Michigan Towing Laws › Abandoned Vehicles
How long an impound has before a car is legally classified abandoned — and how to reclaim it before that happens.
Call (269) 925-9573Under MCL 257.252d, if a towed vehicle isn’t reclaimed within 7 days of being impounded, the towing company has to notify the police agency that authorized (or was informed of) the tow. That police agency then has 24 hours to enter the vehicle into LEIN — Michigan’s Law Enforcement Information Network — as abandoned.
A $40 abandoned vehicle fee can apply once a vehicle is officially classified as abandoned, on top of the towing company’s normal storage rate per day. Storage adds up fast — see our towing fees guide for how storage billing typically works and what daily rates tend to run in Southwest Michigan.
LEIN entry serves two purposes: it flags the vehicle in case it was reported stolen, and it starts the formal countdown that eventually leads to lawful disposal (auction) if nobody claims it. The Michigan Secretary of State’s official site maintains guidance on vehicle records and title transfers tied to unclaimed and abandoned vehicles.
Call the impound lot directly first — most delays are just paperwork timing, not a lost vehicle. If you can’t get an answer, the Michigan Department of State’s Abandoned Vehicle Help Desk (517-636-5234) can look up where a vehicle was reported towed from.
Yes — if nobody claims a vehicle within the notice window, it can be sold at public auction to recover towing and storage costs. Acting quickly once you know a vehicle was towed matters.
It starts from the date of impound, not from when you noticed it missing. That’s why acting fast on a suspected tow matters — the clock is already running.
Until a lawful auction transfer occurs, the registered owner retains ownership, though redeeming it after the abandonment classification means paying accrued towing, storage, and abandonment fees.
Call (269) 925-9573 — if we didn’t tow it, we can usually help point you toward who did.
Call (269) 925-9573