Car Towed by Police? How to Find It and Get It Back
- Call the police department first, on the non-emergency line. They can tell you whether police took your car and which company has it.
- In Goshen, that’s the Goshen Police Department non-emergency dispatch at (574) 533-4151.
- Police use more than one local tow company, so your car could be at any of several lots. If you can’t get an answer, call the tow companies directly, including us.
- Have ready: license plate, year, make, model, and color, plus where and when you last saw it.
- To get it back you’ll usually need photo ID, proof of ownership, registration, and proof of insurance. Go as soon as you can.
You walk out to where you left your car and it’s gone. Or you get a call from a friend saying the police had it towed after a traffic stop. Either way, your stomach drops, and the first question is the same: where is it, and how do I get it back?
Getting a car towed by police feels worse than it is. We have helped a lot of people through it, and there’s a clear order to it. The whole thing goes faster and cheaper if you have the right information ready before you start calling.
First, make sure your car was towed by police
If your car is just missing, do not assume it was stolen and do not assume it was towed by police. and do not jump straight to a tow either. Call the police non-emergency line and ask. Dispatch logs every tow, so they can usually tell you right away whether police took your car and which company hauled it.
If they have no record of a tow, they can take a stolen vehicle report on the same call. Either way, that first call answers the biggest question.
One other possibility: if you were parked in a private lot, like an apartment complex or a business, the property owner may have had it towed. Look for a posted sign near the entrance. It usually lists the towing company’s name and number.
Who to call when your car is towed by police
Which department to call depends on where your car sat when it got towed by police:
The Goshen Police Department says to call non-emergency dispatch at (574) 533-4151 for help locating a towed vehicle.
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office handles most tows outside city limits.
If a state trooper made the stop, call the nearest Indiana State Police post.
Not sure which one handled it? Start with the local police non-emergency line and tell them where it happened. They’ll point you the right way.
What to have ready when you call
Whether you are calling about a car towed by police or calling a tow company, they’re going to look your car up. Make it easy for them. Have this written down before you dial:
- License plate number (and the state, if it isn’t Indiana)
- Year, make, and model, like “2014 Chevy Malibu”
- Color
- The VIN, if you have it. It’s on your registration and insurance card.
- Where it was and roughly when you last saw it
- The name on the registration
Tip: take a picture of your registration and insurance card and keep it on your phone. If your car gets towed with your paperwork inside the glove box, you’ll still have what you need to find it.
If the police can’t tell you, call the tow companies
A car towed by police in Goshen goes to whichever local towing company they called, and it’s not always the same one. Your car could be sitting at any of several lots in the area. If dispatch is busy, or it’s after hours and you can’t get a clear answer, call the local tow companies yourself and ask.
That includes us. Call (574) 533-9081 with your plate, make, model, and color. If your car is on our lot, we’ll tell you, and we’ll walk you through what you need to pick it up. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you that too so you can keep looking.
What you need to get it back
Getting back a car towed by police is where people lose the most time: they show up without the right paperwork and have to go home and come back. According to the Goshen Police Department, to get a release for a vehicle:
- The registered or titled owner must be there with photo ID.
- Two valid, licensed drivers must be present with their current licenses.
- You need proof of ownership, proper registration, and proof of insurance.
- If the car isn’t drivable (damaged in a crash or broken down), they will only release it to a tow headed for private property. You cannot leave it on a city street.
Goshen PD also notes there are exceptions depending on why police towed it, so ask when you call. If police towed the car after an arrest, or it is sitting as part of an investigation, the department may need to release it before the tow company can hand it over. Other agencies have similar rules, so check with whichever one towed your car.
Ask the company holding a car towed by police about their fees, what payment they take, and their hours. Most yards charge storage by the day, so the sooner you pick it up, the less it costs.
If the car was damaged
If your car was towed by police after an accident, it might not be drivable when you get it back, and the Goshen rule above means it has to go on a truck to private property. That’s where we can help. We’ll bring it on a flatbed straight into our own shop on Co Rd 138, look it over, and tell you what’s wrong. Costs vary by make and model, and the look is at no cost.
We take in plenty of cars towed by police. You can see everything we do on our towing page. If the tow came after a crash, you’ll also want to read does insurance cover towing in Indiana. And if a deer started all this, here’s what to do after hitting a deer.
Quick answers
How do I find out who towed my car?
Call the non-emergency line for the police department where the car was. In Goshen, that’s (574) 533-4151. They can tell you whether it was towed and which company has it. If you can’t get an answer, call the local tow companies directly.
What do I need to pick up my towed car?
In Goshen, the police department lists photo ID from the registered or titled owner, two licensed drivers, proof of ownership, registration, and proof of insurance. Call ahead to confirm, since there can be exceptions.
Can someone else pick up my car for me?
Usually the registered owner has to be there. If that’s impossible, ask the police department and the tow company what they’ll accept before anyone makes the trip.
Why can’t I just pay and drive it away?
If there’s a police hold on the car, like after an arrest, the department has to release it first. And if the car isn’t drivable, Goshen requires it to be towed to private property.
Does it cost more the longer I wait?
Usually, yes. Storage is typically charged by the day, so pick it up as soon as you have your paperwork together.
Trying to find your car? Give us a call.
If it’s on our lot, we’ll tell you what you need. If it needs a tow home or to the shop, we’ve got a flatbed.
See Our Towing Services