‘She’s a Registered Resident!:’ Austin Woman Gets Her Car Towed in Front of Her House. Then Her HOA Steps In

"They’re not messing around."

woman gets her car towed in front

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Nov 22, 2025 at 6:00am ET

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The people who work at the towing yard aren’t exactly known for their stellar customer service.

After a long and irritating day, this woman found that out the hard way. But she says she and her mother never should have been put in this position to begin with.

In a video with more than 4,000 views, Austin, Texas content creator and mom of three Britney Jo (@britneyjo__) called out her mom’s homeowner’s association (HOA) for putting them through an unnecessary level of trouble.

"I am irate at what we just experienced," Britney Jo says.

She explains that her mom lives in a neighborhood in Austin where they just put up brand new towing signs.

"Never seen them. She's lived there for two and a half years. She's also a registered resident of the neighborhood, and they towed her car from the street where she parks every single day and has for two and a half years," Britney Jo says.

They tried to call the HOA, but no one was answering at the leasing office. To get the car back, the pair ended up driving "clear across town" to where the vehicle was towed.

When they finally got to the tow yard, the employee handling things reportedly only made the situation worse. Britney Jo says her mom paid the $250, but the worker voided her charge because he didn't like her signature and said it looked like a "scribble," even though it matched what's on her license.

"After some choice words and some deep breaths, they just open the gate, and they go, 'Good luck finding your car.' Like, they're not even gonna freaking tell you where in the lot it is," Britney Jo continues.

"PSA: for anyone going to The Grove playground in Austin, TX, there are brand new towing signs and they’re not messing around," Britney Jo notes in the caption.

Gallery: The Best Tow Truck In The World

The Best Tow Truck In The World

What to Do If Your Car Gets Towed

Finding your car missing from where you parked it can be panic inducing. But before you assume it's been stolen, run through other reasons why it may have been towed instead.

Here are a few common reasons why your vehicle may have been towed, according to National General:

Parking in a fire lane or blocking a fire hydrant
Parking in customer-only spaces without authorization
Blocking driveways or private property
Missed car payments or vehicle repossession
Unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding fines
Parking in restricted zones during certain hours

To find where your car is located, you can contact local police via a non-emergency line or check if your city has a towed vehicle locator website where you can search by VIN or license plate number.

And you’ll want to move fast. Most impound lots charge daily or even hourly storage fees, and in some places, your vehicle could end up at auction within weeks if fees aren't paid, Direct Auto reports.

To get your car back, you'll typically need your driver's license, insurance card, vehicle registration, and payment. Annoyingly, many impound lots don’t take credit cards, so you’ll need cash or a cashier's check.

Commenters React

"File a complaint with the state," a top comment read.

"Oh—the tow companies in Austin are a LITERAL crime syndicate. They know barely anyone will actually take it to court," a person theorized.

"Again. Why would someone willingly live in an HOA????" another wrote.

What do you think?

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Comments

"Oh we ride at dawn," a commenter added.

Motor1 reached out to Britney Jo for comment via TikTok direct message and comment, and to The Grove via email. We'll update this if either responds.

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