State guide
Vermont
Vermont’s statewide official tool is the DMV abandoned-vehicle application search, which is tied to the abandoned-vehicle certification process. Vermont’s official pages for abandoned vehicles emphasize immediate police notification for private-property removals and DMV-certified owner notice, but I did not find a statewide tow-company licensing page on official Vermont sites.
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
- Yes. Vermont DMV provides a statewide search for current abandoned-vehicle title applications.
- Statewide towed-vehicle search
- Official page →
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- For towing an abandoned motor vehicle from private property, a towing service may charge a reasonable fee, and storage may not be charged for any period before the certification form is sent to DMV.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- A private property owner who removes an abandoned vehicle must immediately notify local police; the towing service must apply to DMV within 90 days; if identifiable, DMV sends owner notice within three business days, then a second notice if needed.
- 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 Vermont
Explains abandoned-vehicle removal, certification, owner notice, reclaiming, and the DMV search for current abandoned-vehicle title applications.
Contains the statewide abandoned-motor-vehicle statutes, including towing-fee and storage-charge rules.
Official complaint form residents can use for consumer problems, including towing-related disputes.
Key facts for Vermont
- DMV posts a statewide official search for current abandoned vehicle title applications.
- A private property owner who removes an abandoned vehicle must immediately notify the police agency in that jurisdiction.
- A towing service must apply to DMV for abandoned-vehicle certification within 90 days after removal.
- If the vehicle is identifiable, DMV sends certified-mail notice within three business days after receiving the completed certification form.
- If the certified-mail receipt is not returned within seven business days, DMV sends a second notice by first-class mail.
- For private-property abandoned vehicles, towing fees must be reasonable, and storage cannot be charged for time before certification is sent to DMV.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Vermont
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont DMV Abandoned Vehicle Office Washington | Montpelier | 802.828.2053 | Handles abandoned-vehicle certification and owner notice; the DMV page also hosts the statewide abandoned-vehicle application search. |
| Burlington Towing and Storage Rate Table Chittenden | Burlington | Not published* | Official city page listing Burlington tow-to-impound and impound-lot storage rates. |
| South Burlington Police Department Chittenden | South Burlington | 802-846-4111 | Official city notice says to call police with questions or concerns, or if your vehicle has been towed during the winter parking ban. |
| Winooski Parking Chittenden | Winooski | 802 862 0656 | Official city parking page says the city may tow at the owner’s expense and tells residents to call Handy's Service Center if towed. |
| Rutland Parking Information Rutland | Rutland | (802) 773-1800, ext. 249 | Official city parking page says vehicles violating winter restrictions will be ticketed and towed, and explains booting and impoundment for outstanding tickets. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Search the DMV abandoned-vehicle application page first to see whether your vehicle is already in Vermont’s abandoned-vehicle process.
- If the car was removed from private property, ask the local police agency whether an immediate notification was logged for the tow.
- If fees or notice seem wrong, keep the tow receipt and file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program.
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 Vermont's population center, for comparison only):
- Parking Bans | Concord, NH, New Hampshire · about 87 miles
- City of Manchester Overnight Winter Notice, New Hampshire · about 104 miles
- Parking Violations | Nashua, NH, New Hampshire · about 115 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Vermont DMV Abandoned Vehicles
Website →Phone: (802) 828-2053 (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 Vermont page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.