If your car is gone and you don’t think it was stolen, it was probably towed by the city, a suburb, or the owner of a private lot. Start by figuring out which one, because each keeps cars in a different place. In Minneapolis, search the city’s own tool first.
If Minneapolis towed it
Search by license plate or VIN at minneapolismn.gov, on the impound lot’s vehicle-search page. If the city has it, the car is at the Minneapolis Impound Lot, 50 Van White Memorial Blvd, phone (612) 673-5777. The lot is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. During Day 1 and Day 2 of a declared snow emergency it runs 24 hours, and on Day 3 it closes at 1 a.m.
Bring a valid photo ID and proof that the car is yours, such as the title or current registration. If you plan to drive it out, it needs current registration. Confirm exactly what the lot will accept before you go, so one missing document doesn’t cost you another day of storage.
If St. Paul towed it
Call the St. Paul Police Impound Lot at 830 Barge Channel Rd, phone 651-266-5642, open every day 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. During a snow emergency, St. Paul uses a separate lot at 1129 Cathlin St, phone 651-502-7480. Call the right one before you make the trip, because a snow-emergency car will not be at Barge Channel Rd.
If a suburb towed it
Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina and the other suburbs each run their own impound, often through a contracted operator. Call that city’s police non-emergency line and ask where towed vehicles go and what you need to bring. The fee and the lot are set by that city, not by Minneapolis or St. Paul.
If it was towed from a private lot
A car towed from an apartment complex, a business, or a posted lot is a private-property tow under Minnesota Statutes 168B. The company that towed it must be able to tell you where the car is and what you owe, and the charge has to be reasonable for the vehicle and the circumstances. Ask for an itemized total before you pay.
Move fast on storage
Storage is charged by the day, so the sooner you claim the car, the less you pay. Minneapolis charges $18 per day and St. Paul charges $15 per day after the first day. If you cannot get there before the lot closes, going first thing the next morning still saves a day compared with waiting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my car was towed or stolen in Minneapolis? Check the Minneapolis vehicle search at minneapolismn.gov by plate or VIN, or call (612) 673-5777. If the city doesn’t have it and a suburb or private lot didn’t tow it, then report it to police.
What do I need to get my car out of impound? A valid photo ID and proof of ownership such as the title or current registration. To drive it out, it needs current registration. Confirm the lot’s exact list before you go.
Can someone else pick up my car? Policies vary by lot. Call the lot and ask what authorization and documents another person needs before you send them.
Where do St. Paul snow-emergency tows go? To the lot at 1129 Cathlin St, phone 651-502-7480, not the regular Barge Channel Rd lot.