How long before a vehicle is considered abandoned in Minnesota?

Under Minnesota Statute 168B, a motor vehicle left on a public street, highway or public property for more than 48 hours can be presumed abandoned. A vehicle left on private property without the owner's consent, or one that is junked and inoperable, can also qualify as abandoned. Once classified, it can be impounded by a licensed towing operator working with the local authority.

How long does a car have to be parked before it can be towed in Minnesota?

On a public street, the abandoned-vehicle threshold is generally 48 hours. On private property there is no fixed waiting period — the property owner can have a vehicle parked without consent removed by a licensed towing operator, who must then notify law enforcement.

What happens to an abandoned vehicle after it's towed?

It goes to an impound lot, and the impounding authority must attempt to notify the registered owner and lienholder by mail. The owner can reclaim it by paying towing and storage fees. If it is unclaimed after the statutory notice period — generally 15 days after notice, or 45 days when the owner can't be identified — the vehicle may be sold at public auction or disposed of.

Can a car be abandoned on private property in Minnesota?

Yes. A vehicle left on private property without the property owner's consent can be treated as abandoned. The property owner arranges removal through a licensed towing company, which must notify law enforcement, and the standard impound notice and reclaim process applies.

How do I report an abandoned vehicle in the north metro?

Call your city's police non-emergency line — Roseville, Maplewood, Shoreview, New Brighton and the other north-metro suburbs each handle abandoned-vehicle reports. Give the location, plate, make and how long it has sat. The city inspects, tags it, and arranges impound if it meets the abandoned-vehicle definition.

Minnesota Abandoned Vehicle Law: the 48-Hour Towing Rule

Short answer

Under Minnesota Statute 168B, a vehicle left on a public street or public property for more than 48 hours can be presumed abandoned — as can a junked, inoperable vehicle or one left on private property without consent. Once classified, it's impounded, the owner is notified by mail, and if unclaimed after the notice period (commonly 15 days, or 45 days when the owner can't be identified) it can be sold at auction.

What counts as "abandoned"

Minnesota's abandoned-vehicle law (Chapter 168B) covers three common situations:

When a vehicle is presumed abandoned in Minnesota
Situation	Threshold
Left on a public street, highway or public property	More than 48 hours
Junked, wrecked or inoperable and left unattended	Can qualify immediately as abandoned
On private property without the owner's consent	Property owner may have it removed

Local ordinances can add detail — some cities tag a vehicle and give a short warning window before impound — but the 48-hour public-property rule is the backbone. Whether a tow is even allowed in the first place is a separate question covered by the state's Minnesota towing laws; a car blocking a private driveway follows the private-property path below.

What happens after it's tagged

Once a city or property owner has a vehicle declared abandoned, a licensed towing operator impounds it. The impounding authority must then make a reasonable effort to notify the registered owner and any lienholder by mail, using Driver and Vehicle Services records. The clock then starts on the reclaim window. The full sequence, from the first 48 hours to a possible sale, looks like this:

The Minnesota abandoned-vehicle timeline, stage by stage
Stage	What happens	Typical timing
Presumed abandoned	Left on a public street or public property, or junked/inoperable	After 48 hours
Tagged & impounded	City or property owner has a licensed operator tow it to an impound lot	After inspection
Owner notified	Impounding authority mails the registered owner and lienholder	Promptly after impound
Reclaim window	Owner pays towing + daily storage to release the vehicle	~15 days after notice
Sold or disposed	If unclaimed, sold at public auction or sent to salvage	15 days after notice (≈45 if owner unknown)

Reclaiming your vehicle

If your car was impounded as abandoned, you reclaim it by going to the impound lot with proof of ownership and a valid ID and paying the accrued towing and storage fees. Storage is charged per day, so claiming it quickly matters — the Minnesota towing cost guide covers typical hookup and per-day figures. Our find-your-towed-car guide walks through tracking down which lot has it.

Unpaid fees, liens and auction

If the vehicle stays unclaimed past the notice window — generally 15 days after notice, or about 45 days when the registered owner can't be identified — it can be sold at public auction or sent to a salvage facility. The towing and storage charges become a lien against the vehicle, and sale proceeds first cover those costs. Reporting and reclaim procedures are handled city by city in the north metro: Roseville, Maplewood, Shoreview and New Brighton each run abandoned-vehicle reports through their own police department, so the city where the car sat is always the right place to start. If you need a licensed north-metro tow or removal, the operator must notify law enforcement as part of the process.

Not legal advice

This is general information about Minnesota Statute 168B. Exact notice periods and local procedures vary by city — confirm with the impounding authority or the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services.

Need a licensed tow or removal in the north metro?

We handle private-property removals with the law-enforcement notification Minnesota requires. Tell dispatch the location — Roseville, Maplewood, Little Canada and the rest of the north metro.

Call (651) 465-8009

Frequently asked questions

How long before a car is abandoned in Minnesota?

More than 48 hours on a public street or public property; junked/inoperable vehicles can qualify sooner.

How long until a car is considered abandoned?

On public property, once it has sat more than 48 hours it can be presumed abandoned under Statute 168B. A wrecked or inoperable vehicle left unattended can be classified sooner.

How long does a car have to be parked before it can be towed?

On a public street the threshold is generally 48 hours. On private property there's no fixed clock — the property owner can have a vehicle parked without consent removed by a licensed operator at any time.

What happens if I don't claim it?

After the notice window (about 15 days, or 45 days if the owner can't be found), it can be auctioned or salvaged, with towing and storage charges paid from the proceeds as a lien.

How do I report an abandoned vehicle?

Call your city's police non-emergency line with the location, plate and how long it's sat.

About this guide

Based on Minnesota Statutes Chapter 168B (abandoned motor vehicles) and common north-metro municipal procedures. General information only — verify with your city or Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services.