State guide
Minnesota
Minnesota's towing rules for private property are spread across Chapter 168B, with city impound lots handling many real-world lookups and releases. I did not find a statewide public towed-vehicle search or a statewide dollar cap for private-property non-consent tow and storage fees on the official state pages reviewed.
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 Minnesota towed-vehicle search on official state pages; official city impound pages are the practical lookup tools.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- I did not find a statewide dollar cap for private-property non-consent tow and storage fees on the state pages reviewed; current statutes instead set authority, notice, reclaim rights, liens, and damages for unlawful towing.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- Minnesota requires written notice of impoundment within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; for certain service or repair private property, the owner must get five business days' certified-mail notice before removal.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Minnesota
Official state statutes covering impoundment, private-property removal, notice, reclaim rights, and remedies.
Statute describing when unauthorized vehicles may be taken into custody from private property, including the five-business-day mailed-notice rule for some service or repair properties.
Statute requiring written notice of impoundment within five days, excluding weekends and legal holidays.
Statute limiting private-property towing to requests by the vehicle owner or private-property owner or agent.
Minnesota Attorney General complaint page for consumer complaints.
Key facts for Minnesota
- Minnesota law says a vehicle tower may not remove a vehicle from private property unless requested by the vehicle owner or the private-property owner or agent.
- For some private nonresidential service or repair property, five business days' certified-mail notice to the vehicle owner is required before removal.
- When an impounded vehicle is taken into custody, written notice must be sent within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
- That notice must go to the registered owner and any lienholders.
- Minnesota law lets an unlawfully towed vehicle owner recover the greater of $100 or two times actual damages.
- I did not find a statewide public towed-vehicle search on the official state pages reviewed.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Minnesota
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Search Hennepin | Minneapolis | 612-673-5777 | Official online search to check whether a vehicle is at the Minneapolis Impound Lot. |
| Minneapolis Impound Lot Hennepin | Minneapolis | 612-673-5777 | Impound page with release requirements, fees, and hours. |
| Police Impound Lot Ramsey | Saint Paul | 651-266-5642 | Saint Paul Police impound page explains where vehicles go and says the city mails notice within five business days. |
| Police Department Frequently Asked Questions Hennepin | Bloomington | 952-563-4900 | Official FAQ says Bloomington Police uses Chief's Towing for its tows. |
| Property Assessments Olmsted | Rochester | 507-328-2961 | City page listing the staff contact for Impound Towing. |
* 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 happened in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, check the city impound search or impound page before calling multiple tow companies.
- Ask for the written impound notice and keep mailing dates; Minnesota statutes tie reclaim and challenge deadlines to those notices.
- If you believe the tow was unlawful, gather photos of signs and the property, because Minnesota law provides a damages remedy for improper towing.
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 Minnesota's population center, for comparison only):
- Towing & Impound, North Dakota · about 192 miles
- City of Sioux Falls Public Parking FAQs, South Dakota · about 193 miles
- Aberdeen Police FAQ - How can I find out if my vehicle has been towed?, South Dakota · about 237 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Sec. 168B.04
Website →Phone: (651) 296-8338 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Minnesota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.