Live in an apartment or condo? Rules for junk car removal from shared parking lots, garages, and HOA zones in Milwaukee.
The “Shared Space” Challenge
Selling a junk car from a single-family home is easy. The driveway is yours. Selling a junk car from an apartment complex, condo, or shared parking ramp is… complicated.
Property managers, HOAs, and nosy neighbors can make the process stressful. You might be facing towing threats or fines. At {businessInfo.name}, we handle hundreds of apartment pickups a month. Here is how to do it without making enemies of your landlord.
1. The Permission Problem (Private Property)
Legally, we cannot tow a vehicle from private property without the owner’s consent.
- If you rent: You do NOT own the parking lot.
- The Risk: If we show up with a loud truck and start blocking traffic, the property manager might call the police or their own towing company.
Best Practice: Notify your property manager or landlord before we arrive. “Hi, I’m selling my old car. A tow truck will be here Tuesday at 2 PM to remove it. They will be on-site for 15 minutes.” Usually, they are thrilled the eyesore is leaving!
2. Parking Garages (The Height Limit)
This is the #1 issue in downtown Milwaukee (Third Ward, East Side). Most parking structures have a clearance of 6’8” to 7’0”.
- Standard Flatbed Height: 9+ feet. (CRASH).
- Standard Wrecker Height: 7+ feet. (Maybe).
If your car is in a structure:
- Check the “Max Height” Bar at the entrance. Write it down.
- Tell us immediately.
- We will send a Low-Clearance Unit. These are specifically modified trucks (usually Ford F-450s with drop-booms) that can sneak under 6’8” beams.
If you don’t tell us, we will send a big truck that can’t enter. Then you have to push the car out to the street. Nobody wants to do that.
3. The “Sticker” Deadline
Has your landlord slapped a bright orange/green sticker on your window? “Tow Warning: Move by [Date] or vehicle will be impounded.”
Time is critical. If the complex’s private towing company takes your car, you are in trouble.
- Impound Fees: They charge $150+ for the tow and $50/day storage.
- Lost Value: You cannot sell the car to us while it is in their lot until you pay those fees.
- The Math: If your car is worth $400 and the impound fee is $400, you just lost 100% of your money.
Solution: Call us immediately. Mention the sticker date. We will prioritize your pickup to beat the tow truck.
4. Gated Communities & HOAs
Does your complex have a gate code?
- Give it to Dispatch. Drivers cannot tailgate other cars in.
- HOA Rules: Some HOAs ban “commercial vehicles” or “vehicle repairs.”
- We are fast. We load and go. We don’t perform repairs on-site.
- If you have a strict HOA, try to schedule the pickup for mid-day when most neighbors are at work to avoid complaints.
5. Access & Space
Parking lots are tight.
- Don’t Park Nose-In: If possible, back your junk car into the spot. It is infinitely easier for us to tow a car from the rear (or front) if we have a straight shot.
- Blocked In: If your car is sandwiched between two luxury SUVs, we have to be extremely careful.
- Key Exchange: If you can’t be there (working), leave the key/title with the Leasing Office or Concierge. (Ask them first!).
6. The “Dead Car” Push
If your car is deep on the 4th floor of a ramp and doesn’t start… Our driver cannot drive their truck up to the 4th floor if the clearance is too low. In extreme cases, we may need to:
- Use another vehicle to push it down the ramps.
- Use a portable battery jumper to get it running just enough to limp it out.
- You might need to help steer.
Summary Checklist for Apartment Sellers
- Check garage height clearance.
- Inform Property Manager.
- Check for tow-warning stickers.
- Make sure the car isn’t blocked by other vehicles.
- Have keys ready.
Don’t let your landlord tow your cash away. Call {businessInfo.name} and we will extract your vehicle professionally and quickly.