Towed from your apartment complex in Minnesota

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.

Checked Nov 15, 2026 against the Minnesota statute and regulator pages.

What to do now

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.
Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.

Minnesota rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

Notice

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

Drop fee release

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

Personal belongings

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

Hearing to 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

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.1 2 3

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.

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 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.