It happens to drivers every day, all across the country. It’s such a familiar tune that you can easily relate to anyone’s story. You park your car or truck outside in a public area, walk inside a store for just a minute, and when you return, your vehicle is long gone. And the first question that pops into your head is, “Why did they tow my car?!” Well in actuality, the answer isn’t all too difficult to figure out. A simple matter of elimination will enlighten you, as soon as you can gather your thoughts and start the investigation process. Continue reading to learn some common reasons why cars are towed, and how to get yours back after the initial, involuntary panic resides.
Parking Violations
The most common, and probably the answer to your scenario, reason why civilian vehicles are towed is for parking violations. You know what these are: parking in handicap spots without a valid sticker, parking in spots that are labeled, “Reserved“, and let’s not forget fire lanes, no parking lanes, loading zones, private property parking, and abandoned vehicle parking. That last one refers to leaving your car in a public parking lot overnight. This is sometimes prohibited on certain lots and will result in property management towing. Look around for parking signs and street signs with towing information on them. Dial the number and you are sure to find your vehicle. If not, you might want to consider the next reason.
Police Impounds and Repossessions
If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, and you know you are behind in payments, a repossession is not a far reach. Your vehicle may have been towed away by the bank sponsoring your car loan, or the dealership that you are leasing from. If your car is paid for, then you might want to consider some legal possibilities. If your license plate is expired, police can tow it and impound it. Same goes for an expired registration. Also, if your vehicle is a suspected asset to a crime or something like it, it can be towed and impounded as soon as a warrant is signed by a judge. And that could very-well be during your lunch break at Apple Bees.
Suspended or Unlicensed Drivers
There are actually cases where your car can be towed without even parking it in the first place. During a routine traffic stop, if a police officer finds that your license is suspended, expired, or non-existent, they will have your vehicle towed and impounded on the spot.
