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Your rights after a tow in Michigan

Michigan law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. Counties and cities set the maximum rates. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

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Tow-away signs

The property owner must post a notice at every vehicle entrance before authorizing a tow without the driver's consent. If the lot has no curbs or barriers, there must be at least one notice per 100 feet of road frontage. MCL 257.252k(a) (opens in a new tab)
The notice needs letters at least 2 inches high on a contrasting background saying unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense, plus the name and phone number of the tow service. It must be mounted at least 4 feet off the ground and stay up at least 24 hours before any tow. MCL 257.252k(b)-(d) (opens in a new tab)
Signs are not required at a single- or dual-family home, or if you were personally told the spot was reserved and your car could be towed. They also do not apply to police-ordered tows such as from a posted tow-away zone. MCL 257.252l (opens in a new tab)

Finding your car

Before the car leaves the property, the tow company must tell the local police that it is being removed. Police then have 24 hours to check whether it was reported stolen and enter it in the state law-enforcement system as abandoned. MCL 257.252a(11) (opens in a new tab)
Michigan's Secretary of State runs a statewide Abandoned Vehicle Search where you can look up a towed car by VIN or plate to see where it is and who holds it. Entries stay online for up to a year or until the car is disposed of. The state help desk is 517-636-5234. MCL 257.252a(13)(b); Michigan Attorney General consumer alert (opens in a new tab)
Within 7 days after being told of the tow, the Secretary of State mails the last titled owner and any lienholder a notice. It lists where the car was taken from, who has it, how to get it back, and how to contest the tow or the fees in court. MCL 257.252a(13)(a) (opens in a new tab)
A property owner may use a local tow company, which means one whose storage lot is within 15 miles of the border of the city, village or township with jurisdiction over the car. The law measures from that border, not from the exact parking spot. MCL 257.252a(10) (opens in a new tab)

Getting your car back

If you do not ask for a hearing, you get the car back by paying the $40 abandoned-vehicle fee plus the accrued towing and storage charges to the company holding it. A lienholder may do the same if you have not acted within 10 days of the notice. MCL 257.252a(15), (17) (opens in a new tab)
The company must let you inspect the car and take out personal property during regular business hours, free on your first visit. After that it may charge up to $25 per visit. MCL 257.252a(19) (opens in a new tab)
Michigan sets no dollar cap on private-property towing. The Attorney General says fees are normally set by agreement between the police agency and the tow company, and you can ask the police agency what the agreed rates are. MCL 257.252a(14); Michigan Attorney General consumer alert (opens in a new tab)
When a car goes to sale, storage fees for an individual owner are limited to the lowest of the contract daily rate with the authorizing police agency, the lot's own daily rate, or $1,000 total. This limit does not apply to commercial vehicles or vehicles owned by a business. MCL 257.252i(2)-(3) (opens in a new tab)

If you return before the tow leaves

Michigan's rule that a tow truck must disconnect and let you take the car for a reasonable service fee, with a receipt, is written for police-ordered tows. No equivalent right was found for ordinary private-lot tows, so ask the driver but do not assume it applies. MCL 257.252d(2); MCL 257.252l(c) (opens in a new tab)

Challenging the tow or fees

You can contest whether the car was properly towed, and the fees, by filing a petition with the district court named in the notice within 20 days of the notice date. To get the car out while you wait, post a bond of $40 plus accrued fees, or pay the $40 fee to the court plus the fees. MCL 257.252a(14); MCL 257.252e (opens in a new tab)
The court must schedule a hearing within 30 days. For a private-property tow, the property owner and tow company carry the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that they followed the law. MCL 257.252f(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
You can challenge the reasonableness of towing and daily storage fees at the hearing, unless the fees come from a contract with the local government that follows the storage-fee limit. A frivolous challenge can make you pay the custodian's costs and attorney fees. MCL 257.252a(14), (16) (opens in a new tab)
If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. For billing errors, your written dispute generally must reach the issuer within 60 days of the first bill showing the charge. Whether a tow charge qualifies is up to the issuer. Fair Credit Billing Act (FTC guidance) (opens in a new tab)

If the car is not claimed

The tow company can offer the car at public sale no sooner than 20 days after the notice date (or 20 days after a hearing decision). The sale must be advertised at least 5 days in advance, and an unredeemed sale ends your rights to the car. MCL 257.252a(18); MCL 257.252g(1) (opens in a new tab)
Sale money pays towing and storage first, then the custodian's expenses and the $40 fee. Any extra goes to the state unclaimed property division for the lienholder, then you. If the sale falls short, the company can still collect the balance from you, subject to the storage cap. MCL 257.252g(2)-(3); MCL 257.252i (opens in a new tab)
If the owner cannot be determined from the VIN or state records, the car can be sold no sooner than 30 days after public notice is published. MCL 257.252a(20) (opens in a new tab)

Local rules and who sets rates

State law does not cap private-property tow rates. Police-ordered tows use rates in city or county tow contracts, and cities such as Detroit and Warren publish schedules that are tied to police-authorized towing, not to your apartment or store lot. MCL 257.252a(14); Michigan Attorney General consumer alert (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection. Take towing complaints to the Consumer Protection Team (517-335-7599 or toll-free 877-765-8388) or use its online complaint form.
Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Receives towing complaints and lets you check a tow company's operating authority and insurance in its carrier registration system.
Local police agency. Call the police agency for the area where you were towed to confirm the tow was reported and to ask what rates apply.
Michigan Secretary of State Abandoned Vehicle Search. Statewide lookup by VIN or plate to find where a towed car is and who is holding it. Help desk 517-636-5234. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)

Michigan small claims court (a division of district court) handles money claims up to $7,000, which is where you would sue a tow company for an improper tow or overcharge.

Check your tow

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-17. These are the laws and official pages this page is based on.