Vehicle Towing and Storage Regulation

(no amdt) ALBERTA REGULATION 17/2026 Consumer Protection Act VEHICLE TOWING AND STORAGE REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Interpretation 2 Minimum requirements for business operator 3 Unfair practices 4 Offences 5 Exemptions 6 Expiry 7 Coming into force Interpretation 1 (1) In this Regulation, (a) “Act” means the Consumer Protection Act ; (b) “business operator” means any person providing vehicle towing services or vehicle storage services to a consumer; (c) “consumer” means any person (i) whom a business operator is soliciting, or is negotiating or concluding an agreement with, for the provision of vehicle towing services or vehicle storage services, or (ii) whose vehicle has been towed or stored by a business operator; (d) “express consent” means consent in a verifiable form, including writing, audio recording or electronic confirmation, and must include (i) the name of the person providing the consent, and (ii) the date and time the consent is given; (e) “vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in the Traffic Safety Act ; (f) “vehicle services” means vehicle towing services or vehicle storage services provided by a business operator; (g) “vehicle storage services” means receiving and holding vehicles for compensation that have been delivered through vehicle towing services; (h) “vehicle towing services” means moving a vehicle from one location to another for compensation. (2) The definition of “consumer” in section 1(1)(b) of the Act does not apply to this Regulation. Minimum requirements for business operator 2 (1) A business operator must provide an estimate to a consumer in a manner that allows the consumer to retain a copy of the estimate before the operator secures the consumer’s vehicle for towing or otherwise removes it from the consumer’s possession. (2) The estimate must include (a) the total cost of the vehicle towing services, (b) the storage rates, if the business operator will be storing the vehicle, (c) the name and address of any business operator providing vehicle storage services or additional vehicle towing services respecting the vehicle after vehicle towing services are initially provided, and (d) the name of the person who provided consent and one of the following: (i) the person’s address; (ii) the person’s telephone number; (iii) the person’s email address. (3) The business operator must provide a copy of the storage rates to the consumer in a manner that allows the consumer to retain a copy of the storage rates before the business operator removes a vehicle from the consumer’s possession for towing or before the consumer provides express consent to any terms with the business operator, whichever is applicable. (4) The business operator must obtain express consent from a consumer, law enforcement agency or representative of the vehicle owner’s automobile insurance company before securing a vehicle for towing or otherwise removing it from the consumer’s possession. (5) The business operator must immediately disclose the specific current location of a vehicle that has been towed or is in storage at the request of the vehicle’s owner, an agent of the vehicle’s owner or representative of the vehicle owner’s automobile insurance company. (6) Where a consumer’s vehicle has been towed and is being stored by a business operator, the business operator must allow the consumer or the consumer’s agent, on request, to access the vehicle within a reasonable time to retrieve any personal property from the vehicle and to inspect the condition of the vehicle during business hours at no charge and without imposing additional conditions. (7) The business operator must use the most direct route to the location specified by the consumer or consumer’s agent giving direction to tow when charging for distance travelled or as agreed to by the consumer or consumer’s agent. (8) Before collecting any payment for vehicle services, the business operator must provide the consumer with a written invoice for vehicle services that includes (a) the business operator’s legal name, current address, telephone number and email address, if any, (b) details of the vehicle for which vehicle services are provided, including the make, model and licence plate number, (c) the specific location where the business operator takes possession of the vehicle, (d) where applicable, details regarding the transfer of possession of the vehicle from the towing operator to the storage operator sufficient for the consumer to identify when, where and to whom the vehicle was transferred, (e) the name of the person to whom the invoice is issued, (f) the dates and times vehicle towing services or vehicle storage services were provided, (g) the location from which the vehicle was towed, and (h) an itemized list of all costs associated with the vehicle services provided. (9) The business operator must notify the consumer in writing before the vehicle is moved from one storage facility to another. (10) The business operator must create and maintain records of all vehicles towed or stored by the operator, including (a) all estimates and disclosures provided in relation to vehicle services, (b) all express consents provided for vehicle services, and (c) all invoices for vehicle services. (11) The business operator must retain records referred to in subsection (10) for a minimum of 3 years after the records are made. Unfair practices 3 It is an unfair practice for a business operator to do any of the following: (a) provide statements or documents related to vehicle services that are incomplete or might reasonably deceive or mislead a consumer; (b) charge more than 10%, up to a maximum of $100, above a provided estimate, unless (i) the consumer has expressly consented to the higher price before the services are supplied, or (ii) if the consumer requires additional or different services, the consumer and the business operator agree to amend the estimate; (c) tow a vehicle without express consent from (i) the vehicle’s owner or the owner’s agent, (ii) the driver exercising control of the vehicle, (iii) a law enforcement agency, or (iv) a representative of the vehicle owner’s automobile insurance company; (d) refuse to disclose the location of a vehicle that has been towed or is in storage to (i) the vehicle’s owner or the owner’s agent, (ii) the driver exercising control of the vehicle, or (iii) a representative of the vehicle owner’s automobile insurance company; (e) charge for vehicle storage services when the vehicle’s location has not been disclosed to the owner of the vehicle or the owner’s agent, or when a good faith attempt has been made by the owner or the owner’s agent to retrieve the vehicle; (f) not disclose the operator’s business name and current contact information when providing vehicle towing services or vehicle storage services to the owner of the vehicle or the owner’s agent. Offences 4 For the purposes of section 162 of the Act, a contravention of section 3 is designated as an offence. Exemptions 5 This Regulation does not apply to the following: (a) the towing of vehicles (i) where there will be no charges, fees or costs for vehicle services, (ii) in accordance with the Vehicle Seizure and Removal Regulation (AR 251/2006), (iii) under the direction of the owner of real property on which the vehicle is located, or (iv) for parking enforcement under the authority of a municipality or other government body; (b) vehicle towing or storage under direction from a law enforcement agency; (c) seasonal and long‑term storage of vehicles where the consumer is delivering the vehicle to the storage facility. Expiry 6 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on April 1, 2029. Coming into force 7 This Regulation comes into force on April 1, 2026.