Can Walmart Tow Your Car – Parking Rules & What To Know!

Shopping at Walmart is fun, and leaving your car in the lot while you shop is convenient. With the store manager’s approval, you may leave your automobile parked overnight or spend the night inside your vehicle. Although Walmart does not offer towing services, can Walmart tow your car?

Walmart won’t likely tow your car if the area permits you to park your car overnight and you have made prior agreements with the business management. Though not all parking lots allow overnight parking in all Walmart stores, they hold the legal authority to tow your car if necessary.

Walmart has no strict parking policy, and many travelers and drivers have taken advantage of this. Unfortunately, many have used this chance to their detriment. Read up to be informed on the possible reasons Walmart can have your car towed. 

Is It Legal for Walmart to Tow My Car?

Walmart is a privately held firm, and as such, they have the right to tow away any errant cars. Although parking your car while you shop is permitted, Walmart has the right to tow your vehicle if you do so for a long time without permission. Despite having your car taken by a tow truck and kept hostage in a parking lot may sound outrageous, it is legal.

Most of the time, this can be prevented by talking to the store manager. Either they will tell you that you may remain and won’t have the police come, or they’ll inform you that you cannot stay. They may also notify you not to park anywhere you risk having your vehicle towed. In addition, even if they permit overnight parking, they have the authority to ask you to exit if you’ve been there for a long time.

Can You Park Your Car in Walmart Overnight?

Walmart allows you to park your car in their parking lot overnight, but you have to do the following things:

• Inform the store manager of your intention to park your car overnight
• Be aware of the state or location’s parking policy because some Walmart branches do not allow parking cars overnight. This may be for security reasons or because the area is densely populated. 
• Don’t park your car longer than the allotted time by the store manager. Your car might be towed if you overstay your welcome. 

 Why Does Walmart Permit Overnight Parking?

Some claim that Sam Walton, the company’s founder, had a soft heart for truckers and would let them sleep in the parking lots while making local deliveries. This is why Walmart started allowing customers to park overnight.

On the other hand, this may also serve as a marketing strategy to boost sales and an excellent way to increase the brand image. It appears likely that someone noticed this and chose to take advantage of it as a marketing gimmick to get an advantage over their rivals.

If You Leave Your Car Overnight at Walmart, Will They Tow It?

Since Walmart permits overnight parking for tourists, they won’t tow your car if you leave it there. However, the following scenarios may force the Walmart employees to tow your car: 

• There is a greater likelihood that your automobile may be towed if you leave it alone for longer than a day. 
• They may decide to tow your car if you occupy other parking places with chairs and barbecue grills.
• Using hydraulic lifters or driving nails into the parking lot’s concrete is not permitted. You risk having your vehicle towed if you engage in any of them.

What Kinds of Cars Can You Park Overnight at Walmart?

In Walmart’s parking lots, you may discover a variety of vehicles being used as overnight guest accommodations, including trucks, regular-sized estate cars, and enormous RVs. The Walmart overnight parking areas accept all kinds of automobiles.

Can You Park Your Car at Walmart for a Week?

The worst thing you can do is leave your automobile parked in the Walmart lot. You cannot leave the car unattended for longer than a day. Asking for a one-day stay and staying there for several days is unethical. On the parking lots of most Walmart stores, there are towing signs.

Leaving the automobile there for a week is inappropriate if you observe one of these towing signs. They will utilize towing services to eliminate owners’ cars from misusing their privileges.

Is It Legal To Spend The Night In Your Car At Walmart?

If you’ve had a long travel and need to rest, you might be curious if you can stay in your car overnight while parked in the Walmart parking lot. Here is the good news; Walmart does let customers spend the night in their vehicles in Walmart parking lots. 

Since Walmart doesn’t have a formal policy on overnight parking for vehicles, the store manager or a security guard on duty will decide whether to let you stay or not. In most cases, they may allow you to sleep in your car as long as they are sure you wouldn’t cause any trouble. 

Why Do People Sleep in Walmart Parking Lot?

There are various reasons why someone would find himself in need of a sleeping area in a parking lot. The question is, why would they pick Walmart’s parking lot?

• It is free: Many people enquire about the cost of overnight parking. The fact that it’s free is the best part! There are never any additional costs involved, and you can take advantage of this. Due to the costs, many people choose to sleep inside their car at Walmart than get a hotel room.
• Shopping: You don’t have to search for a store to shop for your supplies during your stay. Walmart is open 24/7, and you can always shop there while you stay. This helps you save time and energy. 
• Availability: If you spend the night in a parking lot, you don’t need to bother about available hotel rooms or making advanced bookings. Just pull up, ask the store manager for permission, and park.

Final Thoughts

Walmart has no strict policy as regards parking your car for a night or sleeping in your car overnight. However, they own the legal right to tow your car if you park it for too long or breach any of the parking regulations stated in this article.