Minnesota Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed
Primary law: Minn. Stat. §§ 168B.04, 168B.035, 168B.07 · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Minnesota governs non-consent towing through its abandoned-vehicle chapter, Minn. Stat. ch. 168B. On non-residential private property, a car can be towed immediately only if the lot is properly posted; unposted lots must generally wait 24 hours, and repair garages must wait five business days after sending certified mail. Residential properties of one or two units may tow unauthorized vehicles immediately. Minnesota stands out for its contents-retrieval rights: any registered owner can get identification, prescription medicine, and medical equipment out of an impounded car free of charge at any time, and impound lots must post notices explaining those rights.
There is no statewide cap on tow or storage prices — reclaiming the car means paying all towing, storage, and cleanup charges, though some cities cap rates locally. The stronger protections are targeted: owners who are homeless or receiving need-based public assistance have the unencumbered right to retrieve all contents of the vehicle without charge, and lots that wrongfully deny retrieval face injunctions, attorney fees, and $1,000 statutory damages if belongings are sold. Vehicles towed illegally from public property entitle the owner to the greater of $100 or twice actual damages.
After a tow in Minnesota, call local police or the city impound line to locate the vehicle, then go to the lot with your ID. Retrieve medicine, identification, and medical equipment immediately — that is free regardless of what you owe. If you receive SNAP, Medical Assistance, or similar benefits, bring proof: you can clear out everything in the car at no charge. Get an itemized invoice before paying, and act within the reclamation window (roughly 15 to 45 days after notice) before the lot can dispose of the car. Report abusive operators to the Minnesota Attorney General.
Minnesota towing rules at a glance
| Non-consent tow fee cap | No — Minnesota sets no statewide dollar cap on private-property tow or storage fees, though owners reclaiming a vehicle pay 'all towing, storage and cleanup charges' and some cities regulate rates locally. |
| Drop fee (truck still on scene) | Unclear / not verified |
| Kickback ban | Unclear / not verified |
| Warning signage required | Yes — Non-residential property must be properly posted for immediate towing; without signage the vehicle generally must sit 24 hours before removal, and service garages must wait 5 business days after certified-mail notice. |
| Notice requirement | Impounded vehicles cannot be disposed of until the owner has been notified and a statutory reclamation window of roughly 15 to 45 days has run, depending on the notice given. |
| Personal property retrieval | Yes |
| Credit cards must be accepted | Unclear / not verified |
| Right to challenge the tow | Unclear / not verified — No formal administrative hearing exists, but owners wrongfully towed from public property can recover the greater of $100 or double damages, and wrongful denial of contents supports an injunction plus attorney fees. |
| Hold period before sale | 15-45 days after notice, depending on notice type |
How to get your car back in Minnesota
- Call the local police non-emergency line or city impound lot to find where your car was taken.
- Go to the lot with photo ID and immediately retrieve medicine, identification, and medical equipment — Minnesota law makes that free.
- If you receive need-based assistance or are homeless, bring your EBT/benefit card or agency letter to retrieve all contents without charge.
- Get an itemized bill, pay the towing and storage charges, and reclaim the car before the 15-45 day disposal window runs.
- If the lot denies your retrieval rights or the tow looks improper, document everything and complain to the Minnesota Attorney General.
Where to complain about an illegal tow
Minnesota Attorney General's Office handles towing complaints in Minnesota. 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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