How do I know if my vehicle has been towed?

You park your car, perhaps in a spot you know you shouldn’t, and return to find it is gone. It may have been stolen but it is more likely that it was towed or relocated.

Probably 99 per cent of the time a vehicle is towed it is for a bylaw infraction, said Brian Moniz, a parking enforcement supervisor with the Toronto Police Service. He said the rest of the time the vehicle would have been relocated after an emergency no parking rule was enacted.

“We might have special events, for example a parade, or a works emergency, like a water pipe burst, or there is some work being done with the TTC where they need to have no traffic on certain streets,” said Moniz. “These are friendly tows, there is no charge to the driver. We will relocate it to an area close by.”

The first thing you should do if you suspect your vehicle has been towed or moved is to call the Toronto Police Service’s non-emergency line at 416-808-2222 and follow the prompts. You will be placed in contact with a communications dispatcher who will need to know your licence plate number and where your vehicle was parked.

The dispatcher will verify if your vehicle has been impounded or relocated and where it is. Toronto is divided into five districts with a towing service overseeing each area, so you will need to call the right company to make arrangements to retrieve your vehicle.

The sooner you can get your vehicle back, the better, as storage fees start as soon as your vehicle arrives at the impound lot. The Toronto Police Service website notes the storage rate is based on a 24-hour period, with 25 per cent charged for each of the first four hours. “It is anywhere from $200 to $300. It could be higher if it a heavy truck and specialize equipment is required,” said Moniz of what it could cost you.