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How do I get my impounded car back?

My car was towed. I parked somewhere that I thought was okay, but it turns out it wasn’t. If my car was impounded, how do I get it out?

avatar
Lauren Smith · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Oh, no! I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s get your car back.
Step 1: Find your car. You can check with the city. There may be a website where you can see if your car has been towed and where it’s been taken. You may need your driver’s license number, license plate number and state, and/or vehicle identification number (VIN) to look this up. Otherwise, you may be able to use the 311 hotline to find out. But note that this number isn’t set up everywhere. Do some research online to find out more.
Step 2: Contact the impound lot. First, confirm that the impound lot does in fact have your car, and then ask them what you need to get it back. This could include collecting necessary documentation, such as:
Step 3: Pay the fine. You will also probably need to pay a fee. Impound lots charge for the tow and the time your car takes up space in their lot. The fee could be per day or per 12 hours, so make sure you get your car back as soon as possible.
If you don’t have insurance and need to get some quickly to recover your car, try
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I hope you are able to get your car back quickly!
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