How to Check If Your Car Has Been Towed

Summary

• If your car has been towed, you can find out where it is by calling the local council, the police non-emergency line (101), or using the TRACE service on 0207 747 4747.
• Recovering a towed vehicle typically costs between £150 and £300 plus a daily storage charge of around £20–£40, with costs rising the longer you leave it.
• You usually have 14 days to collect your car before it may be crushed or auctioned — acting quickly keeps costs down and prevents losing your vehicle entirely.

You come back to where you parked and your car is gone. Before you panic, it may have been towed rather than stolen. Here is how to find out where your car is and how to get it back as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Why Cars Get Towed In The UK

Your car can be towed for several reasons:

• Illegal parking: Parked on double yellow lines, in a bus lane, or blocking a road.
• No road tax: The DVLA can clamp and remove untaxed vehicles from public roads.
• No insurance: Police can seize uninsured vehicles on the spot.
• Obstructing traffic: Your car is blocking emergency access or causing a hazard.
• Abandoned vehicle: A car left in one place for an extended period may be reported and removed.
• Involved in a crime: Police can seize vehicles linked to criminal activity.

In most cases, you will not receive any warning before your car is towed. It can happen within minutes of parking illegally in some areas.

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How To Find Your Towed Car

Follow these steps to track down your vehicle:

1. Check for a tow-away notice. Sometimes a notice is left at the location where your car was parked.
2. Call the local council. If you were parked in a council-enforced area, their parking department can tell you if they removed it.
3. Use the TRACE service. Call 0207 747 4747 (available in London) or visit the TRACE website to search by registration number.
4. Call the police on 101. If the police seized your vehicle, the non-emergency line can confirm this and tell you where it is.
5. Report it stolen. If none of the above confirms a tow, report the vehicle as stolen to police on 101 or 999 if you have evidence of theft.

In London, the TRACE service covers all 33 boroughs. Outside London, contact your local council directly.

Act quickly. Storage charges build up every day your car sits in the pound. The sooner you collect it, the less you pay.

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How Much Does It Cost To Get Your Car Back?

The costs depend on who towed your car and how long it has been in the pound:

Fee Type	Typical Cost
Release fee (council tow)	£200–£300
Release fee (police seizure)	£150–£200
Daily storage charge	£20–£40 per day
Parking fine (on top)	£60–£130

You may also need to pay the original parking fine that led to the tow. In London, fees tend to be at the higher end. Outside London, they are generally lower.

If the police seized your car for no insurance, you will need to show proof of insurance before they release it. This means buying a policy before you collect the vehicle.

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How To Collect Your Car

To collect your car from the pound, you will need:

• Photo ID (driving licence or passport).
• Proof of ownership (V5C logbook, bill of sale, or insurance certificate).
• Valid insurance for the vehicle.
• Valid MOT certificate (if the car is over three years old).
• Payment for all fees (most pounds accept card and cash).

If your car was seized for no insurance, you must show a valid insurance policy. If seized for no road tax, you will need to tax it before driving away.

Check that your MOT is valid before collecting. Driving without a valid MOT is an additional offence.

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What If You Cannot Afford The Fees?

If you cannot pay immediately, most pounds will hold your car for up to 14 days. After that, they may dispose of it — either by crushing it or selling it at auction.

Some options if you are struggling with costs:

• Pay in stages. Some councils offer payment plans. Ask the pound directly.
• Challenge the tow. If you believe it was wrongful, you can appeal (but you may need to pay and reclaim later).
• Weigh up the cost. If your car is worth less than the release fees plus storage, it may not be worth collecting.

Do not leave your car in the pound hoping the situation resolves itself. Storage charges accumulate daily and you could lose the vehicle entirely.

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How To Appeal A Wrongful Tow

If you believe your car was towed unfairly, you can challenge it:

1. Collect your car first (paying the fees) to stop storage charges building up.
2. Write a formal appeal to the council or police force that ordered the tow.
3. Provide evidence such as photographs of signage, parking permits, or witnesses.
4. If the appeal is upheld, you will receive a full refund of all fees paid.

Appeals can take several weeks. Keep copies of all receipts and correspondence. If the council rejects your appeal, you can escalate to an independent adjudicator.

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How To Prevent Your Car Being Towed

Avoid the stress and expense of a tow with these tips:

• Always check parking restrictions. Read signs and road markings before leaving your car.
• Keep your road tax current. Untaxed vehicles on public roads are targeted by DVLA cameras.
• Maintain valid insurance. The Motor Insurers' Bureau database is checked automatically by police ANPR cameras.
• Do not block driveways or emergency access. This can lead to rapid removal.
• Check your MOT status. Run a free MOT check to confirm your vehicle is roadworthy and legal.

Keeping your car legal and properly parked is the simplest way to avoid towing. For a full guide on all the costs of car ownership, check our running costs guide.

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