Why are vehicles towed?

Vehicles can be towed for one of three reasons: road safety, obstruction, or public interest.

My car isn’t where I left it — how do I find out if it’s been towed?

Follow these steps to confirm whether your vehicle has been towed or needs to be reported as stolen: 1) Call Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553 as soon as possible (contact centre open 24 hours). AT can tell you if they towed your car and which towing company is holding it. 2) If you parked in a private car park, phone the number provided on signs in the car park. 3) If you still can’t confirm whether it’s been towed, contact the police on their non-emergency number 105.

Who do I call if I think Auckland Transport towed my vehicle?

Call Auckland Transport (AT) on 09 355 3553. The contact centre is open 24 hours and can tell you if AT towed your car and which towing company is holding it.

What if I parked in a private car park and my vehicle is missing?

If you parked in a private car park, phone the number provided on signs in the car park to check whether your vehicle has been towed.

When should I contact the police about a missing vehicle?

If you can’t confirm whether your vehicle has been towed by Auckland Transport or another parking operator, contact the police on their non-emergency number 105.

How do I recover my vehicle after it’s been towed?

Once you have confirmed your vehicle was towed, you can make plans to collect it. If your vehicle was towed by Auckland Transport, AT’s contact centre can tell you where it has been taken.

How do I find out where my towed vehicle has been taken?

If your vehicle was towed by Auckland Transport, their contact centre can tell you where it has been taken.

What if I can’t collect my vehicle on the day it was towed?

If you are unable to collect it on the day it was towed, let Auckland Transport know. It may be moved to a different storage facility overnight.

Will I have to pay a towing fee or get a fine?

Depending on the reason for towing, Auckland Transport may send you a fine for illegal parking as well as a towing fee.

If my vehicle was parked legally and moved for safety reasons, will I have to pay?

If your vehicle was parked legally and moved for safety reasons, you will not receive a fine and will not have to pay the towing fee.

Recover a towed vehicle

Why vehicles are towed

Your vehicle can be towed for one of 3 reasons:

road safety
obstruction
public interest.

Find out if your vehicle has been towed

If your car isn't where you left it, follow these steps to find out whether it's been towed or needs to be reported as stolen.

Call Auckland Transport (AT) on 09 355 3553 as soon as possible. Our contact centre is open 24 hours. We will be able to tell you if we've towed your car and which towing company is holding it.
If you parked in a private car park, phone the number provided on signs in the car park.
If you still can't confirm whether your vehicle has been towed, contact the police on their non-emergency number 105.

How to recover your vehicle

Once you have confirmed your vehicle was towed, you can make plans to collect it.

Finding where it is

If your vehicle was towed by us, our contact centre will be able to tell you where it's been taken.

If you are unable to collect it on the day it was towed, please let us know. It may be moved to a different storage facility overnight.

All towing companies must tell the police when they have towed a vehicle. They must provide the licence plate number and location they have moved the vehicle to. There may be a delay between your vehicle being towed and this information being sent to the police, but it should not be longer than 30 minutes.

Paying the fee

We may send you a fine for illegal parking as well as a towing fee.

Learn more about the process and timeline for paying a fine with AT.

If your vehicle was towed by a private towing company, you will need to pay the towing fee on collection. They will let you know how much you owe.

If your vehicle was parked legally

If your vehicle was parked legally, it may have been moved for safety reasons, such as enabling emergency service access.

In these situations, your vehicle is likely to have been moved to a safe location nearby, rather than one of the tow yards. You will not receive a fine and will not have to pay the towing fee.

Check with the police to confirm whether your vehicle has been moved or needs to be reported as stolen:

How to report an illegally parked vehicle

Illegal parking can put people at risk. It can block footpaths, cycleways and the road. In some cases, we can tow vehicles that are illegally parked.

Learn how to report an illegally parked vehicle.

Last updated 8/04/2026

Loading