State guide
Massachusetts
Massachusetts regulates involuntary private-property and police-ordered towing at the state level through the Department of Public Utilities' Transportation Oversight Division. I did not find a statewide public towed-vehicle search; official state pages instead focus on rates, provider licensing, complaints, and Massachusetts State Police towing procedures.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- How to find a towed car
- I did not find a statewide public towed-vehicle search on official Massachusetts pages; official state pages point consumers to city tools or the barracks of jurisdiction.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Massachusetts regulates involuntary private-property and police-ordered towing through a state maximum of $132.00 for towing and $35.00 per 24-hour period for non-commercial storage, with possible additional labor charges.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For private-property non-consent tows, notice to local police must be given before removal; RMV involuntary-transfer guidance says the tow company's first owner notice is by registered mail with return receipt, but I did not find a statewide deadline on the pages reviewed.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Department of Public Utilities, Transportation Oversight Division
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Massachusetts
State page showing the current maximum involuntary towing and storage charges and linking to complaint and licensing information.
Official regulator page for intrastate towing companies that handle police and trespass tows in Massachusetts.
Consumer help page with the state complaint path and links to find regulated involuntary towers.
Key facts for Massachusetts
- Massachusetts caps involuntary private-property and police-ordered towing at $132.00.
- Massachusetts sets non-commercial involuntary storage at $35.00 per 24-hour period.
- A private-property non-consent tow requires notice to the local chief of police or designee before the vehicle is removed.
- The DPU Transportation Oversight Division regulates tow companies that tow for police and trespass tows.
- Mass.gov says effective immediately, involuntary tow title transactions must be dropped off at an RMV Service Center B2B counter.
- RMV involuntary-transfer guidance says the tow company's first owner notice is by registered mail with return receipt.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Massachusetts
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towed Vehicle Lookup Middlesex | Cambridge | 617-349-3300 | City lookup for recently towed vehicles; page also lists current contract and private tow companies. |
| Abandoned Vehicles Worcester | Worcester | Not published* | Worcester says residents looking to report abandoned vehicles should contact Worcester 311. |
| Records Bureau Hampden | Springfield | 413-787-6363 | Springfield Police says to call this bureau for information on a towed motor vehicle. |
| Lowell Police Department FAQs Middlesex | Lowell | Not published* | Official FAQ says to call the general number to confirm whether a car was towed and where it is located. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the tow was from private property, confirm the tower holds Massachusetts involuntary-tow authority and ask for the posted 220 CMR 272 rates.
- If Massachusetts State Police ordered the tow, use the MSP Towing Response Report process and ask the barracks of jurisdiction where the vehicle was taken.
- If the tow was inside Boston or Cambridge, check the city's towed-vehicle lookup first before calling around to lots.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Massachusetts's population center, for comparison only):
- Pawtucket Parking Ban Information, Rhode Island · about 28 miles
- Pawtucket Public Safety, Rhode Island · about 28 miles
- Providence Police Department non-emergency / snow tow information, Rhode Island · about 31 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Involuntary trespass towing rates and regulations
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Massachusetts page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.