Minnesota towing laws
Minnesota handles towed cars under its abandoned and unauthorized vehicle law.
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The lot must mail you a written notice within five business days, and you always have the right to get your ID, prescription medicine, and medical equipment out of the car. State law sets no fee cap, drop-fee rule, payment rule, or tow hearing, so cities set the details, and Minneapolis charges 222 dollars to tow plus 18 dollars a day.
At a glance
Fee limits
Towed from a private lotApartments, stores, businesses
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Private-property tow, light vehicle1DetailsChapter 168B sets no statewide dollar amount. Cities may adopt their own towing rules that are at least as strict as state law. | Set by city or county |
Any kind of tow
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Daily storage, light vehicle1DetailsNo statewide daily rate. If a private lot sells your car and sues you for the shortfall, its storage claim is limited to 25 or 55 days of storage depending on the type of vehicle. | Set by city or county |
Local rates. Fees are set locally. Minneapolis and St. Paul run city impound lots with their own posted fees, and other cities contract with private tow companies. Check the city where the car was towed.
What will I owe in Minnesota?
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Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing
Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away
Chapter 168B has no drop-fee rule, so state law does not require a tow company to release the car for a reduced fee if you return before it is towed away.1
Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first
Every owner can get proof of ID, prescription medicine, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs out of an impounded car. Owners who are homeless, receive need-based benefits, or qualify for legal aid can take all contents for free by showing photo ID and proof, whether or not they pay the fees.1
Right to a hearingTo contest the tow
Chapter 168B does not give a state hearing to contest a tow. If a public tow broke the state rules on when a car may be towed, you can sue the towing authority for the greater of 100 dollars or two times your actual damages. Some cities have their own dispute process.1
Payment they must take
State law does not list payment methods a lot must accept. The Minneapolis lot takes cash, checks, money orders, major credit cards, and Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the St. Paul lot takes cash and credit in person.123
Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police
The city or lot that takes the car must mail written notice to the registered owner and any lienholder within five days, not counting weekends and holidays. The notice says where the car is, how to reclaim it, and the deadline. If the car stays unclaimed for 30 days a second notice goes out by certified mail.1
Storage rules
You must pay towing and storage charges to reclaim the car. If you do not reclaim it and a private lot sells it, the lot can bill you for the shortfall but storage in that claim is limited to 25 days or 55 days depending on the type of vehicle.1
What to bringTo get the car released
The owner or a lienholder can reclaim the car by paying all charges for towing, storage, and any cargo recovery or cleanup. Owners who are homeless or receive need-based benefits do not owe cargo or cleanup charges unless insurance covers them. Minneapolis and St. Paul also ask for photo ID, current insurance on the car, and registration or title.123
Tow-away signsRequired on private lots
A car on private nonresidential property that is properly posted can be towed right away, but if the lot is not posted the car must be left for 24 hours first. Cars on single-family or duplex property, or on posted residential property, can be towed right away. The statute we read does not spell out sign size or wording.1
Other deadlines
- Reclaim the car before it can be sold: You can reclaim the car by paying all towing and storage charges. Most unauthorized vehicles can be sold 45 days after the notice. Cars impounded by Minneapolis or St. Paul can be sold 15 days after notice unless you send the lot a written statement that you intend to reclaim it.1
- Damages for a wrongful public tow: If a public tow breaks the state rules on when a car may be towed, the owner or driver can recover the greater of 100 dollars or two times actual damages from the towing authority.1
By situation
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Minnesota, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.
Guides: how to fight a tow · what to bring · impound costs by city
Questions
Is there a limit on towing fees in Minnesota?
Minnesota has no statewide cap on the main towing fees. Cities and counties may set their own.
Does a tow truck have to release my car in Minnesota if I get there first?
Chapter 168B has no drop-fee rule, so state law does not require a tow company to release the car for a reduced fee if you return before it is towed away.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Minnesota?
Every owner can get proof of ID, prescription medicine, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs out of an impounded car. Owners who are homeless, receive need-based benefits, or qualify for legal aid can take all contents for free by showing photo ID and proof, whether or not they pay the fees.
How do I contest a tow in Minnesota?
Chapter 168B does not give a state hearing to contest a tow. If a public tow broke the state rules on when a car may be towed, you can sue the towing authority for the greater of 100 dollars or two times your actual damages. Some cities have their own dispute process.
What payment do tow lots have to accept in Minnesota?
State law does not list payment methods a lot must accept. The Minneapolis lot takes cash, checks, money orders, major credit cards, and Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the St. Paul lot takes cash and credit in person.
Sources
Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Minnesota Statutes chapter 168B, Abandoned Motor Vehicles and Towing (Minn. Stat. ch. 168B), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Minneapolis Impound Lot, City of Minneapolis. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- Saint Paul Police Department Impound Lot, basic impound information flyer, City of Saint Paul. Checked Nov 15, 2026.