Have you ever noticed a car sitting on the side of the road with a white towel or bag on it? The white towel stands out like a flag in the window or on the side mirror. But what exactly does it mean, and should you leave a towel on your car?

A white towel on a car is a signal
If you see a car with a white towel or bag on it while it’s on the side of the road, it means that it isn’t abandoned. It means that the person had no choice but to leave their car there and will come back for it later, or that someone inside needs help.

Imagine that you’re driving along the highway when the oil pressure light appears on your dashboard all of a sudden.

You don’t want to keep driving and risk damaging the engine, so you pull over.

It might take several hours until the roadside assistance arrives. In the meantime, it’s dangerous to wait on the side of the highway with hundreds of drivers racing past you. Sometimes tow trucks take hours.

You also don’t want anyone to claim your beloved vehicle or have it ticketed by police. You search around in your car for a pen or piece of paper, but there are none to be found.

However, many drivers should have no problem locating something to use to indicate that their vehicle is not abandoned.

A white towel could also mean that the driver hasn’t alerted anyone about the situation. They may need help and still be inside the vehicle with no way to contact a tow truck or police officer.

While no official law enforces this white towel use, it appears to be common knowledge for some drivers. Still, that could depend on where you live, as one Reddit user reported that they had no idea this was a thing.

The Charlotte Observer discovered that this practice is also encouraged inside the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook.

Still, a towel or bag isn’t a free pass to keep your vehicle parked in a random public place forever. Cars abandoned on public roads will get towed away eventually, and the police will contact you. In many states, the fine for leaving your vehicle on the side of the road is a few hundred dollars.

When are cars considered abandoned?
Many states give you at least a few days to collect your vehicle from the side of the road, says DirtLegal. It’s usually between 48 and 72 hours, though different counties might have shorter or longer allowances.

In some areas of California, a vehicle is considered abandoned if it’s left in any kind of inoperable condition on the side of the road. Some states also won’t consider a car abandoned unless it’s beyond a certain age.

When is it legal to take an abandoned car?
You might be able to claim an abandoned vehicle, but it depends on your state’s laws. First, you have to report the abandoned car so that police can open an investigation.

If the owner can’t be located or relinquishes ownership, you can potentially claim the car. Still, it’s not always easy.

Some states require you to appear before a judge with valid reasons why you should own the abandoned vehicle.

If the car is abandoned on your property, that doesn’t automatically make it yours! You still have to let the authorities find the owner, as doing it yourself could be breaking the law in your state.

If you spy a white towel on a car, either the owner will be returning or they need help.