Michigan Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.252a; § 257.252i · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Michigan regulates non-consent towing mainly through the abandoned-vehicle provisions of the Vehicle Code, MCL 257.252a. A private lot can only tow your car if warning notices were posted at every vehicle entrance for at least 24 hours, with two-inch lettering, the tow company's name and phone number, and mounting at least four feet high. After the tow, the Secretary of State must mail the registered owner a notice within seven days explaining where the car is and how to get it back or fight the tow. Unlike many states, Michigan gives you a clear court process to challenge an improper tow.

Michigan does not cap what a private-property tow can cost — rates for police-ordered tows are set by contracts between police agencies and towing companies, and private tows are largely market-priced. The main fee protections are for your belongings: your first visit to retrieve personal items from the vehicle is free, and later visits can cost at most $25 each. If you challenge a tow and need the car in the meantime, you can post a bond or pay the fees to release it pending the court's decision, and you are reimbursed if you win.

If your car is towed in Michigan, contact the local police to confirm it was reported and locate the storage lot, then watch the mail for the Secretary of State notice. You have only 20 days from that notice to petition the district court where the car was towed if you believe the tow or the fees were improper. Retrieve essential belongings promptly — the first visit is free. If the lot ignored signage rules or you suspect a predatory operator, file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team; the State Police handle carrier licensing issues.

Michigan towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Michigan

1. Call the local police department to confirm the tow was reported and find out which lot has your car.
2. Retrieve essential personal items right away — Michigan makes the first retrieval visit free.
3. Photograph the lot's entrance signage to check it met the 2-inch-letter, 4-foot-height, 24-hour posting rules.
4. Pay the fees or post a bond to release the car, then file a district court petition within 20 days of the Secretary of State notice if the tow was improper.
5. Report predatory conduct to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team.

Recent law changes (2024–2026)

Bills to tighten private-property towing rules (HB 6062-6063) were introduced in 2024 but no major statewide change has been verified as enacted; Attorney General Nessel reissued a consumer alert on Michigan towing laws in July 2025.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection Team handles towing complaints in Michigan. 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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