State guide
Montana
Montana’s statewide pages focus on tow-truck operator laws, complaint resolution, and abandoned-vehicle handling through law enforcement rather than a public statewide vehicle-search portal. I found a dedicated state complaint system for towing-company disputes through the Montana Department of Justice Office of Consumer Protection.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- How to find a towed car
- Montana does not provide a public statewide online lookup on the pages I found; MHP’s FAQ instead directs people to the 24 hour dispatch center to find where a vehicle was towed.
- Statewide towed-vehicle search
- Official page →
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- The Legislature’s abandoned-vehicle flowchart says the sheriff or city police where the vehicle is stored shall notify the owner; if MHP takes custody, MHP notifies the sheriff or police chief where the vehicle is being stored.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Montana Department of Justice, Office of Consumer Protection; Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee
- File a towing complaint
- Official page →
Official resources in Montana
Montana DOJ - Tow Truck Laws and Regulations
State overview page linking Montana tow-truck statutes and administrative rules.
Montana DOJ - MHP Frequently Asked Questions
Says people looking for a towed vehicle should contact the 24 hour dispatch center.
Montana DOJ - Tow Truck Complaints and Resolution Committee
Explains how to file a complaint against a towing company and identifies the committee that handles conflicts.
Montana DOJ - Consumer Complaints
Official Office of Consumer Protection complaint page used to submit business complaints online.
Key facts for Montana
- Montana DOJ says tow truck businesses must operate under the Montana Professional Tow Truck Act in Title 61, Chapter 8, Part 9.
- MHP’s FAQ says to find out where your vehicle was towed, contact the 24 hour dispatch center at 1-855-MHP(647)-3777.
- The DOJ complaint page says complaints against towing companies go through the Office of Consumer Protection.
- The Legislature’s abandoned-vehicle flowchart says the sheriff or city police where the vehicle is stored shall notify the owner.
- The flowchart says if MHP takes custody, MHP shall notify the sheriff or police chief where the vehicle is being stored.
- The complaint committee page says the Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee is appointed by the Montana Attorney General.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Montana
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Highway Patrol 24 hour dispatch center | Not published* | 1-855-MHP(647)-3777 | State contact MHP tells owners to use to find out where a vehicle was towed. |
| Billings Police Department - Junk Cars / Retrieving a Towed Car Yellowstone County | Billings | (406) 657-8200 | Official city page says owners may retrieve a towed car within 30 days by contacting police to identify the tow company. |
| Billings FAQ - How do I find out if my car was towed? Yellowstone County | Billings | (406) 657- 8412 | Official FAQ says the operator will check impound logs; for Downtown Business District or Hospital Corridor, call this number. |
| Missoula Police Department - Report an Abandoned Vehicle Missoula County | Missoula | 406-552-6000 | Official city page for public-street abandoned vehicle reporting and private-property form instructions. |
| Missoula Police Department - Abandoned Vehicles Missoula County | Missoula | (406) 552-6293 | Official city directory lists the Abandoned Vehicles contact within the police department. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If you cannot locate a towed vehicle, call the 24 hour MHP dispatch number first and then the local city police where it was parked.
- File a towing complaint with the Office of Consumer Protection and include the tow company’s name, address, and a detailed explanation.
- If the vehicle was handled as abandoned, contact the local sheriff or city police responsible for the storage location because those agencies handle owner notice.
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 Montana's population center, for comparison only):
- Spokane Municipal Court Vehicle Towing & Impounds, Washington · about 291 miles
- Idaho Abandoned Vehicle Services, Idaho · about 331 miles
- Impounded and Relocated Vehicles, Utah · about 417 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Montana DOJ - Tow Truck Laws and Regulations
Website →Phone: (406) 329-1500 (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 Montana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.