The situation when someone else's car blocks the exit from the yard, blocks the roadway or is parked on the sidewalk is familiar to many drivers. Wrongly parked car not only creates inconvenience, but can also cause an accident or a fine for you if you have to drive around an obstacle in the oncoming lane. In 2026, evacuation rules and fines for parking violations have become stricter, but not everyone knows how to quickly and effectively solve the problem.

In this article we will analyze all legal ways to remove a disturbing car: from calling the traffic police to calling a tow truck, and we will also tell you what evidence needs to be collected in order for the violator to receive a fine. We will pay special attention to the nuances for Moscow, St. Petersburg and regions where they operate their own parking control services.

If the car is parked pedestrian crossing, in zone of operation of the "No Stopping" sign or blocks leaving the yard, it can be evacuated within 5–15 minutes after a violation is detected. But to do this, you need to fill out the application correctly - otherwise the inspectors may ignore your call.

Important: from 2023, the system will operate in most Russian cities automatic recording of parking violations through cameras. However, if the machine interferes specifically for you (for example, it is blocking your garage or entrance), you will have to act independently. Below are step-by-step instructions.

1. When can a car be towed due to obstruction?

Not every illegally parked car is subject to instant evacuation. According to Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Article 12.19), the vehicle may be taken to an impound lot if it is parked in places where there is a stop prohibited 24 hours a day or interferes with traffic. Here is the complete list of cases:

  • 🚗 On pedestrian crossing or closer than 5 meters in front of him.
  • 🚧 On sidewalk (except for places marked with a sign 6.4 + sign 8.6.2–8.6.9).
  • 🚪 Blocks leaving the yard or entrance to the yard (if the passage width is less than 3 meters).
  • 🚨 Overlaps roadway, forcing other drivers to pass in the oncoming lane.
  • 🚑 Interferes with travel special transport (ambulance, fire, police).
  • 📛 In the area of the signs 3.27 (“Stopping prohibited”) or 3.28 ("No parking") without a sign 8.24 ("The tow truck is working").

If the car is parked on the lawn, on the bike path or on site for disabled people, she will also be evacuated, but the timing may vary. For example, in Moscow the fine for parking on the lawn is 5,000 rubles, and evacuation occurs within 1–2 hours.

Attention: if the car is parked supermarket parking lot or in a yard without signs, but it gets in the way specifically for you (for example, your car is blocked), a tow truck will not be called - this is considered a “private conflict.” In this case, you will have to look for the owner or call the police to draw up a report.

📊 How often do you encounter illegal parking?
Daily
Once a week
Rarely
Never

2. Where to call if a car is blocking your passage: telephone numbers of the traffic police and MADI

First step - recording a violation. Without evidence (photo/video), your complaint may be ignored. Take a photo or video:

  • 📸 Vehicle registration number (so that it is clearly visible).
  • 📍 Location of violation (signs, markings, pedestrian crossing).
  • 📏 Distance to signs/crossing (can be measured in steps or with a tape measure).
  • ⏱️ Time and date (on a smartphone it is automatically registered in the photo metadata).

After that, choose where to call depending on the situation:

Situation Where to call Phone Reaction time
Machine on pedestrian crossing or sidewalk Traffic police (duty department) 102 or 112 (single emergency number) 5–30 minutes
Blocks leaving the yard (Moscow, St. Petersburg) MADI (Moscow Administrative Road Inspector) +7 (495) 539-54-54 or via the app "Moscow Parking" 15–60 minutes
Worth in sign zone 3.27 (stopping is prohibited) Local traffic police department or municipal parking service Check on the website traffic police.rf 30–120 minutes
Interfering special transport (ambulance, fire) 112 (unified rescue service) 112 5–10 minutes

They also operate in Moscow and St. Petersburg parking hotlines:

  • 📞 Moscow: +7 (495) 539-54-54 (MADI) or via chatbot @ParkingMoscowBot on Telegram.
  • 📞 St. Petersburg: +7 (812) 576-05-05 (Transportation Committee).

What should I tell the operator?

  1. Name exact address (street, house, landmarks).
  2. Report license plate number and make of the car.
  3. Please indicate what rule was broken (for example: “standing at a pedestrian crossing, blocking the passage”).
  4. Say what you have photo/video evidence.

Take a photo of the license plate of the car|Record a video with a 360° view|Check for the presence of signs or markings|Prepare a description of the violation (what exactly is blocking)|Make sure that the car is not in the impound lot (check through the service traffic police.rf/check/auto)-->

3. How long does it take to wait for a tow truck?

The tow truck arrival time depends on city, service load and type of violation. On average:

  • 🚨 Emergency cases (the roadway is blocked, interfering with special transport) - 5–15 minutes.
  • 🚗 Parking on the sidewalk/pedestrian crossing — 20–40 minutes.
  • 🏘️ Yard blocking (Moscow, St. Petersburg) — 30–90 minutes.

In the regions, the tow truck may take longer - up to 2–3 hours. If the car has not left within the specified time, call again and check the status of the application.

⚠️ Attention: If the tow truck did not arrive and the car drove off on its own, check it using the fines database on the website traffic police. Perhaps the owner received a notice of violation and re-parked. If there is no fine, file a complaint about the inaction of inspectors through website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The system operates in Moscow and St. Petersburg automatic evacuation for cars parked sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. If the camera recorded a violation, the tow truck will arrive even without your call. You can check whether the car went to the impound lot through the following services:

4. What to do if a car blocks your car?

If someone else's car blocked your car in the yard or in the parking lot, the algorithm of actions is different:

  1. Try to find the owner: go around the nearby entrances, ask your neighbors, check if there is a note with a phone number hanging on the windshield.
  2. Call the police (102)if the owner is not there. The inspector will draw up a traffic obstruction report.
  3. Call a tow truck (if the car is parked in violation of traffic rules).
  4. If there are no violations (for example, both cars are parked in the yard without signs), all that remains is to wait or try to resolve the issue peacefully.
⚠️ Attention: On your own tow or damage someone else's car is criminal liability (Article 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, “Deliberate destruction of property”). Even if the car is in the way, it is better to wait for the inspector.

In some cases it helps contacting the management company (if the car is parked in the local area). The management company can contact the owner through the tenant database.

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If a car blocks your car paid parking, call the parking operator - they have information about the owners by number. In Moscow it is +7 (495) 539-54-54 (MADI), in St. Petersburg - +7 (812) 576-05-05.

5. How to check whether the car was taken to the impound lot?

If after your call the car disappeared, it is not a fact that it was evacuated. Perhaps the owner just left. You can check the status of your car through official services:

If your car is impounded, you will be given:

  • 📄 Protocol on administrative offense (grounds for evacuation).
  • 💰 Receipt for payment of fine (from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles depending on the violation).
  • 🚛 Address of the impound lotwhere you can pick up the car.

Cost of evacuation and storage in 2026:

  • 💸 Evacuation - from 3,000 to 7,000 rubles (depends on the region).
  • 💸 Storage in an impound lot — 1,000–1,500 rubles per day.
⚠️ Attention: If the car has been towed at night or on weekends, the fine and storage costs may be higher. In Moscow, for example, night evacuation costs 5,000 rubles (daytime - 3,000).

6. How to return a car from the impound lot?

To pick up a car from the impound lot, you need to:

  1. Pay the fine (possible via fines.rf or banking application).
  2. Pay for evacuation and storage (details will be given at the impound lot).
  3. Present documents:
    • 📄 License or passport.
    • 📄 STS (vehicle registration certificate).
    • 📄 Evacuation protocol (if issued).
    • 📄 Payment receipts.

In some regions you can pick up the car without paying a fine, but then it won’t be given back until the debt is paid off. In Moscow and St. Petersburg the following rule applies: first payment, then delivery.

Addresses of impound lots in major cities:

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If the car has been towed illegal (for example, the “No Stopping” sign was covered with branches), you can appeal the fine within 10 days via the website traffic police or court.

7. Is it possible to avoid evacuation if you have time to repark?

Yes, but only if you have time to leave before the tow truck arrives. The system works like this:

  • 📞 You or another driver call the traffic police/MADI.
  • 🚔 The inspector records the violation and transmits the data to the tow truck.
  • 🚛 The tow truck leaves for the site (on average after 20–40 minutes).
  • 🚗 If the car drove away before loading, the fine will still come (if the violation is recorded on camera), but evacuation can be avoided.

The system works in Moscow and St. Petersburg "Parcon" — it automatically scans license plates on sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. If the camera recorded a violation, you will receive a fine even if you leave after 5 minutes.

⚠️ Attention: If you returned to the car when the tow truck had already begun loading, you cannot stop the process - you will have to pay for evacuation and storage. An exception is if the inspector has not yet drawn up a protocol.

8. What to do if the traffic police and MADI do not respond?

If more has passed since the call 2 hours, and the car is still standing still, proceed like this:

  1. Call again and check the status of the application (the operator should have the application number).
  2. Write a complaint to the inaction of inspectors:
  • Contact the media or social networks (an account helps in Moscow @mosparking in Telegram).

    • Also works in Moscow system "People's control" — you can send a complaint through the application "Moscow State Services" or website mos.ru.

    If the car gets in the way passing special transport (ambulance, fire), but the inspectors do not respond, call the rescue service directly (112) - they have the right to demand that the obstacle be removed urgently.

    What to do if a car interferes with the passage of an ambulance?

    If a car is blocking the passage ambulances, doctors have the right to call the police for forced opening or towing car. In extreme cases (for example, when the patient’s life is at risk), doctors can break the glassto turn off the alarm and move the car. The owner will then have to pay for the damage, but this is legal (Article 39 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, “Extreme necessity”).

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about cars blocking travel

    ❓ Is it possible to evacuate a car if it is parked in the yard without signs?

    Not if the car is just in the way to you personally (for example, blocks your car), but does not violate traffic rules, a tow truck will not be called. In this case, you need to look for the owner or call the police to draw up an act of obstruction of traffic (Article 12.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

    ❓ How much does it cost to evacuate a car in 2026?

    The cost depends on the region:

    • 📍 Moscow: evacuation — 3,000–5,000 rubles, storage - 1,000 rubles/day.
    • 📍 St. Petersburg: evacuation — 3,500–6,000 rubles, storage - 1,200 rubles/day.
    • 📍 Regions: from 2,000 to 7,000 rubles (check with your local traffic police department).
    ❓ Is it possible to call a tow truck anonymously?

    Yes, the traffic police and MADI accept anonymous applications, but it’s better to indicate a contact phone number - this will solve the problem faster. If you call via 112, your number will be detected automatically.

    ❓ What to do if a car interferes with travel, but there are no traffic violations?

    If the car is standing legally (for example, in an authorized parking lot, but it blocks your exit), the options are:

    1. Try to find the owner (go around the surrounding houses, leave a note).
    2. Call the police (102) to draw up an act of obstruction of traffic.
    3. Contact the management company (if the car is parked in the local area).

    You must not tow or damage the vehicle yourself. - this is criminal liability (Article 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

    ❓ How to find out who the owner of a car is by license plate number?

    On your own It is impossible to find out the owner's name by the number - This is a violation of the law on personal data. But you can:

    • Contact traffic police with an official request (you need a good reason, for example, an accident).
    • Try to find the owner through neighbors or management company.
    • Use services like Autocode or CarVertical, but they will only show the car's history, not the owner's details.