Is it legal to put flyers on cars in parking lots?

There is no single national rule. Whether you can legally leave flyers on parked cars comes down to your city ordinance and, for private lots, the property owner's permission. Some cities allow flyers on cars parked on public streets but treat private lots as trespassing, while others ban windshield flyers entirely and classify discarded ones as litter.

• Public streets: often permitted, but a handful of cities still prohibit it or require a distribution permit.
• Private parking lots: you need the owner's or manager's consent first, or it can count as trespassing.
• Anti-litter rules: many towns hold you responsible for flyers that blow off cars and end up on the ground.
• Penalties: violations commonly range from a warning to a citation, and fines in some areas run from about $50 to $500 per violation.

Before you print a big run, call your city clerk or check the municipal code for "handbill" or "commercial distribution" rules, and consider mailed or handed-out flyers as lower-risk ways to reach the same audience. Building your design around a clear offer and a QR code helps you measure results wherever you are allowed to distribute.