What Is The Procedure For Reclaiming A Towed Vehicle?

When a vehicle is towed for violating traffic rules, the vehicle owner must follow a specific procedure to reclaim it. The process is designed to ensure that the vehicle’s release is carried out in compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the owner complies with the legal requirements, including payment of fines and submission of necessary documents.

Procedure for Reclaiming a Towed Vehicle

Identification of Towed Vehicle:

The first step is to confirm that your vehicle has been towed. This can be done by contacting the local traffic police or the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in your area. Often, towed vehicles are relocated to a designated impound lot or a police station.

Payment of Fine:

Before reclaiming the vehicle, the owner must pay any fines associated with the traffic violation that led to the towing. The fine amount will vary depending on the nature of the violation (e.g., illegal parking, blocking traffic, or driving without valid documents). The owner can typically pay the fine at the impound lot or traffic police station.

Required Documents:

To reclaim the towed vehicle, the owner must present certain documents to the authorities. These documents typically include:

• Valid government-issued ID (Aadhaar card, passport, etc.).
• Vehicle registration documents.
• Proof of payment of fines.
• Valid driving license.
• Insurance documents (if required by the impounding authority).

These documents are necessary to verify the ownership of the vehicle and ensure that the person reclaiming the vehicle is authorized to do so.

Inspection of Vehicle:

The vehicle may be inspected for damage or tampering that may have occurred during the towing process. If there is any visible damage, it should be documented, and the owner may request an inspection report. Some jurisdictions may require a damage report to be filed with the authorities.

Release of the Vehicle:

Once the fines are paid, and all required documents are submitted, the authorities will release the vehicle. The vehicle owner will typically be required to sign a release form acknowledging receipt of the vehicle and confirming that all dues (including fines) have been cleared.

Conditions for Release:

If the vehicle has been towed for multiple violations or is considered unfit for road use (e.g., expired registration, no insurance), the vehicle owner may be required to resolve these issues before the vehicle can be released. The authorities may also impose additional penalties for repeat violations.

Vehicle Release Timing:

In most cases, the vehicle can be reclaimed on the same day of towing, but if the vehicle has been held for a longer period, additional storage fees may apply. The longer the vehicle stays in the impound lot, the more expensive it can become to reclaim it.

Example:

In 2021, a car owner in Bangalore parked his car in a no-parking zone, causing it to be towed by the local traffic police. To reclaim his vehicle, the owner contacted the police station, paid a fine of ₹500 for the parking violation, and presented the required documents (vehicle registration and proof of identity). After the inspection, the vehicle was released back to the owner after paying additional storage charges for the time it was impounded.