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Was my car towed or stolen?

To find out if your car was towed or stolen, check your city’s tow lookup by plate before you call it in as stolen. Most cities publish one, and the police can confirm the rest. If it isn’t listed, report it stolen. Choose your city below for the official page and phone number we checked.

City tow pages · Checked Oct 30, 2026

Your city

Where was it parked?

New York City

Search NYC’s towed vehicle lookup with your plate. The NYPD towed vehicles page covers the pounds. The NYPD, marshals and sheriff can all tow, so call 311 if the lookup finds nothing.

Chicago

Use the police Vehicle Tow/Steal Search, or the city’s relocated and towed page. Auto Pound: (312) 744-4444. Call 311 if it may have been relocated.

Boston

Search the city’s towed cars database by plate. It covers about the past 15 days. Tow line: 617-343-4629. Cars towed from state roads need a call to the State Police.

Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Parking Authority has a locator for cars it took. Phone: 888-591-3636.

San Francisco

See SFMTA towed vehicles. Phone: 415-865-8200.

Seattle

Look up your plate or VIN from Seattle’s find-a-towed-car page. Tows from private lots go through the signs or the property owner.

San Diego

The San Diego Police page sends you to the city’s lookup for vehicles it towed. If that finds nothing, use the police non-emergency line.

Houston

ParkHouston links to the tow lookup.

Washington, DC

See Locate a Towed Vehicle. Phone: (202) 541-6083.

Somewhere else

Call the local police non-emergency line and give the plate and where it was parked. If it was on private property, look for a tow sign, since it usually names the company.

A blue car on a flatbed tow truck with two people standing beside it — Photo by fr0ggy5 on Unsplash

Check in this order

Be sure of the spot. If you’re not, go through finding your car first.
Read the signs. A temporary sign, street cleaning, a hydrant or a tow-zone notice points to a tow.
Look for glass on the ground.
Check the tow lookup for your city, by plate.
Call the police. Non-emergency line unless you’re in danger. They can check tow records and take a stolen report.
Tell your insurer if it’s stolen.

On private property, a lot owner may have used a private tow company that isn’t in a city lookup, so read any sign at the entrance.

After you find it

Storage fees often grow by the day, so go soon, and bring your ID and proof of ownership. Ask what the pound accepts before you go. If you think the tow was wrong, keep your photos and the paperwork.

App screen: Parked, Today 17:02, accurate to 5 m, note Level 3 B18

Know exactly where you left it

Where Did I Park keeps the spot and the time you saved it, so you can say for sure the car was there. Free on iPhone. About the app

What to do next

Avoid the next towTime limits by city NYC street cleaningYour block, your side Chicago winter banIs your street on it?

Quick answers

How do I find out if my car was towed?

Use your city’s tow lookup with your plate, or call 311 or the police non-emergency line. Most big cities publish one.

How do I know if my car was stolen or towed?

Check the tow lookup first. If it isn’t listed and the police have no record of a tow, report it stolen.

Who do I call if my car was towed from a private lot?

Look for a tow sign at the entrance, which usually names the company, or ask the property owner.

Sources: NYPD — Towed vehicles · City of Chicago — Relocated and towed vehicles · Boston — Towing · PPA — Booted & towed · SFMTA — Towed vehicles

Reviewed October 30, 2026: links re-opened. Phone numbers from each city’s own page · how we check · report an error