You call the police because your car is gone. You’re thinking theft. Maybe vandalism. Maybe worse. Then you hear the words no one expects and no one is prepared for: “Your vehicle was towed.” No explanation. No warning. No idea where it is. And suddenly, you’re on a clock you didn’t know existed.
Here’s what that actually means — and what you need to do next.
First: Towed Does NOT Mean Safe
When police say your car was towed, it usually means one of three things:
- It was removed for a parking, registration, or traffic issue
- It was towed after an accident or breakdown
- It was taken under a city, HOA, or private property request
What it does not mean is that your car is protected or on hold.
Once a vehicle hits an impound yard, fees start immediately. Tow fees. Daily storage. Administrative charges. Sometimes additional penalties. The yard is now in control — not the police, and not you.
The Mistake Most People Make Next
Most people assume the police will help them get it back. They won’t. Police involvement usually ends the moment the tow is logged. After that, you’re dealing with a private or municipal impound yard whose job is not to protect your interests, it’s to charge fees and move inventory.
Calling “tomorrow” or waiting for paperwork often means:
- Higher daily fees
- Fewer release options
- A car inching closer to being labeled “abandoned”
That’s how vehicles quietly end up auctioned!
What You Should Do Immediately
Once police confirm your car was towed, time matters more than emotion.
You need to determine:
- Where the car is being held
- How fast fees are stacking
- How close it is to auction eligibility
- Whether release is even realistic
This is where many people get trapped — because release often requires cash, perfect paperwork, and availability during limited hours. Miss one requirement, and the yard sends you away while fees keep climbing.
When the Situation Starts Going Sideways
If you’re missing documents, out of town, injured, overwhelmed, or simply can’t come up with thousands of dollars on short notice, the situation can spiral fast.
This is exactly why OUTPOUND exists.
We help people after police towing, when the system suddenly turns against them. Instead of guessing, waiting, or throwing money at a bad situation, we evaluate what’s actually happening, including fees, timelines, and real options.
In many cases, the smartest move isn’t retrieval at all. Yes! You May Be Able to Sell the Car Instead
Here’s what most people don’t realize until it’s too late:
You can often sell a car directly from impound.
OUTPOUND helps tow victims:
- Stop daily fee escalation
- Avoid silent auction loss
- Work around impossible release requirements
- Turn a bad situation into a cash exit
Instead of paying endlessly just to “get it back,” selling from impound can protect what value is left before the yard takes everything.
Wait Too Long and This Ends Badly
If police say your car was towed, you are already on the clock. Waiting doesn’t make it cheaper. Hope doesn’t stop auctions. And tow yards don’t slow down for confusion. The sooner you understand your position, the more control you have.
If your car was towed and you don’t know what to do next, OUTPOUND.com is here to help you navigate...and escape the impound system before it costs you everything.
