Towed From A Private Lot
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.157 — the property owner present, a sign or a waiting period, and a report
In Missouri, the owner or lessee of real property, or a full-time property or security manager, may authorize a towing company to remove abandoned property or property parked in a restricted or assigned area without a law enforcement officer only while present, and only in the circumstances the section lists.
- A sign in plain view at all entrances, not less than seventeen by twenty-two inches with lettering not less than one inch high, disclosing the maximum fee for towing and storage and a telephone number for locating the vehicle.
- On owner-occupied residential property with four residential units or less, after law enforcement is notified and ten hours have elapsed.
- On other private property, after law enforcement is notified and ninety-six hours have elapsed.
The report. A property owner who has a vehicle towed without an officer completes an abandoned property report, which is a legal declaration subject to criminal penalty, and the towing company delivers a copy to local law enforcement.
Half the charge before it leaves, and double or four times after a violation. A towing company may charge no more than one-half of the regular towing charge if the owner returns before the vehicle is removed from the property; the regular charge applies only once it is removed and in transit. A property owner who causes a removal without complying is liable for double the storage or towing charges, and a towing company that tows without the present owner's written authorization is liable for four times the charges.
Notice and payment. Written notice of the removal, its grounds and where the vehicle went is given to the registered owner and any lienholder within five working days, and the storage facility accepts cash and keeps enough on the premises to make change.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA property owner can call in a tow from anywhere | What the law actually doesOnly while present, and only with a sign or after the waiting period |
| The assumptionCatching the tow truck saves nothing | What the law actually doesBefore removal, no more than one-half of the regular charge |
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 Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.157 — Vehicles left unattended or improperly parked on private property of another, procedure for removal
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.158 — Notice to owner of abandoned property; liability of towing company; towing charges
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.