How to find a towed car in the Moscow towing service

Megacities are cities of roads, cars and huge traffic jams. In all this fuss, it’s easy to get confused and break traffic rules or parking rules. In the article we will look at what violations can lead to a car being taken away, what to do if a car is towed in Moscow , where to look for it, what documents will be needed and much more on this burning topic.

In what cases is a car towed?

Towing illegally parked cars is the direct responsibility of the Moscow Road Inspectorate (MADI) and traffic police officers.

There are free parking lots in Moscow and you can leave your car there so as not to become a victim of the above-mentioned services.

In order not to be nervous when you discover that your car is missing, you need to know why it can be towed:

• at a pedestrian crossing;
• public transport stop;
• paid parking area;
• tram tracks;
• in places for parking cars of disabled people;
• roadway;
• on bridges;
• in tunnels, etc.

In addition, a car can be towed not only for improper parking . They risk ending up in a special parking lot for evacuated cars and:

• trucks without the appropriate permit;
• cars without license plates;
• cars obstructing traffic flow, etc.

What actions should I take?

It is almost impossible to save your iron horse if the car was evacuated while the owner was present. Mostly this happens in his absence, and the driver appears when his vehicle is no longer there.

First, you need to make sure that the car was actually taken by the traffic police and not stolen. There is a special hotline that operates 24/7 and provides the necessary information. If you are unable to find the service’s phone number on your own, contact the traffic police duty department, they will provide you with the necessary contact.

It is recommended that you find out this phone number in advance so as not to search headlong for the necessary numbers.

Reasons for evacuating:

• You do not have special documents for car ownership, and you were unable to provide them later;
• Driving while intoxicated;
• Refusal to travel to the hospital to conduct an examination at the request of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate;
• Parking in prohibited places: on tram tracks, public stops, blocking paths for pedestrians, blocking the free passage of other cars;
• The vehicle has become evidence of an accident and acts as evidence;
• The car was not cleaned by the owners after the accident. IMPORTANT : they have the right to evacuate the car if there are no people in the cabin.

If my car is towed in front of me, what should I do?

In such a situation, you can get away with a slight fright and a fine for illegal parking. But only until the tow truck with the loaded vehicle starts moving to the impound lot.

If the car owner gets to the place where his car is parked before the special equipment leaves , he can fix the problem himself. In this case, the car is not towed, but the driver must pay a fine.

The process of evacuation of vehicles to the penalty area

Let's take a closer look at the entire evacuation process:

• The driver parked the car in the wrong place, or blocked the road, and then went about his business.
• A traffic police inspector noticed a violation or someone called it.
• After this, the inspector calls the evacuation service.

Important! If the tow truck did not have time to move before the driver arrived, they must return the car and issue a fine for the violation. But, if the tow truck has already moved, then the car can be returned only with a parking fine.

The inspector is required to draw up a protocol that will indicate all the technical parameters of the vehicle. The protocol must also indicate the type of equipment that is towing the car, since not every tow truck is suitable for cars, for example, with low ground clearance.

When towing a car, a “tow truck is in operation” sign must be attached. It is prohibited to evacuate a car without this sign.

How can I find out which impound lot my car was taken to?

If the car has been evacuated, first of all you need to find out where the car was evacuated in Moscow. There are many parking lots for towed cars in the capital, so searching for a vehicle on your own is almost impossible.

There are several proven ways to find out where a towed car is located.:

1. Check the availability of vehicles in the database of evacuees using the website of the Moscow Mayor portal "Autocode" or "Moscow transport" Just enter the car number and get a response from the database.
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2. Information about evacuated vehicles is also available to motorists via SMS messages. You need to send an SMS from your mobile phone to number 7377, in which you indicate the alphabetic abbreviation “EV” and the license plate number of the vehicle (all letters and numbers).

Where are towed cars sent?

All vehicles that were parked incorrectly or became an obstacle to the movement of other vehicles are evacuated to the nearest fine parking lot in Moscow. All facilities on its territory are under 24-hour security. The owner of the car will be given a receipt for the services received, and you can also get advice from employees on issues of interest.

Reference! The violator’s transport can only be sent to official sites. If the vehicle was transported to another place, then such actions can be appealed in court.

Who to call if your car is towed?

If you see that your car is being taken to an impound lot, the main question is what to do and where to call :

1. Call the hotline number . This is where citizens who have had their vehicles towed most often turn. You need to dial or 3210 and find out where to find the towed car, and for what violations it was taken away.
2. find out the address of a specialized parking lot by calling the traffic police/MADI phone number (02 or 112 from a mobile phone).

What to do if the traffic police towed the vehicle?

In such a situation, a million questions arise: What should you say if the car is taken away from you? Where to call? What actions should I take? And this is only part of the main ones, and there are non-standard situations from which it is necessary to find a way out. There are cases of damage to the car during evacuation to the impound lot, or loss of personal belongings from the cabin. You need to be prepared for anything. But it’s better to know the rules of proper parking so as not to encounter this. Our advice will pass on the experience of other drivers and save you from unnecessary hassle.

What documents are needed to pick up a car?

Having received the necessary information about the detention of a vehicle, do not rush to the rescue. The car will not be released to the owner if he does not provide the inspector with the following documents:

• identification;
• papers confirming ownership of the car (PTS);
• vehicle detention protocol;
• notarized power of attorney to conduct business (for the legal representative of the owner).

If a car enthusiast drives a car without ownership, additional documents will be required:

• driver license;
• STS;
• valid MTPL policy.

How to find out about evacuation via SMS

Moscow drivers are provided with a free evacuation notification service via SMS notification. In this case, the driver will know that the car has been towed and not stolen. In addition, the message will contain the following data that you do not have to look for yourself:

• the address of the specialized parking lot where the car was evacuated;
• traffic police department/MADI, contact phone number.

You can subscribe to SMS about evacuation in the following ways:

1Send an SMS with the text EV P “license number of the vehicle” to number 7377 (SMS is free).

2Register on the website parking.mos.ru. After accepting the agreement, you will automatically subscribe to the SMS newsletter.

3Register on the website mos.ru.

How to pick up a car from an impound lot?

If the driver has a copy of the administrative violation report in his hands, he must:

• contact the department that detained the vehicle;
• provide all necessary documents;
• obtain permission to return the car;
• go to the parking lot where the car is kept;
• Conduct a full inspection of the car for damage or scratches;
• sign the acceptance certificate;
• pick him up.

Important! You can pay for transportation and storage of the car both before receiving it and after (within 2 months).

Returning the car

Before going to the impound area to pick up a vehicle, you must obtain a return permit from the traffic police or MADI department. You will need to have the following documentation with you:

• driver's license;
• OSAGO policy;
• vehicle registration certificate.

Note! After reconciling the submitted papers and checking for the presence of other offenses, employees will give the car owner a duplicate of the deed of primary transfer of the property, resolutions and permission to receive the car.

Next, the owner of the vehicle can go to the impound lot. It is necessary to inspect the car, check for damage and the integrity of objects and documents left in the car.

How much does it cost to move and store a special parking lot?

The cost of returning a vehicle from an impound lot depends on several factors:

• duration of stay in the special parking lot;
• category to which the car belongs (A, B, C, etc.);
• engine power.

On average, the price of moving varies from 3,000 to 30,000 rubles , and storage - from 500 to 2,070 rubles (excluding discounts).

Regardless of how much car transportation and storage services cost, the driver can choose one of the payment options:

• with a 25% discount - if payment is made before visiting the special parking lot;
• in full - within 2 months from the date of transfer of the vehicle to the legal owner.

Cost of moving a vehicle to an impound lot

Cost of storing a vehicle in an impound lot

Cost of services

Tow truck services are calculated based on the vehicle’s power and its category:

• A, B with power up to 80 hp. – 3,000 rub.;
• At 80-250 hp – 5,000 rub.;
• Over 250 hp – 7,000 rub.;
• D, freight transport – 27,000 rubles;
• oversized cars – 29,000 rubles.

If the owner applies for a car after a few days, then every 24 hours of security will cost 1,000 rubles. The owner of a freight transport will have to pay 2,000 rubles. for every day.

Is it possible to return money for evacuation if the fine is cancelled?

The human factor is present in all areas of activity, so mistakes are not excluded when towing a car. But can the traffic police or MADI return the money? You will need to file a claim in court and defend your position by any permitted means:

• video or photography (mobile phone, recorder, surveillance cameras);
• witness's testimonies.

If the driver can prove that, in accordance with the current administrative code (Administrative Code of the Russian Federation), the fine was issued unlawfully, he must be compensated for :

• the amount of the fine paid;
• expenses for payment for vehicle transportation services;
• funds paid for storing a car in a special parking lot.

Towing a car with a driver

Sometimes a driver needs to leave the car for a while to pop into a store or other organization for a quick errand. At the same time, he may not pay attention to prohibitory signs or accidentally violate the rules of parking and stopping cars. If, when returning to the parking lot, the car owner sees a tow truck working on his car, he can prevent it from being sent to the impound lot right on the spot.

To do this, you need to go to the inspector and show him the documents for the car. After checking them, the vehicle must be returned to its place, provided that the driver undertakes to place it in accordance with the rules.

Where to complain about evacuation?

If the owner is sure that the evacuation was carried out without reason, you can write a complaint against the actions of a traffic police officer or MADI. It must indicate:

• own data;
• information about the car;
• arrest report number;
• Full name of the inspector;
• circumstances of the case.

The claim is sent to the management of the unit within 10 days from the date of drawing up the protocol. The citizen's appeal must be considered within 30 days and given a reasoned answer as to whether the inspector had the right to evacuate the car in a particular situation.

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What to do if the car is towed to an impound lot?

If the car was nevertheless taken away, and the process could not be stopped, then you should proceed as follows:

1. Get permission. If you find an inspector at the evacuation site, you can get permission directly from him, otherwise you will have to look for the inspector you need.
2. Find out exactly which parking lot the car was towed to. To do this, all you need to do is call your local traffic police department.
3. Collect a package of documents, namely a permit, documents for a car and identification documents. If for some reason the vehicle is not picked up by its owner, be sure to have a power of attorney certified by a notary.
4. The local traffic police department will issue you a fine. Remember, according to current legislation, the basis for issuing a permit is the elimination of the reason why the car was towed, and not the payment of a fine. That is, if the car was parked incorrectly, then its evacuation has already eliminated the violation, therefore, you should be issued a permit without first requiring you to pay a fine
5. Based on permission, go to the parking lot and pick up the vehicle.

Very often, when a car is towed, all the documents remain inside. If the car is towed with all the documents in the cabin, there is a clear algorithm of actions:

• We find out which impound lot the car was taken to.
• Let's go there. The impound lot employee must open the car in front of you and take away the documents.
• The papers are handed over to the owner, and a protocol is drawn up, since the car was opened.
• In this case, be sure to seal the vehicle, and then everything will go according to plan.

If there are people sitting in the car, evacuation is prohibited! If passengers and the driver do not obey the legal demands of the traffic police officer and do not leave the vehicle, the latter may call the police.

When all the documents are in hand, you can safely go to the impound lot and it doesn’t matter the time of day. You must return the car.

Condition of the car after the impound lot

When picking up a car from an impound lot, you should pay attention to its condition. If dents, scratches and other defects are found on the car, the owner has the right to demand compensation for damage. To prove that breakdowns and damage occurred during evacuation, two things must be done:

1. First, read the protocol carefully.
2. By law, the evacuation inspector must record all breakdowns in this document. If they are not marked, then they were not there. Secondly, an examination can be carried out to determine how long ago the dents and scratches were made.

Claims regarding the appearance of the car can be made either to the impound lot or to the tow company. If in court, the owner proves that the detention of the car and its evacuation were illegal, then all expenses and claims, including those for breakdowns, are paid by the traffic police. After the examination, you should go to court.

What happens if you don't pick up the car?

An unscrupulous owner does not always strive to find out which impound lot in Moscow the car was sent to and is in no hurry to pick it up from there. In this case, the special parking staff will inform him via a telephone call or send a written notification to the place of registration. But this will not happen right away. Consequently, the cost of expenses will be significantly higher, because you will have to pay not only for the services of a tow truck, but also for each day the vehicle is in the parking lot.

What if the owner ignores information about the location of the vehicle and does not express a desire to pay the fine, receipt and pick up the car? In this case, the cost of storing a vehicle continues to rise and gradually reaches the market value of the car. After this, the vehicle can be sold, and debts to the organization that carries out towing and storage can be repaid.

Required documents

In order to get your own car from the impound lot without any problems, the owner must provide a complete package of documents. It includes:

• identification document of the owner;
• driver's license;
• auto liability policy;
• title documents for the vehicle (PTS, STS);
• permission from the traffic police to pick up a car from the impound lot.

Only if all documents are prepared accordingly and are available, employees will issue the vehicle.

Receiving notifications if the vehicle is taken away

Those car owners who want to set up automatic notification if their vehicle has been towed can use the following methods:

• In a pre-created personal account on the mos.ru portal, go to the “my data” section and in the tab responsible for the vehicle, enter the state number of the car. After this, you need to go to the settings section and select the notification item if the vehicle has been evacuated;
• using the Moscow Parking mobile application. In it, the motorist enters the appropriate settings and activates alerts regarding new fines and evacuation.

Important. The user of the Moscow portal has the opportunity to independently choose the method by which he will receive notifications if his car is moved to the parking lot of towed cars. This can be either an email address or an SMS message to a permanent mobile phone number.

Procedure

To pick up a vehicle, it will not be enough to show up at the parking lot. To do this you will need to follow a number of steps:

1. First contact the traffic police/MADI department involved in transporting the car to the impound area.
2. Receive a copy of the written protocol regarding the detention of a car or an administrative offense for which a fine will have to be paid. Subject to detention, there must be a reflected reason for this. Otherwise, the actions of MADI employees may be considered unlawful.
3. Appear at the impound lot and present the received documents regarding the detention of the car.
4. Pay for the maintenance of the car in the impound area.

You should know. Transfer of funds for car maintenance is carried out based on the number of full days spent on its territory.

When finding out which of the impound areas the car was taken to, the owner must hurry up with actions that make it possible to pick up the car. This is due to significant amounts for maintaining cars in such a territory - if you have to pay 3,200 rubles for a passenger car in one day, then oversized vehicles will require 49,200. Those who transfer money before the car is picked up are given the right to a 25% discount.

When do they have the right to take the car to the impound lot?

It is legally established that a vehicle can be evacuated to an impound lot in Moscow if the owner:

Attention! If you have any questions, you can chat for free with a lawyer at the bottom of the screen or call Moscow; Saint Petersburg; Free call for all of Russia.

• I took a place in the parking lot intended for stopping disabled people of groups 1 and 2. In addition to evacuating the car to an impound lot in Moscow, the owner will have to pay a fine of 5,000 rubles.
• Stopped or parked your car at a pedestrian crossing. In addition to evacuation, you will need to pay a fine of RUB 3,000. Similar penalties apply to vehicles that were left by the owners closer than 5 m from the pedestrian crossing.
• I left the car on the sidewalk. The punishment will be evacuation and a fine of RUB 3,000.
• I chose a public transport stop as a parking lot or stop. Or he left the car closer than 15 m after the sign “Bus and (or) trolleybus stop”. Evacuation and a fine of 3,000 rubles will be a good lesson for unscrupulous drivers.
• I left my car on the tram tracks. In addition to evacuation to a parking lot in Moscow, the owner will face a fine of 3,000 rubles.
• I chose the second row or an area further from the edge of the roadway as a parking place. The amount of penalties in this case is also 3000 rubles.
• I left the car in the tunnel. The fine that the owner will have to pay will be 3000 rubles. But the vehicle will be towed.
• Creates interference with other vehicles. The result will be that the offender’s property is sent to the impound lot and the need to pay a receipt, the amount of which is 3,000 rubles.
• Ignores road signs warning that in case of violation the car will be sent to a impound lot. In this case, the owner faces not only evacuation, but also a fine of 3,000 rubles.
• Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Was deprived of a driver's license or did not have one before.
• He categorically refused to undergo a medical examination procedure, which allows one to determine the presence of alcohol or drugs in the blood.
• Carried out transit transportation of cargo across the territory of the Russian Federation without having the appropriate permits for this.
• Operated a vehicle with a faulty brake system, which creates a direct threat to the safety of other road users.
• Did not comply with the requirements regulated for the transportation of dangerous or oversized cargo.

The car will not be taken to the impound lot if, at the time the protocol is drawn up to detain the vehicle, a driver appears who is capable of driving the car in accordance with the traffic rules. The basis for stopping the detention of a car is the appearance of the driver before the tow truck starts moving. (Administrative Code 27.13 part 1.1). The presence of a passenger in the car is also an obstacle to formalizing the detention of the vehicle.

If stopping or parking is prohibited, but there is no sign warning about the operation of special equipment, and the car does not create interference for other road users, then traffic police officers can only issue a fine, but should not take the car (Administrative Offenses Code Art. 12.19.1).