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

Towed from your apartment complex in Missouri

Without a police officer's approval, a private lot can only have cars towed if the owner or manager is present and a sign is posted at every entrance. The sign must be at least 17 by 22 inches with letters at least 1 inch tall, warn that cars will be towed at the owner's expense, show the maximum towing and storage fee, and give a phone number to find the car. Other rules apply to small residential properties and unposted lots after notice to police.

Checked Nov 15, 2026 against the Missouri 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.

Missouri rules that matter here

Tow-away signs

Without a police officer's approval, a private lot can only have cars towed if the owner or manager is present and a sign is posted at every entrance. The sign must be at least 17 by 22 inches with letters at least 1 inch tall, warn that cars will be towed at the owner's expense, show the maximum towing and storage fee, and give a phone number to find the car. Other rules apply to small residential properties and unposted lots after notice to police.3

Notice

Written notice of the tow, the reason, and where the car was taken must go to the registered owner and any lienholder within five working days. After the state looks up the owner, the tow company must also send a certified letter within ten business days explaining the charges and your right to a hearing.24

Drop fee release

For a private-property tow, if you return before the car is removed from the property the tow company may charge no more than half of its regular towing charge. The full tow charge applies only once the car has left the property and is in transit.4

Personal belongings

For police-ordered tows, prescription medicine must be given back on request. Other belongings can be held until charges are paid, but the lot must either release them or let you inspect them and give you an itemized receipt.1

Hearing to contest the tow

Within 10 days after you receive the tow company's notice you can file a petition in the associate circuit court in the county where the car is stored to decide if it was wrongfully taken. You can get the car back while the case is pending by posting a bond equal to the towing and storage charges.2

Payment

Storage lots holding cars towed from private property must accept cash from the registered owner and keep enough money on hand to make change.4

Related

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Missouri, 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.

  1. Missouri Revised Statutes, abandoned property removal and police tows (RSMo 304.155), Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  2. Missouri Revised Statutes, notice, storage charges, and court petition (RSMo 304.156), Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  3. Missouri Revised Statutes, towing from private property (RSMo 304.157), Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  4. Missouri Revised Statutes, owner notice, drop charge, payment, and local fee limits (RSMo 304.158), Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  5. Tow Bill of Rights (Internet Archive copy of June 9, 2026, live page blocks automated reads), City of Kansas City, Missouri. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  6. Towing, retrieval of a towed car, City of St. Louis Street Department. Checked Nov 15, 2026.