Realising your car is not where you left it can be stressful. Before assuming the worst, it helps to know the steps to confirm the ‘has my car been towed?’ situations. Many drivers jump to the conclusion that their vehicle has been stolen, but in most cases the car has simply been moved due to parking restrictions or local council enforcement.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to check if your car has been towed, how to confirm it quickly, and what to do next so you can get your vehicle back without unnecessary stress.

Check for parking on tow signs 

The first thing to do is revisit where you parked and look carefully for any signage. Many people miss temporary or low-mounted signs when parking in a rush. Towing often occurs in locations such as:

• Clearways and no-stopping zones
• Permit-only parking
• Disabled bays
• Construction or event zones
• Private property car parks

If the sign mentions “tow-away zone”, “authorised vehicles only” or “vehicles will be towed”, this is a strong clue your car has been towed, especially in busy areas like Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

Look for clues nearby

If your car is not where you left it and there are no obvious signs, take a moment to check around the area. You may notice:

• Fresh chalk or paint markings
• A notice left on the ground
• Council workers or security officers nearby
• Other vehicles missing from the same space

In many Australian cities, tow trucks respond quickly to illegally parked vehicles, especially during peak times. If you question, “I think my car has been towed”, a few minutes of looking for clues can confirm your suspicion.

Use online towing searches or portals

Most Australian states and cities now offer online lookup tools to help drivers find out if their car has been towed. These systems allow you to enter your registration number and instantly check if your vehicle is being held at an authorised tow storage facility.

Examples include:

• Local council impound searches
• State government towing portals
• Police-run online impound databases

These online tools are especially helpful for people searching ‘has my car been towed Melbourne’, as the city has strict clearway enforcement and frequent tow-away operations.

Call local authorities or non-emergency police lines

If online portals do not return results, the next step is to call the non-emergency police line in your state. Police often have access to tow records and can confirm how to check if my car has been towed.

You can also contact your local council, especially if the car was parked in a council-regulated zone. Provide your number plate, the street you parked on and the approximate time you left the vehicle.

Police or council officers can also tell you where your car has been towed and whether it was moved for safety reasons, blocking traffic or obstructing emergency access.

Contact local tow companies directly

Tow operators often maintain 24-hour logs of vehicles they have moved. If the authority responsible cannot find your car, you can call the major authorised towing companies in your area.

Questions to ask include:

• Was my vehicle towed from this location?
• Which depot is it being stored at?
• What are the release fees?
• What identification do I need to collect it?

People searching for cars towed in Melbourne commonly need to contact certified towing providers who work under Victoria’s accident and clearway towing regulations.

What to bring when collecting your vehicle

Once you confirm my car has been towed, how do I find it? You will need certain documents to retrieve it from the impound lot. Requirements usually include:

• A valid driver’s licence
• Proof of ownership (registration or insurance)
• Payment for tow and storage fees
• Any additional paperwork required by local authorities

Most depots accept card payment, although some may require exact requirements based on the operator.

Before you leave, check your vehicle for damage and ensure you receive an itemised receipt that includes towing fees, storage charges and the date your car was collected.

Final steps and helpful tips

If your vehicle has been moved, stay calm and work through the steps above. The process is usually straightforward once you contact the correct authority or tow operator. To avoid future towing incidents, always check signage, follow clearway hours and avoid parking in private car parks without permission.

If you ever need help retrieving your car or require professional towing of your own vehicle, contact a trusted provider such as Nationwide Towing & Transport

‍ for safe and reliable assistance across Australia.