TowPound
Independent guide. Not a government site, tow company or law firm. About

Towed from your apartment complex in Massachusetts

A car can be towed from private property only if the driver was told not to park there, either directly or by a posted notice. The state law does not spell out sign size or wording. If the car is towed, the most a company may charge for a private-property tow of a car in Massachusetts is $132, plus storage.

Checked Nov 14, 2026 against the Massachusetts statute and regulator pages.

What to do now

  1. Call the property office or check the tow-away sign at the lot entrance. It must name the tow company and its phone number in most states.
  2. Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
  3. Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
  4. Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
  5. Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
  6. If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.

Massachusetts rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

A car can be towed from private property only if the driver was told not to park there, either directly or by a posted notice. The state law does not spell out sign size or wording.1

Notice

Before a car is towed from private property, the person in control of the property must notify the local police chief (in Boston, the police commissioner), usually in writing, with the car's plate, where it is going and who is towing it. Police-ordered accident tows require the garage to notify the registered owner by registered mail.13

Drop fee release

If you get back to your car before the tow from private property is finished, the tower may charge you no more than half its usual towing fee.1

Related

Massachusetts cities: Boston

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Massachusetts, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.

Questions

Can my apartment tow my car without warning?

In many states yes, if proper tow-away signs are posted at each entrance. Some states and leases require a warning sticker first for things like expired tags. Check your state rules and your lease.

Who do I call if my car was towed from my apartment?

Start with the tow company named on the posted sign or the property office. In Houston and Harris County you can also search FindMyTowedCar. Police usually get a report of private tows within a few hours.

Sources

Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. Removal of vehicles from private ways or property (M.G.L. c. 266, § 120D), Massachusetts Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  2. Maximum charges for towing and storage ordered by police (M.G.L. c. 159B, § 6B), Massachusetts Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  3. Storage of vehicles removed from accident scenes, notice and sale (M.G.L. c. 255, § 39A), Massachusetts Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  4. Maximum charges for passenger automobiles (as amended eff. 12/13/2023) (220 CMR 272.03), Department of Public Utilities (text via Cornell LII). Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  5. Maximum charges for commercial motor vehicles (as amended eff. 12/13/2023) (220 CMR 272.04), Department of Public Utilities (text via Cornell LII). Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  6. 220 CMR 272.00 (2017 version, superseded rates) in Vermont AG compendium (220 CMR 272.00), Vermont Attorney General. Checked Nov 14, 2026. Secondary source.