A clear, practical answer
My Car Was Towed: How to Find It and Get It Back
Call the police non-emergency line or your city's towed-vehicle lookup with your registration; they can tell you whether the car was removed and where it was taken. Bring ID, the registration document and your licence to the pound and pay the tow and storage fees. Storage is charged per day, so collect it as soon as you can.
CarQR · Last updated: 1 October 2026
Bu rehberi Türkçe okuTowed or stolen?
If the car is not where you left it, both possibilities start with the same call. Give the police non-emergency line or the city's towed-vehicle service your registration and the address. A removal by the authority shows on their records, along with the pound it went to.
If there is no record, the call becomes a theft report, which is why it should not wait. Nearby shops are worth asking too; somebody usually saw the tow truck.
Why cars get towed
The common reasons are the ones that block something: a driveway, a pavement, a crossing, a bus stop, an accessible bay, a hydrant, or double parking that narrows the road.
Temporary restrictions catch people who leave a car for days. Roadworks, street markets and events are signed only shortly beforehand.
A vehicle with no valid insurance, tax or inspection can also be removed in many places, and is released only once that is put right.
Collecting the car
Bring photo ID, the registration document and your driving licence. If you are not the registered keeper, the pound may want written authority from them; phone ahead.
You pay the tow and a storage charge for each day. Rates are set locally and change yearly. Collecting the same day is the cheapest option.
The parking penalty is separate from the release fee. Many places discount it if paid within the period shown on the notice.
Walk round the car before you leave. If the tow caused damage, have it recorded at the pound and photograph it.
Challenging it
If you believe the removal was wrong, the notice sets out how and by when to appeal. Photos showing a hidden or missing sign, or a restriction put up after you parked, carry the most weight.
Appealing does not stop you collecting the car. Get it out first and keep the receipts.
Hearing before the truck arrives
Officers and attendants usually try the driver first: an announcement, a question to nearby shops, a call if there is a number on the glass. The car that cannot be reached is the one that gets towed.
A QR code on the glass makes that attempt work. Whoever scans it sends a prepared alert such as blocking an exit, and your phone gets a notification without your number being displayed. It will not always prevent a tow, but it gives you the chance to move the car yourself.
Want to be reachable without writing your number on the car? Create your free vehicle QR code; it takes two minutes.
Step by step
- 1
Make the call
Give your registration and the address; if it was towed, find out which pound has it.
- 2
Gather the documents
Take ID, the registration document and your licence; ask about authority if you are not the keeper.
- 3
Collect it the same day
Pay the tow and storage fees; storage grows daily.
- 4
Check it at handover
Have any damage recorded before you leave the pound.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out where my car was towed?
Ask the police non-emergency line or the city's towed-vehicle lookup, using your registration.
Can someone else collect my towed car?
Usually only the registered keeper or a person with their written authority. Requirements vary, so call the pound first.
How much does it cost to get a towed car back?
A tow fee plus daily storage, both set locally. Ask the pound holding the car for the current rates.
What if the tow damaged my car?
Have it recorded and photographed before you drive out. Claims made after collection are harder to prove.
Sources and verification
Use these primary sources to verify the technical and personal-data statements in this guide. Product-specific statements about CarQR describe the working product flow on this site.
- Türkiye Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 (parking: article 61, duties after a collision: article 81) · Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü
- Türkiye Misdemeanours Law No. 5326 (appeals: article 27, noise: article 36, abandoned vehicles: article 41) · Adalet Bakanlığı
The linked law texts show the version the institution published; later amendments and current penalty amounts may be missing. Use them for what an article covers, and confirm amounts and the current text with the Official Gazette.
This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or technical advice. Laws, penalty amounts, time limits and how authorities apply them change, and vary by place and by case. Not everything here has been confirmed against official sources. Before acting, check the current position with the relevant authority, your insurer or a lawyer. CarQR accepts no liability for the consequences of actions taken on the basis of this content.