Kentucky law presumes that a vehicle left on a public road for three days in a row has been abandoned. It can be towed, and the towing company can hold it, and eventually sell it, to cover its charges.
Vehicles left on public roads
On a county road or city street, a vehicle left for three consecutive days is presumed abandoned. Abandoning a vehicle there is punishable by a fine of $25 to $100 or 10 to 30 days in jail. The public authority in charge of the road must have a usable vehicle towed and may dispose of an unusable one right away.
On a state highway, a motor vehicle left on the right-of-way for three consecutive days is presumed abandoned, and the Kentucky State Police may order it towed. A disabled vehicle may not stay on the shoulder of a state-maintained highway for 24 hours or more.
Vehicles on private property
The owner or attendant of a private parking lot may have an unauthorized vehicle towed if signs state that the lot is private and that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense. The towing company must notify local law enforcement within two hours after the tow. Cities and counties may adopt their own parking and impoundment ordinances, and local rules vary.
Notice, storage charges and sale
When police have a vehicle removed from a highway, the agency must mail the owner a notice saying where the vehicle is, that towing and storage charges must be paid, and that it may be sold if not claimed within 60 days.
The towing company must also send certified mail to the owner and any lienholder, meaning a lender with a claim recorded on the title, within 10 days. A company that follows the notice rules has a lien, a legal right to hold the vehicle until its reasonable charges are paid. If the charges remain unpaid after 45 days, the vehicle may be sold after another certified notice sent 10 days before the sale.
Some belongings are not covered by the lien and must be released on request within 45 days of the tow, including prescription medicine, medical supplies, child car seats, school materials and personal documents.
A vehicle impounded by a city or county under its own ordinance can become the local government’s property 45 days after certified notice if no one claims it.
How to report one
A vehicle that appears abandoned on a city street or county road can be reported to local police or the sheriff’s office, and one on a state highway to the Kentucky State Police.
This article is general information about Kentucky law, not legal advice, and the law may have changed since it was last reviewed in October 2026. For advice about your own situation, talk to a lawyer.