Car towed in Wisconsin? Start here

1. Find your car

• City of Milwaukee tow lot (links to the towed vehicle search; private tows: (414) 286-2700) (Milwaukee; City of Milwaukee Tow Lot). Last checked October 5, 2026.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Write down what happened. Times, names, what people said, and any damage you notice.
7. 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin rules we checked are below.

Key towing rules in Wisconsin

Fees and caps

• For a tow from private property, the charge may not be more than $150, and storage not more than $25 per 24 hours outdoors ($35 indoors).

  Official text: “$25 for each period of 24 consecutive hours”

  Source: Wis. Admin. Code Trans § 319.03. Last checked October 5, 2026.

Signs and permission to tow

• The parking area must have a notice at each vehicle entrance and a sign readable from where the car was parked, with letters at least 2 inches high.

  Official text: “A notice is erected at each vehicle entrance to the parking area or property”

  Source: Wis. Admin. Code Trans § 319.04. Last checked October 5, 2026.

• Before removing a car, the tow company must notify the police department of the municipality where it is parked.

  Official text: “shall give notice of the impending tow to the police department”

  Source: Wis. Admin. Code Trans § 319.05(1). Last checked October 5, 2026.