The situation when you leave home or return from the store and your car is not in its usual place always causes shock and panic. Your heart skips a beat when you realize: the car was towed. At this moment, it is critical not to give in to emotions, but to act clearly and consistently to minimize the loss of time and money.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the car has not been stolen, but rather moved to a specialized parking lot. To do this, you should promptly contact the traffic police department on duty or use the city services for tracking evacuated vehicles. Only after receiving confirmation can you begin collecting documents and paying your accumulated debts.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to return the vehicle as soon as possible. You will find out what state duties and fines will have to be paid, how to obtain a return permit and what to do if you do not agree with the actions of the tow trucks.
How to find out where the car was taken
The search for a missing car begins with a phone call. In most large cities there are unified dispatch centers that record all vehicle movements. The number of such a center is usually posted on “Tow Truck Operating” road signs or is available through information services.
When calling, you must inform the operator state number car and, preferably, model. The dispatcher will check the database and report the address of the specialized parking lot where your car, and will also indicate the traffic police department that authorized the detention.
An alternative way is to use online services. Many cities have implemented systems that allow you to check the status of evacuation through the official city hall portal or mobile application. To do this, just enter the car number in the appropriate field of the form.
- 📞 Call the unified dispatch service of your city.
- 🚔 Contact the traffic police duty department by calling 102 or 112.
- 💻 Check the information on the official website of the traffic police or the government services portal.
- 📱 Use mobile applications of city services (for example, “Moscow Parking”).
If you witnessed the evacuation process, but they tell you over the phone that the car is not listed, perhaps the tow truck has not yet reached the parking lot and has not submitted a report.
Required documents to receive a car
In order to pick up a car from the impound lot, you will need to prepare a package of documents. Without a complete set of papers, parking lot employees have every right to refuse to release the vehicle. The main list includes a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and documents for a car.
If you are the owner, there should be no problems. However, if the car was driven by a person not registered in OSAGO policy or does not have a power of attorney, the procedure may become more complicated. In this case, the owner himself or a person with a notarized power of attorney must come to the impound lot.
The situation when documents are left in the glove compartment of a towed car requires special attention. In this case, you first need to go to the impound lot, where, under the supervision of employees, they will open the car, remove documents and seal the interior. Only after this can you go to the traffic police for permission.
⚠️ Attention: If you do not have a driver’s license with you (for example, it was left in the car), you may be fined for driving a vehicle without a license. Try to have at least a photo of your license or an electronic version in the application.
| Document type | Original or copy | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Russian passport | Original | Required for personal identification |
| Certificate of Registration (CTC) | Original | If you have it in your hands, if not, you get it in the parking lot. |
| Driver's license | Original/Copy | Necessary for registration of the protocol |
| OSAGO policy | Original/Copy | Must be valid |
You will also definitely need protocol on administrative offense and vehicle detention report. These documents are issued at the traffic police department after paying the fine or making a decision to defer it. Copies of these papers must be submitted to the impound lot.
Make photocopies of all documents in advance and store them separately from the originals. This will speed up the process if the originals end up in the towed vehicle.
Registration of a permit at the traffic police
The key step in returning the car is visiting the traffic police department, which is indicated in the evacuation certificate. It is here that the inspector draws up a protocol and gives permission to release the car. Without a stamp or a separate document from the traffic police, the parking lot will not release the car.
At the department, you need to pay a fine for violating parking rules or stopping in a prohibited place. Since 2016, the rule has been in effect: if you pay the fine within 20 days, the amount will be 50% of the original amount. However, to receive a car, payment of the fine is not always necessary at the time of issue - it is enough to receive the protocol itself.
The procedure at the traffic police is as follows:
- Presentation of documents to the inspector.
- Receiving a copy of the vehicle detention protocol.
- Receiving a note in the protocol that the reason for the detention has been eliminated.
- Payment of the fine (you can pay later, but the protocol is needed immediately).
After receiving all the necessary papers with stamps, you can go to the impound lot. The permit is usually valid for a limited period, but usually one day is enough for logistics between the police department and the parking lot.
☑️ Documents for the traffic police
It is worth noting that in some regions the process of obtaining a permit has been transferred to electronic form. The inspector can send the data directly to the impound lot terminal, which eliminates the need for the driver to carry paper permits. Check this opportunity with the duty officer.
Payment for evacuation and storage services
At the impound lot you will be greeted with a cost calculator. The cost of services for moving and storing a car is regulated by regional tariffs and depends on the category of the vehicle. Payment is made immediately before the car is issued.
It is important to know: the first day of storing a car in a specialized parking lot in many regions (including Moscow and St. Petersburg) is free. This time is given to the driver to search for documents and resolve bureaucratic issues. Days begin to count from the moment the evacuation ends.
You can pay for services in various ways: through a terminal in the parking lot, online through a banking application using a QR code, or at the cash desk. Be sure to keep the receipt of payment - it is a document confirming the absence of debt to the tow company.
- 💰 Passenger cars (category A, B) - tariff group 1.
- 🚛 Trucks and buses - tariff group 2 and higher.
- 🏍 Motorcycles and mopeds - minimum tariff.
- 🚙 SUVs can be charged as cars if the permitted weight is up to 3.5 tons.
⚠️ Attention: If you pick up the car before the full day has expired, no storage fee will be charged at all. The tow truck is paid in any case, even if you interrupt the loading process.
The amount for evacuation is fixed and does not depend on the distance traveled by the tow truck (within the city). However, if the car was parked outside the Moscow Ring Road or intracity borders, an increasing coefficient for mileage may be applied.
What happens if you don't pay a parking fine?
If you do not pay for towing and storage services, the car will remain in the parking lot. A storage fee will be charged for each day, which may ultimately exceed the value of the vehicle itself. In addition, the parking lot has the right to sue to collect the debt.
Procedure for returning a car
Having arrived at the impound lot with a package of documents and payment receipts, go to the reception and delivery window. The employee will check the presence of all permits from the traffic police and the absence of debts. Only after this will the command be given to release the car.
Before signing the transfer and acceptance certificate, inspect the car carefully. Check the body for new scratches, dents, integrity of glass, mirrors and headlights. If evacuation or storage damaged the car, all defects must be recorded in the report.
Also check the equipment: the presence of a spare wheel, a jack, a wheel wrench. If you find that personal belongings are missing from the cabin or elements of the cabin are damaged, immediately notify the parking lot administration and call the police to record the fact.
The pickup process may take time, especially if there are a lot of cars in the parking lot. Be prepared to wait while the operator finds your car in a huge row and prepares documents for departure.
Always conduct a thorough on-site inspection of your vehicle before leaving the impound lot. By signing a deed without any damage notes, you automatically acknowledge that the car was delivered to you in perfect condition.
After signing all the papers and receiving the keys, you can leave the territory. Make sure you have all original documents and payment receipts on hand, as they may be needed to appeal fines.
What to do if you do not agree with evacuation
If you believe that the car was towed illegally (for example, the signs were hidden by foliage, the markings were erased, or you were in the car), you have every right to appeal the actions of the traffic police and the towing service.
First you need to collect an evidence base. Take photographs of the parking area from all angles, capture road signs, markings and surroundings. If there are witnesses, get their contact information. Recordings from DVRs or surveillance cameras of nearby stores will also be useful.
The complaint is submitted to the traffic police or to the court within 10 days from the date of receipt of the fine. In your complaint, you must indicate why you consider the evacuation to be unlawful and attach photographic materials. If you win, you will be required to compensate for the costs of towing, storage and a fine.
- 📸 Take a photo of the parking spot immediately after returning the car.
- 📝 Save all receipts and receipts for payment for parking services.
- ⚖️ File a complaint within 10 days.
- 📹 Find camera recordings, if they are saved.
A common reason for a successful appeal is the incorrect installation of the “Tow Truck Operating” sign or the absence of a sign indicating the method of moving the vehicle. The basis may also be the presence of a valid parking zone in this place at the time of the violation.
Is it possible to pick up a car without the owner?
Yes, if you have a notarized power of attorney from the owner, which states the right to drive and dispose of this vehicle. The power of attorney must also indicate the details of the representative.
What happens if you don't pick up your car for months?
The vehicle will be stored in the impound lot and a fee will be charged for each day. If the amount owed exceeds the value of the car, or if the owner does not show up within 3 months, the car may be sold at auction to cover costs.
How can I find out the number of the tow truck that took the car away?
The tow truck number is usually recorded in the vehicle detention report, which you receive from the traffic police. You can also find out this information by calling the dispatch service where the call about the violation was received.
Is it possible to pay a parking fine later?
You can pay the traffic police fine within 60 days (with a 20-day discount). However, the impound lot requires payment for evacuation and storage services immediately before the vehicle is released. The car will not be returned without a payment receipt.
What to do if valuables are left in the car?
Come to the impound lot. The employee will draw up an autopsy report, you will take your things, after which the car will be sealed again. There is usually no charge for this service if it occurs as part of the vehicle pickup process.