On This Page
Minnesota Abandoned Vehicle Overview
Minnesota's abandoned vehicle laws are governed by Minn. Stat. § 168B. Minnesota uses the standard 72-hour street threshold but a 15-day private property notice period — making it among the faster states for property owners, joining Washington (also 15 days) in being well below the 30-day standard. Title claims go through the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division administratively.
Street Time Limit
A vehicle left on a Minnesota public road for more than 72 consecutive hours is subject to tagging and removal. Report to your local police non-emergency or city 311. Minnesota State Patrol handles state highway cases at (651) 297-3935. Officers establish the 72-hour baseline, post notice, and attempt owner identification through DVS records. The Twin Cities metro has very active enforcement — Minneapolis and St. Paul both respond to complaints quickly due to street cleaning and permit parking programs that help identify vehicles that haven't moved.
Private Property Removal
Minnesota's 15-day notice period is among the shortest for private property in the country. Steps: (1) Photograph vehicle with date stamps. (2) File report with local police. (3) Certified notice sent to registered owner via DVS records. (4) Wait the full 15 days from certified notification. (5) Arrange removal through licensed Minnesota tow operator with complete documentation.
Minnesota advantage: The 15-day private property period means you can typically resolve unauthorized vehicle situations in about 3 weeks total — half the time of 30-day states.
Claiming Title
Minnesota title claims go through DVS. Steps: (1) File police report. (2) Request owner info from MN DVS at (651) 297-2126 or dps.mn.gov/dvs. (3) Send certified notice. (4) Wait 15 days. (5) Apply to DVS for abandoned vehicle title with police report, certified mail proof, and completed DVS application. DVS processing typically 3–4 weeks. Minnesota DVS branch offices throughout the metro — find yours at dps.mn.gov/dvs/pages/dvs-locations.aspx.
City-by-City Contacts
| City | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | (612) 348-2345 · minneapolismn.gov | MPD non-emergency; Minneapolis 311 system online; Street cleaning enforcement helps identify abandoned vehicles quickly |
| St. Paul | (651) 266-5500 · stpaul.gov | SPPD non-emergency; Ramsey County Sheriff for unincorporated areas |
| Rochester | (507) 328-6800 · rochestermn.gov | RPD non-emergency; Olmsted County Sheriff for county roads |
| Duluth | (218) 730-5050 · duluthmn.gov | DPD non-emergency; St. Louis County Sheriff for county areas |
| Bloomington | (952) 563-4900 · bloomingtonmn.gov | BPD non-emergency |
| Brooklyn Park | (763) 493-8000 · brooklynpark.org | BPPD non-emergency; Hennepin County Sheriff for county roads |
Inoperable Vehicle Storage
Minnesota does not have a single statewide inoperable vehicle storage rule — local ordinances apply. Minneapolis city ordinance prohibits inoperable vehicles visible from public streets in residential areas. St. Paul has similar provisions. Inoperable vehicles in the Twin Cities metro generally must be stored in an enclosed structure or fully screened from public view. Greater Minnesota cities vary — rural Minnesota is generally more permissive. Check your specific city or county code.
Official Contacts
| Resource | Contact |
|---|---|
| MN Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) | (651) 297-2126 · dps.mn.gov/dvs |
| Minnesota Statutes § 168B | revisor.mn.gov |
| Minnesota State Patrol | (651) 297-3935 · dps.mn.gov/msp |
| Minneapolis Police (non-emergency) | (612) 348-2345 · minneapolismn.gov |
| St. Paul Police (non-emergency) | (651) 266-5500 · stpaul.gov |
| DVS Branch Locator | dps.mn.gov/dvs/pages/dvs-locations.aspx |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minnesota Statutes § 168B.04 sets the 15-day period as a statewide standard for private property situations. It applies in all Minnesota municipalities — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and rural townships alike. Unlike some states where cities can adopt stricter or more lenient standards, Minnesota's 15-day private property period is a uniform state rule. The only variation is in how quickly local police respond to initiate the process, which does vary between metro and outstate areas.
Minnesota has specific winter parking enforcement that interacts with abandoned vehicle rules. During declared snow emergencies, vehicles can be towed much faster than the standard 72-hour window — some streets have zero-tolerance during active plowing. A vehicle that would normally get a 72-hour tag on a regular day can be towed within hours during a snow emergency. Check your city's snow emergency notification system (Minneapolis: minneapolismn.gov/snow; St. Paul: stpaul.gov/snow) to understand when faster towing applies in your area.