What To Do If Your Subscription Car Gets Towed
There’s nothing worse than the stomach dropping feeling of going outside to head to work, errands or a trip and realizing that your car is no longer where you parked it. There are a number of different reasons why a car can get towed, and both rental and subscription cars are not exempt. Here’s what to do if your car gets towed.
Common Reasons Why Cars Get Towed
First of all, it’s handy to know why cars commonly get towed so you can avoid doing those things. If you’re new to having a car or only subscribe to one for short periods of time, you might not be in the habit of checking these things. As soon as you park, it’s a good idea to take a look around, look for signs and make sure your car will not be in violation.
Blocking traffic a car will likely be towed if it’s parked anywhere it impedes the flow of traffic which includes entrances to parking lots. You also cannot park within certain distances of intersections, mailboxes, stop signs, fire hydrants, fire zones, loading zones, etc.
City mandates are common particularly for trash and snow removal as well as sweeping, and they stipulate which side of the road or area a car can be parked on. These usually happen on specific days or alternating weeks and it’s your responsibility to keep track and follow the rules.
Private and business property lots are designated for individuals and customers and you could be towed if you park in a private lot, such as in the parking lot of an apartment building, or in a spot reserved for paying customers of a business. Most apartments have visitor parking, and if you plan to do other errands, instead of leaving your car in the business lot, you can simply move it to make room for others visiting that business.
If you parked longer than allowed or the meter expired usually results in a fine, but in some cases, your vehicle could be towed. Make sure to look for signs stipulating when and for how long you can park in an area and be sure to keep track of time and move your car if you need more time.
If you have unpaid fines and live in a larger city you may have your license plates tagged. If fines become severely overdue or hit a certain amount, your car will get booted and towed. The only way to get a car back after this happens is to pay the total amount of tickets and fees, which can be quite high.
The easiest way to avoid having your car towed is to simply be observant and follow the rules for the area that you choose to park in.
What If Your Subscription Car Gets Towed?
Just like a personal or rental car, if your subscription car happens to get towed, then it’s your job to get it out of impound. If you read the fine print of your subscription car service, you are likely responsible for any traffic violations incurred during your subscription or as a result of your use of the subscription vehicle. These will likely include: parking charges, parking citations, towing, storage and impound fees, speeding, red light, photo enforcement, and toll violations. You are also liable for all penalties/fees from any such violation, including fines for late payment and any processing penalties/fees added by the issuing municipality.
Where the car ends up after being towed will depend on the tow. It may be towed by the city or by a private business, in which case the vehicle will end up in the company’s impound lot. Where it can get tricky with both rental and subscription cars is that you don’t own the car, and proof of ownership is required to get a vehicle out of impound. You’ll need to provide a copy of your subscription agreement and you’ll want to act quickly, the longer the car sits in the tow lot, the higher the fees are going to be to get it out.
Failure to get your subscription car out of impound could result in charges against your security deposit and even the potential cancellation of your vehicle subscription service.
If you’d like to learn more about our SimpleCar subscription service give us a call at 833-767-5327 or contact us. We can answer questions and help you get on the road on your terms.
