Massachusetts Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120D; 220 CMR 272.00; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 159B, § 6B · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Massachusetts is one of the few states where a utility regulator sets non-consent towing prices statewide. The Department of Public Utilities fixes maximum rates for involuntary and trespass tows under 220 CMR 272.00, and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120D controls when a car can be removed from private property. Only the person in lawful control of the property may authorize a tow, parking must be prohibited directly or by posted notice, and police must receive written notice before the vehicle is removed. If the tower or property controller fails to comply fully with the statute, the car must be released without any charge.
Rates are hard-capped: an involuntary tow of a passenger car may not exceed $132 for the first five miles, plus $4.40 for each additional mile, under the DPU regulation amended in December 2023. Storage of non-commercial vehicles is capped at $35 per 24-hour period under ch. 159B, § 6B. Massachusetts also has a statutory drop-fee limit — if you reach your car before the tow is complete, the operator can charge at most half the usual towing fee. Extra labor charges are allowed only in limited circumstances, and the DPU does not regulate tows you request yourself.
If your car disappears from a private lot in Massachusetts, call the local police non-emergency line — the tower was required to notify police before removal, so they will know where it went. Ask the storage lot for an itemized bill and compare it to the DPU maximums ($132 base tow, $35 daily storage). If you were charged more, or the tower ignored the notice or signage rules, you can demand release without charge and file a complaint with the DPU. Keep receipts and photos of the lot's signage, since noncompliance with § 120D voids the charges entirely.
Massachusetts towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | Yes — The Department of Public Utilities caps involuntary tows at $132 for up to five miles plus $4.40 per additional mile (220 CMR 272.03, amended December 2023), with storage capped at $35 per 24-hour period for non-commercial vehicles. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Yes — If the owner removes the vehicle before the tow is completed, the tower may charge no more than one half of the usual towing fee under ch. 266, § 120D. |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Yes — A vehicle may only be removed from private property if parking was forbidden either directly or by posted notice. |
| Notice requirement | The person authorizing the tow must give police written notice before removal, including the property address, tow destination, vehicle registration, and towing company name; full noncompliance means the vehicle must be released without charge. |
| Personal property retrieval | Unclear / not verified |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | No — The statute provides no formal hearing, but overcharge and practice complaints can be filed with the Department of Public Utilities, which regulates involuntary tow rates. |
| Hold period before sale | unclear |
How to get your car back in Massachusetts
- Call the local police non-emergency line — Massachusetts towers must notify police before a private-property tow, so they can tell you where your car is.
- Ask the tow company for an itemized bill and check it against the DPU caps: $132 for a tow up to five miles and $35 per day storage.
- Photograph the lot's signage (or lack of it) and note whether parking was clearly prohibited.
- Pay the lawful charges to get the car released quickly; if you catch the truck before it leaves, you owe at most half the towing fee.
- If you were overcharged or the tower skipped the notice or signage rules, file a complaint with the Massachusetts DPU and demand a refund or free release.
Recent law changes (2024–2026)
The DPU amended 220 CMR 272.03 effective December 13, 2023, setting the maximum involuntary tow charge at $132 for up to five miles with a $4.40 per-mile surcharge beyond that.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (Transportation Oversight Division) handles towing complaints in Massachusetts. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.
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