A car towed at Logan Airport goes to the Massport Central Parking Office on Level 2 of the Central Parking Garage, retrievable at any hour. The Massport rules are different from the City of Boston’s rules, and the process is Massport’s, not the city’s. Vehicles left over 70 days are treated as abandoned under the Massport rule. Quick Tow Boston explains how to find and retrieve a Logan-towed car.
How Logan tows work
Logan Airport parking is run by Massport. The Massport parking office enforces the airport’s parking rules, including the towing of vehicles that violate posted time limits, are parked illegally, or are abandoned in airport parking.
A tow at Logan is initiated by Massport, not by the City of Boston, and the car goes to the Massport Central Parking Office on Level 2 of the Central Parking Garage. The release process is Massport’s.
A vehicle parked past its allowed time at a Logan lot, or parked in a closed or restricted area, may be towed. A vehicle left in airport parking for an extended stay is also at risk of being towed.
The 70-day abandoned-vehicle rule
Vehicles parked at Logan for over 70 days are treated as abandoned. Massport notifies the registered owner before the 70-day mark, and the owner can call the number below to arrange retrieval for a longer stay. After 70 days, Massport treats the vehicle as abandoned and begins the process of removing it from the lot.
A driver who is leaving the country for an extended trip and parking at Logan should arrange long-term parking with the airport, not leave a car in a short-term lot. The Massport long-term lots have their own rules, and a car parked in a short-term lot for over 70 days is at risk of being towed as abandoned.
How to retrieve a Logan-towed car
The Massport Central Parking Office on Level 2 of the Central Parking Garage holds the towed vehicle. The retrieval process runs around the clock, so a driver can pick up a car at any hour, not just during a posted window.
To retrieve the car, the owner needs:
- Valid driver’s license
- Proof of registration
- Proof of insurance
- Payment of the tow fee and any storage
The Massport contact number for towed vehicles is 617-561-1673. A driver who finds an empty space at Logan should call that number first to confirm the tow and confirm the location.
What Logan tows cost
The DPU maximums under 220 CMR 272.00 cap non-consensual tows at $132 for the first five miles and $4.40 a mile after, with storage at $35 per 24 hours at a fenced-lit lot. Massport’s contracted tow company’s actual price may be lower, and a driver should confirm the total before paying.
There is no gate fee or after-hours fee in the DPU regulation, so a bill that adds one is worth questioning. The Massport retrieval process runs around the clock, so an after-hours retrieval should not add a fee.
How to dispute a Logan tow
A Logan tow is initiated by Massport, not by a private property owner, so the free-release rule under M.G.L. c. 266 s. 120D does not apply the way it does to a private-lot tow. A driver who believes the tow was wrongful should contact Massport first and lay out the facts.
The next step is the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. The AG handles consumer complaints about tows, and a complaint that includes the date, the time, the lot, and the reason for the tow is a record the AG can review.
For a DPU rate overcharge specifically, the DPU’s Transportation Division is the regulator, and a complaint to the DPU can result in an audit and a refund.
What Quick Tow Boston can and cannot do
Quick Tow Boston does not handle Logan tows or disputes. We connect drivers with independent local operators for new tows at the side of a road or in a parking lot. If a car has been towed at Logan, the right call is the Massport number at 617-561-1673.
For a car that needs a tow from East Boston to the airport or from the airport to a residential street, the rules under c. 266 s. 120D apply if the tow starts on private property, and a driver should confirm the right process before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a Logan-towed car go? The Massport Central Parking Office on Level 2 of the Central Parking Garage holds the vehicle. Retrieval runs around the clock.
What is the 70-day rule at Logan? Vehicles parked at Logan for over 70 days are treated as abandoned under Massport’s rule. Massport notifies the registered owner before the 70-day mark.
What is the Massport number for a towed car? 617-561-1673. A driver who finds an empty space at Logan should call that number first to confirm the tow.
Does the free-release rule apply to a Logan tow? Not the way it does to a private-property tow. The free-release rule under M.G.L. c. 266 s. 120D applies to private-property tows. A Logan tow is a Massport-initiated tow, and the dispute process is Massport’s.
When to call us
Call when a vehicle is disabled at the side of a road or in a parking lot and needs a local operator sent, not when a car has been towed at Logan. Quick Tow Boston connects drivers with independent local operators across Greater Boston, and the operator quotes the price before anyone is dispatched. Calls are recorded after a notice. Reach the dispatch line at (857) 858-5057.