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'$230 Isn’t That Bad:' College Student’s Car Gets Towed. So She Tries to Make a Deal

"As a tow truck driver, that's a you problem, not mine."

Discount Towing

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Steve Ecker

By: Steve Ecker

Sep 6, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

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A college student’s car was towed after she parked in front of a fire hydrant. So, she decided to make a deal with the company.

In a TikTok that’s generated over 5.6 million views as of this writing, Mia (@miaatheetop5) reveals how she was able to strike a deal.

What’s Your Sob Story?

Mia films herself crying while walking to the tow yard. She asks the employee, “If I give you a sob story—because I have one—is there any way the price can get lowered?”

“What’s your sob story?” the employee questions.

Mia says she’s a “broke” college student living in her car. “I know you guys saw all of the stuff in my car,” she says. “I cannot afford to pay for it, and I need it.”

When asked if she couldn’t pay at all, Mia says she can pay part of the amount, but not the whole thing.

Mia reiterates her sob story about being an unhoused college student and starts to cry again. The worker informs Mia that she can take $25 off and bring down the price to $230.

“Can you do that price?” the employee asks.

“What about $150?” Mia negotiates.

The employee immediately denies the prices, prompting Mia to ask for $200.

“I can’t take anything else off. That's the problem. Do you want to do the $230 price?” the worker asks.

Mia agrees, and the employee takes Mia to her car to process the payment.

After processing the payment, Mia films herself celebrating the success of her sob story with “it worked” in the caption.

Viewers were skeptical

Comments believed the sob story was filled with lies. In particular, people found it hard to believe she was living in her car with her nails, lashes, and hair done.

“No money but nail, hair and lashes are all done,” one TikTok commenter noticed.

“This ain’t a sob story. Hair. Nails. Lashes. Done. PRIORITIZE,” another added.

“Wait, so your not a trying college student living in their car?” a third questioned.

While the creator ignored comments accusing her of lying about living in her car, she did defend the price of her lashes.

“Lashes and hair like $350 alone,” one commenter guessed.

“It was actually $375,” Mia clarified.

Can You Negotiate with a Towing Company?

According to EpicVin, impound lots are open to negotiating if you are not able to pay the full amount. Typically, this applies if the car was wrongfully towed, but it’s still possible even if the tow was legitimate.

EpicVin listed out these steps to follow when negotiating with a towing company:

Call the towing company and ask it to release the paperwork, which will spell out all the fees.
Do not pay the fee over the phone and visit the location where the car is being held.
Ask the company to release the vehicle without payment.
If denied, stand firm and ask for the manager.
If you are able to explain and prove the car was wrongfully towed, most companies will release the car without payment.
If you can’t prove it was illegally towed, you can still get a reduced fee by asking for it.

If you provide a compelling story and are respectable to the staff, some towing businesses will be willing to work with you on the price. It never hurts to ask for no payment or a reduced fee.

How Far Should You Park Away from a Fire Hydrant?

Mia ended up in the towing yard because she parked next to a fire hydrant.

“Y’all, if you ever see a fire hydrant, do not park next to it. I’m 20 years old, and I didn’t know that,” Mia says.

Motor1 previously reported that firefighters will break car windows and do whatever is necessary to get access to the hydrant. By blocking quick access to the fire hydrant, firefighters have another obstacle to deal with during their emergency response.

“Parking in front of or too close to a fire hydrant is illegal in all states because fire engines require easy access to hydrants in an emergency,” DJC Law states.

What do you think?

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While the rule for how far away you have to park from a fire hydrant varies from state to state, the general rule of thumb is 15 feet away.

Motor1 contacted Mia, and she declined to provide a statement.

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