Find a towed car: was it towed or stolen?
If your car is gone, the fastest answer is your city's official towed-car lookup or the police non-emergency line. Here is the order to check, and the official lookup for each city we cover.
Check in this order
- Look for a tow-away sign where you parked. On private lots it names the tow company and its phone number. Call them.
- Search the official lookup for your city (table below), by plate or VIN where offered.
- Call the police non-emergency line. Tow companies must report most tows to police, often within an hour or two. Ask for the company and lot address.
- Check for a repossession if you are behind on payments. Call your lender.
- No record anywhere? Report the car stolen. Do it soon, insurers often need a police report.
Official lookups by city
Shared lookup systems
- Autura (formerly AutoReturn): Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Fort Worth, Austin, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, Baltimore, Fresno
- FindMyTowedCar: Houston, Philadelphia, El Paso, Milwaukee, Fresno
- City lookup: New York, Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, Denver, Boston, Baltimore
Next: what to bring to the lot · what it will cost · calculate your bill
Questions
How do I find out if my car was towed or stolen?
Check the official towed-car lookup for your city first, or call the police non-emergency line. Towed cars must be reported to police in most places, usually within a few hours. If police have no record of a tow and the lot owner did not have it towed, report it stolen.
Can I find my towed car by license plate?
Yes, in many cities. Systems like Autura, FindMyTowedCar (Houston, Detroit and some other cities) and city portals in Chicago and New York search by plate or VIN. Elsewhere, police can look it up by plate over the phone.
What if my car was repossessed instead?
Repossessions are usually reported to police too. Call your lender to confirm, and ask where the car is held and how to get your belongings back.