The car was towed: where to call and how to return the car in

You went outside and your car is not in its usual place? Or have you received an SMS stating that your car has been towed to an impound lot? The situation is unpleasant, but not hopeless. The main thing is not to panic and act quickly. In this article you will find current telephone numbers and contacts, where to call if your car has been towed, as well as a step-by-step algorithm for returning the car.

Towing can occur for various reasons: violation of parking rules, lack of insurance, unpaid fines, or even an inspector’s mistake. It is important to understand that the faster you take action, the less time and money you will spend on solving the problem. We'll look at it in detail, how to find out where the car was taken, what documents are needed for return, how much it will cost and how to appeal the evacuation if it was illegal.

We will pay special attention hotline numbers in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia, as well as nuances that many drivers are not aware of. For example, what to do if a tow truck took away a car with a child inside or if you do not agree with the reason for the detention of the vehicle.

First steps: where to call if your car is towed

As soon as you discover that the car is missing, the first thing to do is check to see if it was taken away by a tow truck. Here step-by-step action plan:

• 🔍 Inspect the parking area for signs "Evacuation" or "The tow truck is working". Information signs with contacts are often left nearby.
• 📱 Call traffic police duty station by phone 112 (single emergency number) or to the hotline of your region. In Moscow it is +7 (495) 547-00-05, in St. Petersburg - +7 (812) 573-21-80.
• 💻 Check out the official resources:
  • Website State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of Russia — section “Checking evacuated vehicles.”
  • Portal mos.ru (for Moscow) or gu.spb.ru (for St. Petersburg).
• 📄 Prepare documents: passport, driver's license, STS and PTS (if any). The car will not be returned without them.

If you call the traffic police, be prepared to call car registration number, make and model, as well as the approximate location where the car was last parked. The operator must inform you at which impound lot your vehicle is located and for what reason it was evacuated.

⚠️ Attention! Never give the original documents for the car to strangers, even if they are presented by towing service employees. Fraudsters often use such schemes to steal money.

Phone numbers of impound lots in Moscow, St. Petersburg and regions

Addresses and telephone numbers of impound lots vary depending on the region. Below is updated material on 2026:

Region	Impound lot phone number	Address (example)	Operating mode
Moscow	+7 (495) 539-54-54 (single call center)	st. Molodogvardeyskaya, 60 (and other addresses)	Around the clock
St. Petersburg	+7 (812) 576-09-01	st. Sedova, 11 (central parking lot)	08:00–20:00
Yekaterinburg	+7 (343) 371-49-49	st. Repina, 100	09:00–18:00
Novosibirsk	+7 (383) 223-50-50	st. Stationnaya, 30	Around the clock
Kazan	+7 (843) 231-91-11	st. Dekabristov, 135	08:00–22:00

If your region is not in the table, check the contacts of the impound lot via local traffic police department or on the city administration website. You can also use the service impound lot.rf, where the database is collected throughout Russia.

When calling the impound lot, please specify:

• 📌 The exact address where the car was evacuated.
• 💰 Storage cost (paid for every hour or day).
• 📄 What documents are needed for a return (sometimes a certificate from the traffic police is required).
• ⏰ Opening hours (some parking lots are open 24 hours a day, others are not).

How much does it cost to return a car from an impound lot in 2026?

The cost of returning a car consists of several payments:

1. Payment for evacuation (from 3 000 up to 10 000 rubles depending on the region and vehicle category).
2. Parking storage (from 500 up to 2 000 rubles per day).
3. Penalty for violation (if the evacuation was because of him). For example, for parking on the lawn - 5 000 rubles, for lack of insurance - 800 rubles

In Moscow and St. Petersburg the following tariffs apply (for 2026):

• 🚗 Cars:
  • Evacuation: 5 500 rubles
  • Storage: 1 000 rubles/day.
• 🚛 Trucks (up to 3.5 tons):
  • Evacuation: 8 000 rubles
  • Storage: 1 500 rubles/day.
• 🏍 Motorcycles:
  • Evacuation: 3 000 rubles
  • Storage: 500 rubles/day.

Important: if you do not pick up the car within 30 days, it may be sold at auction by court decision. Also note that storage fees are charged from the moment of evacuation, and not from the moment of your request.

⚠️ Attention! Some impound lots practice “hidden” fees (for example, for “paperwork” or “loading and unloading”). Request a receipt and check the amounts against the official rates.

What documents are needed to return the car?

To pick up a car from the impound lot, you will need the following package of documents:

Owner's passport or power of attorney (if another person is picking up)

Vehicle Registration Certificate (CTC)

Driver's license (if you drive a car)

PTS (if proof of ownership is required)

Receipts for payment for evacuation and storage

Certificate from the traffic police (if the evacuation was by decision of the inspector) -->

If the car is registered to another person (for example, a spouse or parents), you will need notarized power of attorney the right to drive and dispose of a vehicle. In some cases, the original may be required PTS, so it's better to have it with you.

If the evacuation occurred due to unpaid fines, you will first have to pay off your debts through the site State services or traffic police. The payment receipt must be shown at the impound lot.

The period for returning the car after providing all documents is from 30 minutes up to 2 hours. If you are denied a license without explanation, request a written refusal and call the traffic police hotline.

What to do if the evacuation was illegal

If you think that your car was towed illegally (for example, there were no parking signs or you were standing for less than 5 minutes), you can appeal the evacuation. To do this:

1. Take photos of where the car was parked and nearby signs (or lack thereof).
2. Write down contact details of witnesses (if any).
3. Write a complaint to traffic police or prosecutor's office demanding that the evacuation be declared illegal.
4. File a claim in court for a refund of money for evacuation and storage.

Deadline for appeal - 10 days from the moment of evacuation. If you miss this deadline, your chances of getting your money back are greatly reduced. In your complaint please indicate:

• 📝 Date and time of evacuation.
• 📍 The exact address where the car was parked.
• 🚗 Make, model and license plate number of the vehicle.
• 📋 The reason why you consider evacuation illegal (with links to traffic rules).

If the court sides with you, you will be refunded the money for evacuation and storage, as well as compensation for moral damages (if you demanded it). However, the process may take several months.

Example of a successful appeal

In 2023, a Moscow resident challenged the evacuation of his Kia Rio, since the “No Stopping” sign was covered by tree branches. The court declared the evacuation illegal and ordered the traffic police to return 7 800 rubles (cost of evacuation + day of storage).

Common reasons for evacuation and how to avoid them

To avoid facing evacuation, study most common reasons, by which cars are taken to impound lots:

• 🚫 Parking in disabled spaces no sign. Fine - 5 000 rubles, evacuation is mandatory.
• 🚗 Parking on the lawn or sidewalk. In Moscow and St. Petersburg this is a desk fine + evacuation.
• 📄 Lack of compulsory motor liability insurance policy or expired insurance. Fine - 800 rubles, but the car can be towed.
• 🚨 Violation of evacuation rules (for example, if you interfere with the movement of special vehicles).
• 💰 Unpaid fines from above 10 000 rubles In this case, the car can be towed by decision of the bailiffs.

To minimize risks:

• 📱 Install the application "Moscow Parking" or "Yandex.Parking" — they show zones with permitted parking.
• 🔄 Regularly check fines for traffic police website.
• 📅 Keep an eye on the expiration date OSAGO and diagnostic card.

Towed a car with a child or animal inside: what to do

If there is any left inside the evacuated vehicle child, disabled person or pet, act immediately:

1. Call police (112) and report an emergency.
2. Check with the operator exactly where the car was taken and demand an urgent return of the vehicle.
3. If a child or animal is in danger (for example, in hot weather), call ambulance.
4. Record everything on video - this will help in court if you have to challenge the actions of the tow truck.

By law, a tow truck is not allowed to leave if there are people or animals in the car. If this happens, the inspector and the tow truck driver will administrative and criminal liability (Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - leaving in danger).

In such cases, you have the right to demand:

• 🚑 Immediate return of the car no payment.
• 💰 Compensation for moral damage (through court).
• 📋 Initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the inspector.

⚠️ Attention! If a child is left alone in a locked car, call Ministry of Emergency Situations (112) - they will open the car without damage.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about car evacuation

Can a car be towed for loan debts?

No, they do not have the right to tow a car for loan debts. However, if you do not pay the loan, the bank can go to court and, through bailiffs, seize the car. In this case, the car can pick up at a special parking lot, but this is no longer an evacuation, but the execution of a court decision.

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

If the evacuation is related to unpaid fines, you have 70 days from the moment the decision is made:

• 10 days for appeal.
• 60 days for voluntary payment.

After this, the bailiffs can initiate an evacuation.

Is it possible to pick up a car from an impound lot at night?

Depends on the region. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, some parking lots are open around the clock, but in small cities the schedule may be limited (for example, with 8:00 up to 20:00). Check this by phone before your visit.

What to do if at the impound lot they demand money “out of hand”?

If the parking staff asks you to pay cash without check or they inflate tariffs, act like this:

1. Request an official receipt with a stamp and details.
2. If they refuse, call the traffic police hotline or the police.
3. Write a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor or the prosecutor's office.

For such actions, employees may be fired or fined.

Can a car be towed with the engine running?

Yes, if you violated parking rules. Według Traffic rules of the Russian Federation, the engine being turned on is not a basis for refusing evacuation. However, if you manage to arrive before the tow truck starts moving, the car must be returned (but you will still have to pay a fine).