Towed means to use a government truck to remove an unlawfully parked car and transport it to a location where the owner must pay to pick it up. Let’s see how to prevent your car from being towed.
The following steps need to be followed:
- Understand the rules and regulations of parking
- Research the towing laws in your area
- Make sure your car is registered and insured
- Check for ‘No Towing’ signs
- Find out the towing company’s policies
- Pay attention to expiration dates on parking permits
- Avoid parking in private lots
- Move your car before street cleaning
- Know what to do if your car is towed
- Make Sure Your Car Is Registered and Insured
Let’s see the steps in detail;
How to Prevent Your Car from Being Towed
Understand the rules and regulations of parking.
The laws and regulations are always in force and are designed to maintain peace, facilitate traffic flow for automobiles and pedestrians, and protect RIT property and people. All drivers on the RIT campus must understand these rules. It is not an excuse for breaking these laws not to be aware of them.
The first citations of the school year are not changed to warnings. Parking and traffic laws at RIT are subject to change at any time. Parking is prohibited everywhere that is not marked with parking stripes or signs. There is no parking permitted on any campus road.
In any fire lane, parking is not permitted. All parking spaces have markings. Every vehicle must be parked in a marked place.
Research the towing laws in your area.
Check your city or town’s website – Many local government websites have parking and towing regulations information.
Look for the parking or transportation section of the website.
Contact your local police department:
The police department in your area should be able to provide information on towing regulations, including which violations can result in your car being towed.
Look up your state’s towing laws – You can find this information on your state’s DMV or transportation department website.
Read parking signs carefully:
Many parking lots and streets have signs indicating the parking rules and regulations.
Make sure your car is registered and insured.
Registering your car involves obtaining a valid license plate and registration certificate from your local Department of motor vehicles (DMV).
This process typically requires proof of ownership, proof of insurance, and payment of registration fees. Your car is considered unlicensed and can be subject to towing without a valid registration.
Check for ‘No Towing’ signs.
To avoid having your car towed, it’s important to be aware of any “No Towing” signs in the area. These signs, such as on private property or certain public streets, are typically posted where towing is prohibited.
Find out the towing company’s policies.
Start by researching the towing company that you are concerned about. Look for information about their policies on their website or social media pages. Read the contract. If you have signed a contract with the towing company, read it carefully to understand the terms and conditions. Look for any clauses allowing the company to tow your car without warning.
Pay attention to expiration dates on parking permits.
Pay attention to the expiration dates on parking permits to avoid having your car towed. Many parking permits are valid for a limited time, and if you exceed this time frame, your car may be towed at your expense. To avoid this, keep track of when your parking permit is set to expire and renew it promptly if necessary.
Avoid parking in private lots.
Individuals or companies own private lots, and they have the right to enforce their parking regulations. If you park in a private lot without permission or violate their parking rules, your car may be towed at your expense.
Move your car before street cleaning.
Look for signs, and check for street signs in your area that indicate when street cleaning is scheduled. Usually, these signs will have the days and hours posted, so note them.
Check the schedule. You can also check the street cleaning schedule on your city’s website or call the local government office. This will give you a clear idea of when street cleaning is happening on your street.
Know what to do if your car is towed.
Determine why your car was towed: Find out the reason your car was towed. If it were due to illegal parking or parking in a restricted area, you would have to pay a fine to release your car.
Locate your car: Call the local police or towing company to find out where your car has been towed. The towing company will give you the details of where your car is, how much you must pay to get it released, and the necessary documents to get it back.
Gather necessary documents: Prepare your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and car registration documents. These documents are essential to show proof of ownership and release your car.
Pay the fees: Pay the fees to the towing company or the impound lot. Ensure you ask for a breakdown of the fees and additional charges so you only pay what is required.
Retrieve your car: Once you have paid the fees and presented the necessary documents, you will be given a release form. Use this form to retrieve your car from the impound lot or towing company.
Inspect your car:
- Inspect your car before you leave the impound lot or towing company.
- Make sure there are no damages or missing items.
- If you find any issues, notify the staff immediately and document the damages with photographs or videos.
Drive safely:
Ensure you have valid insurance and all necessary documents in the car before driving it away. Be cautious while driving and follow all traffic rules.
Expert Opinion
Make sure to park your car in areas that are designated for parking. Read the parking signs and follow the posted rules and regulations. Avoid parking in areas where it is explicitly prohibited.
Make sure to park in the direction of the traffic flow, and don’t park in areas designated for emergency vehicles or disabled persons. Pay attention to time restrictions: Be aware of any time restrictions in your parking area, such as no parking during certain hours or only allowing parking for a specific amount of time. Make sure to move your car before the time limit expires.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
