Car towed in Massachusetts? Start here
Free steps to find your car, protect your deadlines and ask for your money back in Massachusetts.
We checked 5 Massachusetts towing rules against official sources. Each one has its citation, a link and the date we checked it.
1. Find your car
- City of Boston towed cars lookup (Boston; towing records from the previous month). Last checked .
If it isn't listed, call the police non-emergency number for the city or county where you parked. Ask whether the car was towed, by whom and where it was taken. We never charge to help you find your car.
What to do right now
- Make sure it was towed, not stolen. Use an official lookup if there is one, or call the police non-emergency number for the place where you parked. Ask who towed it, where it is, and the lot's hours.
- Take photos now. The spot where you parked, every sign at the entrances (or the lack of one), curb paint and meters. When you get the car back, photograph all sides, the inside and the odometer before you leave the lot.
- Get the paperwork. Keep every notice, receipt and letter, and the envelope it came in. Ask for a copy of anything that shows who asked for the tow.
- Ask for an itemized bill before you pay. Compare each charge with the posted rates and, where we list one, your state's or city's maximum.
- Pay by credit card if you can. A card payment leaves a record, and card issuers have a process for disputing charges. Ask for a receipt either way.
- Write down what happened. Times, names, what people said, and any damage you notice.
- Note every deadline. Look for dates on every paper you get. Some deadlines to ask for a hearing or to stop a sale are only days long, and storage charges usually grow every day.
This is general information to help you keep track. It is not legal advice, and it does not decide whether a tow or a charge was lawful.
2. Know your deadline
We haven't verified a Massachusetts deadline yet, so there is no calculator here. Look for dates on every notice or letter you get from the police, the tow lot or the DMV, and act before that date.
3. Get your money back
Common ways people ask for a refund:
- Ask the tow company in writing to refund any charge you think was wrong, and keep a copy.
- File a complaint with the agency that regulates tow companies, if there is one.
- If you paid by card, ask your card issuer how to dispute a charge.
- Ask for a hearing if your state has one (see the deadlines above), or file in small claims court.
- If you want advice about your own situation, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.
The Massachusetts rules we checked are below.
Key towing rules in Massachusetts
Fees and caps
Charges for a private-property tow may not be more than the state maximum for police-ordered tows. If you arrive before the tow is finished, the tow company may choose to charge half.
Official text: “charge said owner one half of the fee”
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120D. Last checked .
In Boston, the City's page lists the private-tow maximum as $132 for the tow and $35 per 24 hours of storage, plus a fuel surcharge.
Source: City of Boston, How to get your towed vehicle back. Last checked .
Signs and permission to tow
Before a car is removed from private property, the person in control of the property must notify the police in writing, with the plate number and location.
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120D. Last checked .
Getting money back
A tow company that did not fully follow this law must release the car to its owner without any charge for the tow or storage.
Official text: “shall release such vehicle to its owner without assessing any charges for its removal or storage.”
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120D. Last checked .
To sue under the state consumer protection law (Chapter 93A), a written demand describing the unfair practice and your injury must be mailed or delivered to the business at least 30 days before filing. The law allows actual damages or $25, whichever is more, up to three times that for willful or knowing violations, plus attorney's fees.
Official text: “At least thirty days prior to the filing of any such action, a written demand for relief”
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A, § 9(3)-(4). Last checked .
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