A-1 Towing & Recovery JunkYard in Alexandria (VA)

I have filed two police reports against this company and the person who tried to tow my car today, removed it from the property while I was present and could prove that I was legally parked for the appropriate amount of time, while I was delivering groceries to an apartment building. Removing a vehicle when the owner is present via tow is illegal, not that these scum people care. I have also filed 2 reports with BBB. Anyone in the comments who wants to file a lawsuit against these people feel free to reach out. I spent an hour of my life dealing with this before they brought my car back cause it was ILLEGAL!! Too bad he had already stolen it, and then told me to pay him cash to get it (cash to the driver not the company) SHADE SHADE SHADE! 5 residents and the apartment had to get involved cause the driver wouldn’t leave my car KNOWING he took it illegally while I was right there.

Was originally told a truck would be sent to us in 40 minutes, as someone is parked in our space. Waited an hour. Was then told the truck would be here in 15 minutes. Still waiting after 20 more minutes. I call to get an ETA and the woman who answered was incredibly rude about the update. The second person was nice. Just called again, because there’s still no truck here, and no answer after calling. It just rings. Good luck getting assistance.

Attendant was respectful, but I was towed because I was attending a 24/7 Planet Fitness. Apparently the tower decided that didn't count as being a customer of Seminary Plaza despite sign present. $200 for parking.

Does anyone provide a good rating for them. I won’t either. I don’t know how they exist as a business. My car had a parking tag on it. Still I got towed, how is that justified. So I called the next day, they cannot find my tags, I decided to visit this place and have a look. I found my parking tag to be on the floor of the car. I end up paying $180. Everyone is disappointed if their car is towed. Nobody is ever happy. At least, there can be a way to not tow someone’s car without having to pay a fine. I understand it’s their process of getting money from everyone. They can issue a parking ticket, this will solve everyone’s problem, but I know they want to make money out of us. Otherwise, issue a parking ticket we will fight in court about this.

Just got diagnosis back from mechanic. A1 Towing towed my all wheel drive Land Cruiser with a wrecker which is improper causing damage to my front differentials. I’ve been watching them. If you get towed they drop your car roughly and another tow truck picks it up in the 7-11 parking lot at Kenmore Ave. and takes it to the lot, instead of taking it directly. As a towing operation I think they are treading the line occasionally breaking the law as needed. Beware.

This company is a joke. They’re out here robbing people, towing cars illegally just to make quick cash. It doesn’t matter if you have valid permits or are following the rules—they’ll tow your car anyway and force you to pay ridiculous fees to get it back. I honestly don’t know how this company is still allowed to operate. Their drivers are rude, unprofessional, and act like they’re above the law. This isn’t a towing service—it’s straight-up theft. If you’ve had the misfortune of dealing with A1 Towing, you know exactly what I’m talking about. They’re the absolute worst.

HORRIBLE UNPROFESSIONAL AND INSENSITIVE. The attendant insulted me. I parked my car at the shopping center by Tyson's central. I parked my car at 10:40 am and my car was towed at 11:00 am. NONE of the signs in the parking lot have a phone number where you can locate your vehicle, there is ONE inconspicuous tiny sign at the entrance of the parking lot where the phone number is located. EVERY other sign within this large parking lot merely indicates that if youre a commuter your car will be towed, there are also other signs that cap the shopping period at 3 hours. As a student and tight on money I asked them if the 3 hr shopping sign was the controlling factor, and was lied to, they told me that a security company patrols the area and if they see you leave the lot then they have the right to tow your car. LIES. none of the signs say that and none of the Fairfax County ordinances indicate this so. Then I proceeded to tell them as a suggestion that their signs should have the phone number and that if this situation occurs at night, people can be in danger and or feel unsafe. The attendant told me that I placed myself in danger because I was an idiot, and not because of their failure to include the company's phone number within the many signs posted in a very large parking lot. THEY ARE HORRIBLE AND THAT IS WHY THE HIRE WHISLE BLOWERS TO CALL THEM AND THEY WILL TOW YOUR CAR.

Not happy to have been towed, of course, but it was the apartment complex that flagged my car, NOT A-1. The A-1 staff (likely used to being verbally abused all the time) were pleasant over the phone AND also nice in person. They are not "predators," they remove cars (like mine) of owners trying to park for free! Only at the request of the business!

Not only did I get towed recently and have to pay the STEEP payment of $180. Which was the only recent transaction I had on my credit card. But I also suspiciously found an unauthorized charge on that same card 4 days later. The desk people in the processing shack took my card behind the desk for the transaction the day my car was towed. The person who used my card for an urgent care visit, I hope you don’t feel better.

My friend was visiting me at my apartment when A-1 Towing towed his vehicle. However, he was legally parked via the Pango App at my apartment complex but had recently purchased a new vehicle and it defaulted to an old plate number. The make & model was correct...just not the plate number. They charged his $180 for having it for about an hour... I find it totally unacceptable and unethical for their practice and cost. I am unaware if my complex condones this behavior but I will be speaking to them. A-1 towing listed his offense as "Failure to pay meter" when in actuality he did pay! Just an honest mistake of the plate number....

Watch out guys..this “towing” company is very unprofessional. I have a video of there two drivers damaging cars at my apartment complex. They towed my guest car ILLEGALLY. You cannot speak to these people nicely they are very rude people. All they care about is collecting money but when u have video proof and your apartment complex stating you are correct they do not want to hear it. They are running an illegal company. Beware!!! I will be talking to my attorney and taking this the legal way in order to save other people from this ILLEGAL “business”. I never had a problem with other tow companies..this is the WORST “company ever. They are liars.

A-1's Driver (Friday, 1 Nov at 11:30 PM) almost took me out while I was walking my dogs because their drivers speed through the parking lots. Next time I will file a police report.

THEY DAMAGED MY CAR!!! THEY TOWED AND DAMAGED IT!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO? I LITERALLY PAID FOR “PAID” PARKING AND THEY STILL TOWED IT AND CHARGED $250!! It is so not my fault and Plus they Damaged the car and said they are not responsible. They are literally scum, like scum of the earth with no ethics and just trying to make a quick buck off of people

Predators. Absolute predatory company. Your guys WATCHED my wife and my son take groceries into the building and towed her car while she was taking her groceries in!! DESPICABLE!! This is how you do business? Bullying and preying on struggling families? Whatever gets you paid huh? You should be ashamed of yourselves, but I know you're not. If people park where they're not supposed to that's one thing. But towing a mother's car while she's taking in groceries??? Lowlife behavior. Really filthy work. What was she supposed to do? Carry them across the complex? And you WATCHED HER!!! That's what makes it so bad!! Predators!! Just more cars for you to flip huh? I know the game.🤨 Error

my car was towed and was severely damaged during the process unfortunately after numerous attempts of trying to reach out to the so called owner ( ROY ) as I told but one thief companies employee has not responded in regards to my situation. I am absolutely lost’d for words how unprofessional, dishonest and disrespectful these people are to hard working individuals and their properties. I most definitely will be pursuing further charges against this organization indefinitely… unbelievable

VERY RUDE AND TRY TO GUISE IT AS PEOPLE JUST BEING UPSET BECAUSE THEIR CAR IS TOWED! ONE FEMALE WORKER WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE HER NAME SAID "IM NOT BEING RUDE BUT I CAN BE." Pretty much what all the other reviews said. Price gouging at its finest. And they place your car in the shadiest of places not giving a crap what damage happens to it.

Quick response time! Had a car towed from my reserved spot. Stealthy tow much appreciated, though my son really wanted a pic and I missed it! Some of us appreciate what you do!

Just watched them damage a vehicle in Falls Church parked in a parking lot by moving it sideways via their fork and saw the back right wheel pop out, perhaps by the speed at which he yanked it out of its spot. He then proceeded to drive away without even securing the vehicle to his truck — a pull behind tow. Reported to Virginia State Police & Arlington County Police w/video.

Went to Arlington after work tonight to visit a friend for her birthday, arrived at 730 and by 8 our car had been towed by this shady company. We finished dinner and headed home around 9 to find our car gone from its spot but still being charged for the parking. Upon asking security they gave us the number for A-1… and shocker no answer. So our friend drove us over and the lady at the front window of the grossest building in Arlington told us the vehicle was there and there was nothing we could do. So we pay the $180 for the vehicle and she asks for ID and sarcastically tells our friend happy birthday and proceeds to laugh. We go to leave and drive 2.5 hours home but don’t even drive a mile before the vehicle starts thumping, she states we have to call tomorrow. Based on these reviews nothing will happen out of this. The company needs shut down. The staff is rude, vulgar, and quite frankly trashy. Hopefully you never have the dissatisfaction of dealing with them

A1 is a predatory tow company who damaged the front of my vehicle while Illegally towing it from a paid parking garage. When I asked why I was towed... the 2 people in the front shack of an office told me "someone called". These people stated if anyone calls regardless of fault they will tow. He encouraged me to call on others which is absolutely sick. The guy in front then charged me more than the stated price. I have receipts in addition to photos and plan on taking legal action for the damages and fees associated with the tow. Please seek immediate legal action if you find yourself illegally towed.

I was moving to new apartment with my boxes and left my car front of the building 4380 king st Alexandria va 22302 for 5 min i lyft the dolly next my car and they towed in 2 min the time was less than the time existed in the sign for leasing office we have 15 min free

**UPDATED REVIEW** They are even bigger monsters than was known, last night they illegally towed a neighbor from my complex. My neighbor saw them loading up his car and attempted to have them stop. The driver after being told he was illegally towing raced off with the car without properly hitching it, leaving behind his two employees who were wandering the lot. After telling them to turn their driver around the two employees got irate and began to yell at my neighbor, refusing to return the vehicle. They proceeded to yell racial slurs at my neighbor. The police were called and while not able to assist as they claimed this was now a civil matter, also openly admitted they had broken the law. Alexandria, Virginia Code 9-13-3 Section D Line 2 clearly states that the towing company is required to drop your vehicle on site if the owner of the vehicle stops them before leaving the property. BBB reports are being filed and hopefully one day they will be dealt with and held accountable for not even knowing how to operate their own business. These are awful, predatory people. They build relationships with property management and then abuse their power. They target specific people consistently and cause vehicle damage when they tow. They are also incredibly rude to people who come to collect their vehicles. I genuinely don't know how they sleep at night.

Towed my car and made a big dent. The front desk let me fill up a form and I NEVER have anything hearing back from them. Phone call never solve my questions. You are in trouble if you are targeted by them.

These guys are legitimately criminals, had my car towed from a hotel by these guys when I was legally parked with a parking pass... Cost me $215 to get my car back and there's nothing I can reasonably do to fight it since I live hours away, these guys should be put in prison for casually stealing people's cars and money

Apparently, notifying the complex is called a "courtesy." Their words. A1 is not a fan of courtesy. They let my car sit in their lot for 32 days, accumulating $1600 in additional storage fees for a car that was non operational. Not to mention, the apartment complex is subsidized housing. The people living in this complex need help with rent. They are the last ones in the county that should get screwed over like this. Bonus point for A1 for towing it from a Seabee veteran with Leukemia. ::golf-clap::

A-1 TOWING IS THE WORST COMPANY TO EVER EXIST. THEY WILL FIND EXCUSES TO TOW YOUR CAR TO GET QUICK MONEY FROM YOU, EVEN WHEN YOU PAY TO PARK IN THE LOT AND ARE A RESIDENT. THEIR PEOPLE ARE RUDE AND INCONSIDERATE.

1. Section § 59.1-525. Title and § 59.1-526. Everyone, PLEASE refer to VA's price gouging laws. A1 towing is in total violation of the definitions in the statute (especially if you have paid $180 or more): - How A1 is price gouging: Charging people $180, but then reducing it to $120 if you ask the manager, then if they don't like your attitude, they will increase it to $180 again. Then to $185 when you pull your credit card out to pay. All whilst employing deceptive, intimidating, verbally-abusive techniques. The employees: Large muscle-built guy, along with his two women colleagues were in complete violation of all of this at this location. I do not have the name for him or the ladies as they all refused to give it to me. 2. ⁠ ⁠§ 46.2-118. Prohibited acts by tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators. - Holding vehicles hostage: Refusing to release vehicles until exorbitant fees are paid. This practice was also employed at this location by the 3 employees described in the previous point. 3. Anyone who has paid $180 or more to A1 towing, has been a victim of price gouging and holding vehicles hostage. You should immediately call a lawyer/legal professional to solve this matter. 4. Another additional point (this might of happened to you also): Cars being scratched or damaged due to the lack of professional towing equipment A1 has to conduct their business. Again, this is an illegal practice employed by A1 Towing. This company will not last. The plethora of illegal acts A1 Towing has demonstrated at this location is unprecedented in comparison to other "shady-like" businesses. Other "shady-like" businesses are questionable... But A1 towing has implemented a full-scoped illegal framework that all employees are required to follow. I am utterly shocked at how this company/location has not been shut down by either the FTC and BBB yet.