Texas Tow Truck CE Hours Required

Texas tow truck operators ask one question more than any other: how many CE hours does Texas actually require? The short answer: 4 hours, every year, from a TDLR-approved provider. The longer answer covers what the 4 hours have to include, how renewal timing works, and why some operators end up paying late fees they could have avoided.

Texas Tow Truck CE Hours: The Short Answer

TDLR requires 4 hours of continuing education annually for licensed Texas tow truck operators. The 4 hours must come from a TDLR-approved provider — not a generic safety course, not a community college non-credit class, and not a certificate from out of state. Our 4-hour Texas Towing Operator CE Course (TDLR Course #30967) satisfies the full requirement and costs $29.99.

Does It Matter Which License Type I Hold?

TDLR licenses several towing-related credentials, and the CE requirement is consistent across them: 4 hours per year. These credentials include:

• Tow Operator License (Incident Management)
• Tow Operator License (Private Property)
• Tow Operator License (Consent Tow)
• Vehicle Storage Facility Employee License (separate program — different rules)

What the 4 Hours Have to Cover

TDLR-approved tow operator CE addresses the practical knowledge a working tower needs every shift:

• Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308 (towing) and Chapter 2303 (storage)
• Roadway safety and incident-scene operations
• Vehicle hookups, securing loads, and damage prevention
• Customer interactions, paperwork, and consumer protection rules
• Recent rule changes from TDLR and the Texas Tow Truck Operator Advisory Board

When Does My Texas Tow Truck License Expire?

TDLR tow operator licenses renew on a 1-year cycle. The expiration date is set when the license is originally issued and stays on that calendar — your renewal date does not move year to year unless you let the license lapse and have to reinstate.

Late Renewal: How Bad Is It Really?

Texas allows a 90-day late-renewal window past the expiration date. Within that window, you pay the standard renewal fee plus a late fee equal to 1.5× the renewal fee. After 90 days, the license must be reinstated — which costs more, takes longer, and during that period you cannot legally operate as a Texas tow truck operator. Our 4-hour CE course gets you back to compliant the same day, but it does not waive the late fee — for that, you need to renew on time.

Same-Day TDLR Reporting for Tow Operators

When you finish our course, your CE completion is reported to TDLR the same business day. You can submit your renewal in TDLR MyLicense Office immediately. There is no overnight queue and no fax-and-wait.

More Resources

• TDLR Towing Renewal Step-by-Step
• TDLR Towing CE Requirements Detail
• Texas Towing License Renewal
• Roadway Safety Tips for Tow Operators