Tow an unregistered vehicle in Massachusetts
Moving a vehicle that has no current registration in Massachusetts raises a practical question: when is towing the right step, and what rules shape the operation? The answer depends on where the vehicle sits, who owns it, who requests the tow, and how the move is performed. Registration status matters because Massachusetts law and private-property policies often connect an unregistered motor vehicle to storage, removal, or public-road restrictions. Understanding the basic legal landscape helps an owner, buyer, or property manager choose a lawful approach without guessing at consequences.
Essential answer
A vehicle without current registration can generally be towed in Massachusetts, but the allowable path changes with location and authority. On public ways, police and municipal officials may order removal when the vehicle is unregistered, abandoned, or creates a hazard. A private owner cannot simply tow a car from a public street without that governmental action. On private property, the property owner or an authorized agent may have more direct removal rights, often subject to notice, posting, and licensed-tower requirements.
The registered owner's own request is a separate case. If you own the car and need it moved to a repair shop, storage location, or dealership, a licensed tow operator can normally transport it without current plates as a non-operating or disabled vehicle. The tow company does not create registration, but moving the car on a wheel-lift, flatbed, or trailer keeps it off its own wheels for road use. Any planned public-road movement of the unregistered vehicle should be handled as a tow, not by driving it.