threatens you for refusing service or for asking to see credentials.
• Operator arrives in an unmarked truck on a police-dispatched call.
• Driver appears impaired or asks you to sign blank paperwork.
• The company has no business address, no phone number that connects to a live dispatcher, or no online presence.

Houston-specific verification resources

Lookup	Where	What it confirms
TDLR tow license	tdlr.texas.gov - License Search	Company and operator are licensed to tow in Texas
USDOT number	safer.fmcsa.dot.gov	Carrier is federally registered and insured
Police-ordered tows	findmytowedcar.com, or HPD Towline (713) 308-8580	Which licensed VSF received a vehicle after a police-ordered tow
BBB Greater Houston	bbb.org/us/tx/houston	Complaint history and accreditation status
TX Secretary of State / Comptroller	mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa	Company is registered as a legal entity in Texas
TDLR complaint record	tdlr.texas.gov	Whether the operator has a record of violations

What to ask before the truck arrives

When you call any Houston tow operator, the dispatcher should be able to answer these questions immediately:

• "What is your company's TDLR tow license number?"
• "What is the flat-rate price for [your specific tow situation]?"
• "What is the driver's certification number who will be coming to me?"
• "What's the ETA?"
• "Can you email me a written quote and your insurance certificate before dispatch?"

If the dispatcher hedges on any of these or asks you to "just trust us," call another operator. Tow Pro Houston answers all five questions on the first call.

What to verify when the truck arrives

1. Truck door panel shows company name and TDLR license number that match the dispatcher's quote.
2. Driver introduces themselves and offers to show certification before touching the vehicle.
3. Driver provides a written invoice with itemized fees 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.

If you suspect you've been scammed

• Document everything: photos of the truck, the driver, the invoice, the credentials shown (or refused).
• File a complaint with TDLR. Online form at tdlr.texas.gov.
• File a complaint with the Harris County Attorney's Consumer Protection Division.
• File a complaint with the BBB so it appears on the company's public record.
• If you were charged unreasonable fees, request a tow hearing in the justice of the peace court within 14 days.
• If charges were placed on your credit card without authorization, dispute the charges with the card issuer.

Tow Pro Houston's credentials

• TDLR tow license on file with the state - current and active.
• All drivers hold a current TDLR tow operator license.
• $1,000,000 combined single-limit commercial liability insurance.
• $250,000 on-hook cargo coverage.
• Better Business Bureau profile and complaint history available at bbb.org/us/tx/houston.
• Registered with the Texas Secretary of State as an active business entity.
• Every truck shows company name, TDLR license number, USDOT number, and contact information on both doors.

Ask the driver who shows up to see any of the above. Every operator we dispatch carries the TDLR license, COI, and USDOT registration in the truck.