If you can’t find your parked car, it may have been towed by the municipal tow truck because of improper parking. However, if you are confident that you parked your car correctly, you may wonder if it has been stolen. Therefore, it is useful to know how to differentiate between the two possibilities.
Improperly parked cars can be towed directly by the tow truck, while other times, drivers may receive a traffic ticket. When your car is not where you parked it, you may wonder if it has been stolen. To determine what has happened to your car, you need to know how to proceed.
The tow truck has taken the car
Parking your vehicle in the wrong way may result in the tow truck taking it to the municipal deposit. However, there’s no need to assume the worst and immediately think that it has been stolen. If you can’t locate your car after parking incorrectly, there are ways to quickly determine if it has been towed or not:
When your car has been taken by the municipal tow truck, they will usually leave a triangular or square label in a bright color, like yellow, orange, or green, in a visible spot. This label can be found on the sidewalk or close to where the car was parked. The label contains important information, such as the car’s license plate number, the location of the municipal deposit where the car was taken, and a contact number for further inquiries.
If you don’t see any label, it’s best to contact the municipal deposit directly. In big cities, you can check the town hall’s website to find out the location of your car if it has been taken by the tow truck.
How do you get it back?
It is likely that the vehicle has not been stolen, but rather towed away by the municipal tow truck due to incorrect parking. Once you have confirmed its location, you will need to know the procedure for retrieving the car from the municipal impound lot:
To retrieve your vehicle from the municipal deposit, you need to have your identification documents such as DNI, NIE, or passport, as well as your driving license or vehicle documentation. You will be allowed to access the car to retrieve these documents. Additionally, you will need to provide the owner’s data and pay the removal fee, which may vary depending on the municipality. It’s important to note that if your car was towed due to incorrect parking, you may also have to pay a traffic fine and other expenses related to traveling to the deposit.
It is important to check if your vehicle has any damage when you retrieve it from the municipal deposit. If there are any new bumps, scratches or other damage that were not present when you parked the car, you should file a complaint and claim for the damages. To support your claim, it’s a good idea to take photos of the car before moving it from the deposit. You can then submit your claim to the relevant town hall, depending on which tow truck company took your car.