Towed car: What those affected can do now

If you park incorrectly, you don't just have to fear parking tickets. In the worst case, the car will be towed away - how do you get your car back?

The shopping in the city center is done. Now back to the car and home. But the car is gone. The first question: Was it stolen or towed away? If the car was parked in a public space, the best way to find out, according to the ADAC, is to call the police. Important: Do not block the emergency number 110 for this, but rather "call via the office".

This means calling the number of the nearest police station directly. This can be found quickly on the Internet, for example by searching for "police station near you". "Here you can also find out how to proceed," says ADAC spokesperson Alexander Schnaars. The public order office could also help in such a case.

Where do I pick up the car?

If the car has been moved or towed away, at best you will now know the new location after the phone call. A relocated car can usually be used again immediately. The fees for this will follow.

If the car has been towed to a central official storage location, it must be released there against payment of the fees. In addition to towing costs, there are also storage costs. It is often possible to recover the vehicle around the clock.

What documents do I need?

As a rule, you will need an identity card, vehicle registration document or vehicle registration certificate and, if necessary, a power of attorney. In addition, cash or an EC card. The procedure may vary slightly from region to region.

Further information can be found on regional police or city online portals. The relevant pages can often be found on the Internet using keywords such as "KFZ-Verwahrstelle". Appeals against towing can generally still be lodged afterwards. According to the ADAC, it is advisable to pay under reserve.

What does towing cost?

The costs for towing or moving the vehicle are usually charged to the owner. A fee notice is issued for this. The amounts vary from region to region - the day of the week and time of day also play a role. According to Schnaars, the charges are usually in the three-digit range. Additional costs such as stand fees at the storage locations must also be taken into account. There are also possible fines for parking illegally.

When is towing even possible?

The requirements for towing by the police can vary from state to state. The measure must be proportionate, says Schnaars. This is why, for example, disabled parking spaces and fire department access roads can be towed away immediately, whereas in the case of mobile stopping bans for parades, an attempt will first be made to locate the parking offender.

According to the ADAC, the police must always act proportionately and choose the mildest means possible, such as moving the vehicle to a free parking space nearby. In large cities, however, this is usually unreasonable due to a lack of parking spaces, which is why the vehicle may then be taken to storage areas without further examination.

The car was towed from the supermarket parking lot - what now?

If the car was towed from a private property such as a supermarket parking lot, the signs on site will usually indicate who you can contact by phone. In the meantime, the operators have usually commissioned parking monitoring companies.

If there are no signs, for example on a parking area in front of a residential complex, tenants or janitors may be able to provide information on where to turn. "If none of this is successful, the public order office or police may know who carries out towing measures on the property in question," says Schnaars.

Once you have found the contact, you will usually only get the car back or even learn of its location if the costs are paid beforehand. This is even legal, according to the ADAC with reference to the case law of the Federal Court of Justice. The court has already confirmed this in several rulings, most recently in its decision on storage costs (Ref.: V ZR 192/22).

The costs for towing are sometimes considerable, according to the ADAC. It depends on the respective circumstances and can vary from the low to the high three-digit range. The ADAC advises not to pay for towing from private property until the following points have been clarified:

Ask to see proof of whether the surveillance company actually had an order to do so and was authorized to remove the incorrectly parked car.
The claim should not exceed the actual towing costs.
Were there signs on the property threatening the towing of illegally parked cars and clearly marking the area as private property?
Request a detailed invoice and obtain a receipt for payment subject to reservation in order to take any legal action.

Important: If it turns out that the car was not towed away by the authorities or a private party, there is a risk of theft. The first thing to do is to report it to the police and then quickly contact the car insurance company.