What to Do When Your Car Gets Towed?
3 Answers
Here is the relevant information on what to do when your car gets towed: If your car is towed due to a traffic violation: In this case, the car will be towed to the local traffic management bureau's parking lot. You need to call 122 or contact the local traffic police detachment. Bring your driver's license, vehicle registration, and ID card to the local traffic police detachment for processing. The fine is usually 200 yuan with no points deducted. If your car is towed due to a traffic accident: The vehicle will be legally impounded by the traffic police for inspection and appraisal. You can only wait for the results of the inspection and appraisal before the traffic police notify you to retrieve the vehicle. Generally, the impoundment period for accident vehicles should not exceed 25 days (20 days for inspection and appraisal plus 5 days for notification). However, if the inspection and appraisal period is extended with approval from the higher-level traffic management department, the impoundment period can be extended up to 65 days (60 days for inspection and appraisal plus 5 days for notification). If your car is impounded by the traffic police for violating the relevant regulations in the "Procedures for the Handling of Road Traffic Safety Violations," you should promptly address the issue with the traffic police department, accepting any penalties or point deductions as required.
I remember last year when my car got towed, I was so frantic, thinking it was stolen, but it turned out I had parked in the wrong spot. Don’t panic—first, find a place to call the towing company or traffic police to get details. They’ll provide an address and contact information. When you get to the impound lot, be ready to pay the towing fee plus any violation fines, which could range from 200 to 1,000 RMB. Have cash or a bank card handy. When retrieving your car, check for any new scratches—sometimes towing can cause minor damage. Afterward, remind yourself to be more careful with parking next time, especially in busy urban areas where illegal parking is easy to get caught. Consider setting up a reminder app or paying closer attention to road signs to avoid going through that stressful hassle again—it’s really not a pleasant feeling.
I've experienced having my car towed before, and it's indeed a hassle. The first thing to do is not to panic. Quickly recall whether the parking location was illegal, then contact the local urban management or towing department to find out where your vehicle was taken. When going to retrieve the car, bring your ID card and vehicle license. You'll typically need to pay towing fees, storage fees, and possibly parking fines. After retrieval, thoroughly inspect the vehicle's condition to prevent unexpected damage. For daily driving, I recommend developing the habit of checking for yellow lines and markings before parking, and becoming more familiar with traffic regulations. The towing experience taught me to be vigilant about urban driving, as the cost of violations isn't low.
