City of Milwaukee Tow Lot: Find and Release Your Car

If the City of Milwaukee towed your car, it's at the City Tow Lot, 3811 West Lincoln Avenue. Check the Towed Vehicle Search on the city's Tow Lot page, or call (414) 286-2700. The city lists hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. It's closed Sunday. Bring a driver's license, an insurance card for that car, and payment.

How do I find out if Milwaukee towed my car?

You walk out at 7 a.m. and the curb is empty. Start with the Towed Vehicle Search. You'll find it on the city's Tow Lot page. It only shows cars that went to the city lot.

No result? Call the lot at (414) 286-2700. The city says to call that number in two cases: your car isn't in the search, or it was towed from private property. Staff can help you work out where it went.

Look around the block first, too. For some special events and construction jobs, the city just moves cars to a nearby spot. Look for signs in the area, then call the lot to confirm.

What if a private lot towed me?

Think apartment lots, store lots and posted private lots. Wisconsin law says the tow company must tell local police before it moves your car. It reports the make, model, VIN, plate and where the car is going. So Milwaukee police should have a record.

That rule has teeth here. Milwaukee has nearly 600,000 people, which makes it a first class city under state law. In a first class city, a tower that skipped the police notice can't collect any charges for that tow. A tower also can't take a car that was reported stolen.

If no one has a record of a tow, report the car stolen. If you feel unsafe where you're standing, call 911.

Why does the City of Milwaukee tow cars?

The city's Tow Lot page lists these reasons:

• Blocking a road, traffic, a sidewalk or snow clearing
• No current registration
• Plates or VIN not shown the right way
• Five or more unpaid parking tickets over 60 days old
• Left "snow bound" after the deadline to move it
• Abandoned on the street

The orange sticker

A car left in one spot on a city street for more than 24 hours can get an orange sticker on the windshield. That sticker is a tow warning. The city mails a notice to the owner. If the car hasn't moved 72 hours later, it gets towed. If you're storing a car on the street while you travel, have someone move it.

How do winter parking rules lead to tows?

This is where a lot of Milwaukee tows start. Night parking is a year-round rule here. Between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., Monday to Saturday, you can't park on city streets without a night permit or temporary permission. Sunday mornings are free.

With a permit, most streets use alternate side parking. On an even date, park on the side with even house numbers. On an odd date, use the odd side. The date that counts is the one before midnight.

From December 1 to March 1, it gets tighter:

• No overnight parking on through highways and bus routes. Those streets don't have their own signs, so check the city's list.
• When a Snow Emergency is called, alternate side parking runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• In a Snow Emergency, no parking on through highways and bus routes from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A Snow Emergency lasts 72 hours, or until the city says plowing is done. Posted signs always win over the general rules. The city also opens some Milwaukee Public Schools playgrounds for overnight parking during Snow Emergencies.

The first winter tickets are just tickets. By the third violation, your car is eligible to be towed. Sign up for the city's winter parking text alerts before the first big snow.

What do I need to get my car out of the Milwaukee tow lot?

Get these together before you go. One trip is better than two.

1. A valid driver's license. No license? Bring a state photo ID and come with someone who has a license.
2. Proof of insurance for that car. The card must show the insurance company, the insured person, and the car's make, model, year and VIN.
3. Payment in full. You pay the tow fee plus a storage fee for every calendar day. The city posts the current amounts on its Tow Lot page.

The release goes to the owner of record. Besides a license, the lot accepts a state ID, a City of Milwaukee municipal ID, a military ID or a passport as identification.

No insurance card for the car? City staff drive it off the lot for you, and you pay an extra relocation fee.

How can I pay?

Cash works. So does a money order or cashier's check for the exact amount. A credit card works if it belongs to the person using it. The lot does not take personal checks.

You can also pay parking tickets at the lot or buy a night parking permit there. If you were towed for five or more old unpaid tickets, you'll need to pay the past due tickets or set a municipal court date first.

Can someone else pick up my car?

Yes, with a notarized letter from the owner. The letter must list the car's color, make, model, VIN, plate number and tow number. The person picking up brings their own driver's license and a copy of the owner's ID. The city has a sample letter on its Tow Lot page. Storage fees keep adding up while you set this up.

When is the lot open, and how long do I have?

Address	3811 West Lincoln Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Phone	(414) 286-2700
Weekdays	8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday	9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday	Closed

Holidays change this. The city's list shows the lot closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It shows short 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hours on the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Call before you go.

Don't let it sit. The city's FAQ says you have 15 days from the tow. After that, the car may be sold or recycled.

Need your work bag or a child's car seat out? You can get personal items. But if you take them without setting up payment, the city says the car may be sold or recycled right away. Only one person a day can go to the car.

What if police are holding my car as evidence?

Then you can't look at it, photograph it or take anything out. Call the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7547.

What if I think the tow was wrong?

Call the Parking Citation Review Manager at 414-286-5085 to ask for a review. If your car was damaged, tell a customer representative at the lot when you pick it up.

What if my car won't drive off the lot?

Sentinel doesn't do impounds. Only the city can release your car. But a car that sat out on Lincoln Avenue for days, maybe through a cold snap, may not start at pickup.

The lot's rules matter here. Nobody can do mechanical work on the lot. If the car can't run, you arrange a private tow. You tell the cashier which tow company is coming and sign the release papers. That company must be licensed and insured, with safe equipment.

• If it won't run or isn't safe to drive, ask for a tow to your repair shop.
• If it starts but clicks and dies after sitting in the cold, ask the lot whether a jump start is allowed there. If not, get it towed.
• If you got it out but slid into a snowbank on the way home, a winch-out may pull you free.

Tell the dispatcher you're at the city tow lot on West Lincoln Avenue and give your tow number. If anyone is hurt, or you stall in a live lane on the way home, call 911 first.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text before anyone is sent, and we check on you by text until help arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise, and you can track your truck on a map. For Milwaukee's freeways and winter weather, see our Milwaukee towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Milwaukee Tow Lot Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Milwaukee Tow Lot, City of Milwaukee Parking Regulations, Wis. Stat. 349.13, Wis. Stat. 62.05(1)(a).