Here’s What to Do if Your Car Gets Towed in Brampton

There are few things more stressful than having your car towed in Brampton. 

There are few things more stressful than having your car towed in Brampton. 

Whether it’s for excessive parking tickets, because you were involved in a crash, you were parking on private property, or you were parked on a residential street between 2-6 a.m. (remember, you can get a permit to do this by calling 3-1-1), there are also a number of reasons why your car might get towed. 

In any case, there’s no need to panic too badly, because there are ways to figure out what to do in any situation. 

Here’s what you can do if your car gets towed in Brampton:

My car was towed by the City of Brampton

Your car might get towed by the city for a few reasons.

First, a parking ticket for any offence might get your vehicle towed. The city has a three-strikes policy where if you get three tickets within 60 days, chances are, your car will be towed. Your car might get towed because it’s blocking a driveway or a fire route, it’s a safety hazard, it’s been abandoned, or it has no plates, or something other. 

If the city tows your vehicle in any case, you can call 3-1-1 (Brampton’s information line) where they have access to a log of towed vehicles typically listed by plate number, and can let you know where it is. According to 3-1-1 operators, the city’s main lot for towed vehicles is at Hansen Automotive at 236 Rutherford Rd. S.

In any case, if your car has been towed, calling 3-1-1 is a great place to start.

My car was towed by Peel Regional Police

So, your car was seized by the cops.

In the unfortunate case that your car was seized for impaired driving, you have a 12-hour licence suspension, you committed a parking violation, or even if you were impeding traffic, the police might have seized your vehicle.

In that case, your car will typically be towed to the closest police impound yard to where it was seized. The police will try to contact the registered owner of the vehicle, who will be the only person that’s able to come and pick it up. First, the owner has to head to the police division closest to where the vehicle is being held and sign a release form, then take that form to the tow yard to claim the car. The owner should also get a bill with any expenses from the tow yard. 

The police use Lyons Auto Body Limited, Atlantic Auto Body, and Hansen Automotive, depending on the size of your car and the police divison it was seized nearest to. 

My car was towed from private property

Private properties have their own tow yards where they send vehicles, so this one is on a case-by-case basis, according to 3-1-1 operators. 

You would have to find the contact information for that property owner, get in touch with them, and go from there. 

As always, calling 3-1-1 is a good place to start.

My car was towed because I was in a crash

This one is a little more unique and formulaic. There are a few steps you can follow to ensure your car is getting towed properly and safely. Basically, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure you have coverage for tow trucks before you enter any agreement with the tow truck operator. 

You, a police officer, a member of Brampton Fire, or anyone else authorized to direct removal of vehicles has to direct a tow truck driver to do so. You can either use your own tow company of use the driver on site to take the vehicle to a location of your choosing. 

And before your vehicle is towed, you have to complete an Authorization to Tow form. Be sure that you also get an itemized bill before any payment is requested. 

“Your vehicle must be taken to the reporting centre, City licensed automobile service station or vehicle pound facility of your choice, unless closed,” reads the city’s website. “If closed, your vehicle may only be taken to the tow truck driver’s City licensed vehicle pound facility, where additional charges for administration, environmental and storage may be applied.” 

Click here to get all of those details.