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Massachusetts Statewide Rule

Massachusetts Abandoned Vehicle Removal And Disposal Law

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Massachusetts (2026)

Key Facts

Statute
M.G.L. c. 90 § 22C
Abandonment Period
72 hours minimum
Notice Method
Certified mail required
Disposition
Public auction allowed
Last verified: August 21, 2026Source: Massachusetts General Court

Summary

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 22C governs removal and disposal of abandoned motor vehicles statewide, setting uniform procedures that apply on public ways and private property regardless of municipality.

Section 22C. If the superintendent of streets or other officer having charge of the public ways in a city or town reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon a public or private way therein or on any property therein without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property or if a captain or lieutenant of the state police reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon any property under their respective jurisdictions, is worth less than the cost of removal and storage and expenses incident to disposition pursuant to sections seven to eleven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and thirty-five, sections eighty-nine to ninety-four, inclusive, of chapter ninety-two, or sections forty-five to forty-eight, inclusive, of chapter twenty-two C, he may, without incurring liability on his part or on the part of the city, town or the commonwealth, take possession of such motor vehicle and dispose thereof as refuse.

Source: Massachusetts General CourtView official code

Full Breakdown

Under M.G.L. c. 90 § 22C, a motor vehicle apparently abandoned and left on a public or private way for more than 72 hours without consent may be removed. Police or authorized agents may have the vehicle towed to a licensed storage facility. Owners must be notified, and after a statutory waiting period unclaimed vehicles may be sold at public auction or otherwise disposed of. The statute applies uniformly across all 351 cities and towns and sets minimum procedural requirements that local rules cannot reduce.

Violations & Penalties

Owners face towing fees, daily storage charges, and potential loss of vehicle through public auction if unclaimed within statutory notice periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Massachusetts city allow towing before 72 hours?
Cities may tow for parking violations sooner, but the abandoned-vehicle classification and disposal procedures under M.G.L. c. 90 § 22C require the statutory minimum waiting and notice periods.
What happens if my abandoned car is auctioned?
Sale proceeds first cover towing, storage, and auction costs. Any surplus is held for the registered owner for a statutory period before escheating to the municipality or Commonwealth.

Sources

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