When you find out your car has been towed, the first thing to do is check if it was improperly parked. If your vehicle was not parked in an illegal space, then call the police non-emergency number and ask what you can do about getting your car back. There are so many reasons why your car may have been towed. Finding out why and how to get your vehicle is going to be crucial. Be aware that most tow companies charge a fee of $200 or more for retrieving cars.
Contact the Police Non-Emergency Number
If you find out that your vehicle has been towed and it is not because of an illegally parked vehicle, then call the police non-emergency phone line to learn what can be done about getting back a car.
The police non-emergency number will help you figure out why your car was towed and how it can be retrieved.
Call Your Lawyer
Your car may have been towed because it was used in a crime. If this is the case, contact your lawyer immediately. Your lawyer will be able to advise you on how to proceed or what can be done about retrieving your car.
Your lawyer may also know of any laws that protect you from being charged with the crime if you are not found guilty. This information will help so much when talking to authorities and trying to get back a vehicle without legal issues following it after the tow truck has left.
Take Pictures Before and After the Tow
Most tow truck companies will not give you a receipt or any form of documentation about your car’s location. Taking pictures and keeping evidence will be the only way to make sure that it gets back on track if something were to happen with insurance, retrieval fees, and other legal matters after it has been towed from its original spot.
If you feel it was illegally towed, take pictures of the parking spot as well as your car. This documentation will come in handy if you need to prove that it was legally parked and the tow truck company illegally towed it.
Have All Legal Information and Documentation Ready
You will need to have all legal documentation and information ready when talking with the tow truck company, including ensuring that you are not held responsible for any fees. Make copies of your driver’s license, registration, insurance card, title certificate, or bill of sale if needed at a later date. If there was an illegal reason why your car was towed, it would be imperative that you keep a record of all legal actions and documentation.
Make sure to ask for a receipt from the tow truck company after your vehicle has been picked up. If they refuse or give an amount higher than $40, do not pay them until you have called your lawyer to make sure everything is on the up and up.
Sometimes, tow truck companies will check your car’s VIN to see if you have any outstanding tickets or payments owed. This will help them decide if they can legally tow your vehicle or not, so be sure to have all information ready before you even call the police non-emergency number.
Getting towed is one of those things that no one wants to experience. If it does happen, though, at least there are tips and tricks on how to get back a car and resolve the issue. Just make sure to be prepared with all documentation and information necessary.
