Where to look for a towed car: step-by-step instructions for

You went out to the parking lot and your car is not there? There is no note from the tow truck on the windshield, but the neighboring cars are parked as if nothing had happened? The situation is familiar to many drivers - especially in large cities, where evacuation for illegal parking has become commonplace. According to traffic police, in 2023, more than 1.2 million cars — that’s almost 3.5 thousand cars a day.

The main thing in such a situation is not to panic. Even if you are sure that you parked correctly, the car could be towed by mistake (such cases amount to up to 15% of the total number of arrests). In this article we will look at all official and non-obvious ways to find a towed car, including traffic police services, mobile applications, calls to hotlines and even life hacks from experienced drivers. We’ll also tell you what to do if the car was stolen under the guise of evacuation - such cases, unfortunately, are also not uncommon.

1. Check through the official website of the traffic police

The first and most reliable way is to use service for checking evacuated vehicles on the traffic police website. This method works in 90% of cases, if the car was detained no more than 3 days ago. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to official portal of the traffic police (section "Checking the vehicle").
2. Enter license plate number or VIN your vehicle.
3. Information will appear in the “Information about vehicle detention” block if the vehicle has been evacuated.
4. The system will show address of the impound lot, contact phone number and reason for detention.

Important: the service is updated with a delay until 24 hours. If the evacuation occurred this morning, the data may not appear until tomorrow. Also check whether access to the site is blocked by your VPN or antivirus - sometimes they mistakenly recognize government resources as “suspicious”.

2. Mobile applications for searching for towed cars

If you prefer to resolve issues via your smartphone, installing specialized applications will save time. Here are the top 3 proven services:

• 📱 State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of Russia (official) - shows not only fines, but also the status of the vehicle’s detention. Minus: sometimes it gives the error "Server is unavailable".
• 🚗 Autocode — in addition to evacuation, checks the car’s history, compulsory motor liability insurance and restrictions. Paid, but there is a free trial period.
• 🔍 Traffic police fines — convenient interface with a map of impound lots. Works even without the Internet (data is cached).

Warning: do not download applications from unverified sources! Fraudsters often create fake versions of popular services to steal bank card information. Official applications always have green tick in Google Play or App Store next to the name.

3. Calling hotlines: numbers and conversation algorithm

If online services don't help, it's time to call. Here current phone numbers for different regions (2026):

Region	Phone number	Opening hours
Moscow and Moscow region	+7 (495) 539-54-54	Around the clock
St. Petersburg	+7 (812) 573-73-73	08:00–20:00
Yekaterinburg	+7 (343) 371-29-29	09:00–18:00
Krasnodar	+7 (861) 262-43-43	08:30–17:30
Other regions	112 (single emergency number)	Around the clock

How to talk to the operator correctly:

State the license plate number and make of the car|Specify the date and time of the disappearance|Ask about the reason for the evacuation|Write down the address of the impound lot and the case number|Check whether documents are needed for return-->

Attention! Some impound lots require pre-registration to visit. For example, in Moscow you may not be allowed in without an appointment - this is done to regulate the flow of visitors. Check this point with the operator.

4. Search through impound parking databases

If the car is towed, it will definitely end up in one of the impound lots. Each city has its own list, but there are also all-Russian databases. Here's how to use them:

1. Portal "Autocode" (section "Penalty parking lots") - shows the addresses and telephone numbers of all official parking lots in your region. You can filter by area.

2. Website of your city hall — usually in the “Transport” or “Staff Police” sections there is a list of accredited parking lots. For example, for Moscow it is parking.mos.ru.

3. Yandex.Maps or Google Maps — enter the query "impound lot near me" and check the reviews. Drivers often leave comments like “This is where my car was kept after it was towed.”

Tip: before going to the parking lot check her work schedule. Some parking lots are only open until 18:00 and may be closed on weekends. Also check if they accept cash - many have switched to cashless payments only.

What to do if the parking lot requires you to pay extra for storage?

According to Art. 27.13 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, payment for the first 24 hours storage included in the cost of evacuation. If they try to impose additional payments on you, ask for a written statement of payment. In case of a dispute, call the traffic police hotline or contact the prosecutor's office.

5. Non-obvious ways: how to find a car without official services

There are situations when none of the standard methods worked. Here 5 non-standard ways, which help in 70% of “hopeless” cases:

• 📸 Social networks — publish a post in local public pages (for example, "Accidents and emergencies [your city]") with a photo of the car, license plate number and place of disappearance. Often tow trucks or parking lot employees monitor such groups.
• 🚔 Contacting the traffic police department — a personal visit to the branch sometimes gives results faster than a call. Take it with you passport, STS and driver's license.
• 📡 Radiosearch - if your car is equipped with a system GLONASS or GPS tracker (for example, StarLine, Pandora), check its location through the mobile application.
• 📋 Request to the MFC — through multifunctional centers you can submit an official request about the location of the vehicle. The answer will arrive within 5 working days.
• 🔎 Search by cameras — in some cities (Moscow, Kazan, Sochi) you can request recordings from CCTV cameras if you know the approximate time of evacuation.

Attention! If the car was stolen under the guise of evacuation (such cases became more frequent in 2023–2026), immediately file a statement with the police under Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Theft”). Signs of theft for evacuation:

• There are no traces of a tow truck at the parking lot (oil, wheel marks).
• There is no information about the arrest in the traffic police database.
• Your car is not in the impound lot.

6. What to do after the car is found

You've found your car - what's next? Here step-by-step algorithm for return:

1. Check the documents - take with you:
   • Owner's passport
   • STS (registration certificate)
   • Driver's license
   • MTPL policy (sometimes required)

Pay the fine and towing — the amount depends on the region:

• Moscow: 5 000–7 000 ₽ (evacuation + storage)
• St. Petersburg: 4 500–6 000 ₽
• Regions: 3 000–5 000 ₽
• Receive a vehicle detention certificate - They won’t give the car away without it.
• Check the car for damage - take photos of all scratches and dents. If they appeared during the evacuation, request that a report be drawn up for the insurance company.

Tip: if you have CASCO, some insurance companies (for example, Ingosstrakh, RESO-Garantiya) compensate for evacuation costs. To do this you need to provide:

• Receipt for payment of impound lot
• Certificate of vehicle detention
• Photo of damage (if any)

💡

If you do not agree with the evacuation (for example, the car was parked correctly), you have the right to appeal the decision within 10 days through the court or on the traffic police website. If you win, you will get your money back for evacuation and storage.

7. How to avoid evacuation in the future: advice from lawyers

The best way to avoid searching for a towed car is to prevent it from being detained. Here 7 rulesthat will help you avoid problems:

• 🅿️ Park according to the markings - even if everyone around you is standing crookedly, your car will be towed precisely for the violation.
• 📅 Watch for the signs - especially "No stopping allowed" (3.27) and "Parking is prohibited" (3.28). In Moscow and St. Petersburg they evacuate even if they stop under a sign with a sign "A tow truck is working".
• ⏰ Don't leave your car for too long — in the city center, tow trucks go around the areas every 1–2 hours.
• 💳 Pay for parking — in paid zones, payment verification occurs automatically through cameras.
• 📱 Use apps — Parking lots in Moscow, Parking Saint Petersburg show available spaces and parking rules.
• 🔧 Check the machine's condition — if your brake lights don’t light up or the handbrake is broken, the car may be towed as “defective.”
• 📋 Keep a parking log — take pictures of the car in the parking lot overlooking the signs. This will help challenge the evacuation if it was illegal.

Interesting fact: in 2026 the system started working in Moscow "Smart parking" — cameras automatically record violations and transmit data to tow trucks. Now the car can be taken away within 15 minutes after the violation (previously it was 30 minutes).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about towed vehicles

How much time is given to pay the fine for evacuation?

According to Art. 32.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, a fine for a violation that resulted in evacuation must be paid within 70 days (20 days to appeal + 50 days to pay). However, the car will be given to you only after payment evacuation and storage (these are separate payments).

Can a car with a disabled person inside be towed?

No, if there is a person with a disability (including the driver) in the car, evacuation is prohibited (Clause 4, Article 27.13 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). But in practice, inspectors may not be aware of this. If they are trying to evacuate you, show them certificate of disability and demand to call the head of the traffic police.

What to do if the car is towed by mistake?

1. Take a photo of the parking area (signs and markings should be visible).

2. Get it at the impound lot. vehicle detention certificate.

3. Appeal the decision on the website traffic police or through the court. In the statement of claim, indicate that the evacuation was illegal and demand compensation for storage.

4. If the court sides with you, you will be refunded the money for evacuation and storage (by court decision).

Is it possible to return the car at night?

Depends on the region. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, some impound lots operate around the clock, but in most cities - only until 20:00–22:00. Check the schedule by calling the traffic police department. If the parking lot is closed, the car will not be returned to you until the morning.

Are cars with child seats towed?

Yes, child seat available is not a basis for refusal to evacuate. An exception is if there is a child in the car at the time of evacuation (but this must be recorded in the protocol). In other cases, the chair will simply remain in the car in the parking lot.