Continuing Education Requirements
Towing operators must complete four hours of continuing education each licensing cycle.
Valid Driver’s License
You must hold a valid driver’s license issued by a state in the United States to renew a Texas tow operator license.
Drug Testing
If you have tested positive for drugs or alcohol during the past 12 months as part of a periodic or random testing by a licensed tow company or VSF, then you will to include negative drug or alcohol test results, as appropriate, with your application materials.
Application and Fee
Complete your tow operator renewal application online and pay the non-refundable application fee of $100.
Applicants with Criminal Convictions
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or pleaded guilty or no contest (resulting in a deferred adjudication) to any in-state, out-of-state or federal criminal offense, you must provide a completed Criminal History Questionnaire along with your application materials.
The department will conduct a criminal history background check on all persons who apply for a license. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be denied based on the nature of the conviction and how long prior to the application the conviction occurred. Depending on your criminal history, a review can take from one to six weeks to complete.
Individuals may request TDLR review their criminal background before actually applying for a license. TDLR uses the same process for this pre-application evaluation as the process described below. See the Criminal History Evaluation Letter page for more information.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process that TDLR uses to determine whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.
Renewal of Expired Licenses
A person whose license has expired may not legally perform towing operations in Texas.
If a license has been expired for 90 days or less, you may renew the license by paying to the department a renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee.
A license that has been expired for more than 90 days but less than 18 months may be renewed by paying the department a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.
On approval by the executive director (see Request to Executive Director for Expired License Renewal Form), a license that has been expired for at least 18 months but less than three years may be renewed by paying to the department a renewal fee equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.
If your license has been expired for three years or more, you must apply for a new license.