Towed From A Private Lot
MCL 257.252k — the tow away notice, posted 24 hours before a tow
In Michigan, before an owner or lessor of private real property authorizes towing a vehicle without the consent of its owner, a notice is posted that meets every requirement of the section.
- Prominently displayed at each point of entry for vehicles, or at least 1 for each 100 feet of road frontage where there are no curbs or access barriers.
- Letters not less than 2 inches high on a contrasting background saying unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.
- The name and telephone number of the towing service.
- Permanently installed with the bottom not less than 4 feet from the ground, and maintained for not less than 24 hours before a vehicle is towed.
When no notice is needed. The notice rule does not apply to property obviously part of a single- or dual-family residence, to a driver personally told the area is reserved and the vehicle may be towed, or to a removal ordered by a police agency.
Arriving before the tow on a police order. When a police agency orders a tow from a posted tow away zone, or because a vehicle hampers the use of private property, an owner who arrives before the vehicle is actually towed has it disconnected from the tow truck and may take it without interference on payment of the reasonable service fee, for which a receipt is provided.
Which court. The district court or a municipal court determines whether a police agency, a towing agency or custodian, or a private property owner acted properly in processing a vehicle under the removal and abandoned vehicle sections.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA lot owner can tow the moment the sign goes up | What the law actually doesThe notice is in place for not less than 24 hours before a vehicle is towed |
| The assumptionOnce the truck is hooked up, the car is gone | What the law actually doesOn a police ordered tow, an owner who arrives first takes it for the service fee |
Local ordinances, fee schedules and police ordered impounds are not all on this page. Whether a particular tow was lawful is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- MCL 257.252k — Towing or removing vehicle without owner's consent; notice; requirements
- MCL 257.252l — Applicability of MCL 257.252k
- MCL 257.252d — Removal of vehicle from public or private property to place of safekeeping
- MCL 257.252e — Jurisdiction to determine propriety of police, towing agency or custodian, or private owner action
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.