Towed From A Private Lot
Wis. Stat. 349.13 — properly posted, the police told first, and a $35 cap on the service fee
In Wisconsin, a vehicle parked without authorization on private property may be towed at the owner's expense, and the statute sets who may order it, what the towing service must do first, and what it may charge for.
Posted, or a citation. On properly posted property, meaning clearly visible notice that the area is private and unauthorized vehicles may be removed at once, an unauthorized vehicle may be removed immediately, whether or not a citation is issued. On property that is not properly posted, it may be removed on a citation for illegal parking or a repossession judgment.
Police are told before the tow. Only a towing service at the request of the property owner or agent, a traffic officer or a parking enforcer may remove it, and before removal the towing service notifies local law enforcement of the make, model, vehicle identification number, plate and where the vehicle is going. Without a good faith effort to do that, the service may not collect any removal or storage charge.
- The owner pays reasonable removal and storage charges directly to the towing service, which may hold the vehicle until they are paid.
- If the municipality asks, the towing service charges a service fee of not more than $35 for the municipality.
- A vehicle reported to law enforcement as stolen may not be towed under the section.
- If the charges are not paid in full within 30 days and there is no written installment agreement, the vehicle is deemed abandoned.
Belongings inside. Whoever has custody of the vehicle releases the personal property inside it to the owner during regular office hours on proper identification, with no charge for removing or releasing it.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionThe tow company can keep what is in the car until the bill is paid | What the law actually doesPersonal property inside is released to the owner on proper identification, at no charge |
| The assumptionA tow from an unposted lot needs nothing more | What the law actually doesWithout proper posting, a citation or a repossession judgment comes first |
Local towing ordinances, the rates set by rule and tows ordered by police from public roads are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 349.13 — Authority to regulate the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.