Have you returned to where you parked your car in Spain only to find that it’s no longer there? Don’t panic, as it’s not necessarily been stolen. It could well have been towed; this is who to call and what to do if so.
Every car owner’s worst nightmare is for their vehicle to be stolen, but if it was parked in a public space in Spain and appears to have vanished, the chances are that it’s been taken by a tow truck – la grúa in Spanish.
Where is it? What do you do? What should you say?
If you think your car’s been towed in Spain, there are several steps you can take to find out. Here’s what you need to know.
Find out why why your car might have been towed
To confirm that your vehicle has been towed rather than stolen, think: is there a reason my car would be towed?
In most cities in Spain, municipal tow trucks remove cars that are parked incorrectly, blocking traffic, in areas reserved for loading and unloading, or in places reserved for disabled people.
They can also remove vehicles that are double-parked or blocking an emergency exit.
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Don’t forget to check if there are no parking signs in the area. Sometimes cars are removed due to temporary road works or special events where additional parking restrictions are implemented.
If you did any of these, the chances are that your car was towed.
According to RACE, In some cities you may quickly realise you’ve been towed because you’ll find a triangular or square sticker in a visible place, usually on the pavement, right where your car was. On that sticker you will be able to see
- The number plate of your car.
- Who has taken your car.
- Which impound yard it has been taken to.
- A contact number for further information.
Contact your local towing service
Once you have confirmed that your car has not been stolen and has probably been towed, the next step is to contact the local towing service.
Most cities in Spain have a specific phone number or website where you can check if your car has been towed.
Start by googling Depósito Municipal de Vehículos and then the name of your town or city.
Many towns and cities in Spain offer online services to help drivers locate their vehicles if they have been towed. Visit the website of your local town hall and look for the ‘Traffic’ or ‘Mobility’ section to access these services.
Or try calling the number available and say Llamo para averiguar si la grúa se la llevado my coche (I’m calling to find out if my car has been towed).
Report it to the council
On some town hall websites, you will find a form where you can enter the registration number of your car to see if it has been towed away and where it is located.
Go to your local council’s website. Look for the ‘Traffic’ or ‘Mobility’ section.
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Visit the depot directly
If you prefer a more direct solution or do not have immediate access to the internet, you can visit the nearest municipal vehicle depot directly, el Depósito Municipal de Vehículos.
When you go to the depot, make sure you bring your ID card or identity document and the car documents including registration certificate and MOT card (or ITV in Spain).
Also bring proof of payment if you have already paid the online collection fee (more on that below).
Check the fees and penalties
If you don’t or can’t pay online, at the depot you’ll likely have to pay the corresponding fee to claim the vehicle. The total may vary depending on where in Spain you are.
These fees cover the cost of removing and storing the vehicle in the tow yard. In addition, if your car was removed due to a traffic offence, you may also have to pay the corresponding fine before claiming your car.
Price will also depend on the type of vehicle you are going to collect and how long it has been in the depot. In terms of amounts, RACE uses Madrid’s local pricing as an example, starting from €60.40 for bikes, mopeds and smaller vehicles, while for others it can cost as much as €147.55.
