If your car was towed
Find my towed car in Columbus: a step-by-step guide
Your parking spot is empty. Before panicking, work through these steps to learn whether the car was towed or stolen, where it went, and how to get it back.
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Walking back to an empty parking space is one of the worst feelings a driver can have. Your mind jumps straight to theft, but in a city the size of Columbus, a missing car has far more often been towed: from a private lot with posted signs, from a street during a snow emergency or special event, or at the direction of police. The steps below help you work out which it was and get the car back with as little cost and stress as possible.
This guide is written by Auto Lyft USA, a flatbed towing company whose yard is on Harrisburg Pike (US-62). We are not the city impound lot and we don't run the police tow program, so we can't look up your car in their systems. What we can do is explain how the process generally works in Ohio, point you toward the right people to call, and, once your car is released, haul it on a flatbed to your driveway or a mechanic if it can't be driven.
Nothing here is legal advice. Towing rules come from state law, city code and the property owner's own policies, and details change. When in doubt, ask the police non-emergency line or the towing company directly, and keep notes of who you spoke with and when.
Step one: was it towed or stolen?
Start by making sure you're in the right place. In large garages and look-alike lots, people genuinely misremember their level or row more often than you'd think. Walk the area once, use your key fob's panic button if it has one, and check a parking app or receipt if you paid for the space.
Next, look around for signs. Ohio private lots that tow unauthorized vehicles are expected to post signs at their entrances, and those signs normally name the towing company and give a phone number or address where towed cars can be recovered. Photograph every sign you find, including any posted hours or restrictions. If the sign names a towing company, call them first and ask whether they have your car, giving the make, model, color and plate.
If there's no sign, or the company doesn't have it, phone the police non-emergency number that the City of Columbus publishes online rather than 911, unless you saw the car being stolen or you're in danger. Towing companies that remove cars from private property are required to notify local police, and police-ordered tows are recorded too, so the dispatcher can often tell you whether your plate shows up as towed. If it doesn't, they can take a stolen-vehicle report.
- Re-check the lot, the level and nearby streets first.
- Photograph every tow sign, including its company name and phone number.
- Call the company named on the sign with your plate and vehicle description.
- No sign or no match: call the police non-emergency line, not 911.
- Write down every name, phone number and time you're given.
How private-property towing works in Ohio
When a business, apartment complex or other property owner has your car removed, the tow is generally governed by Ohio Revised Code sections 4513.60 and 4513.601. Broadly, those sections let a property owner have an unauthorized vehicle towed if the property is properly signed or the owner was given actual notice, and they require the towing company to let local police know about the tow so the car can be traced. The law also limits what can be charged and sets conditions on how the car is held. We won't quote specific fees or time limits here because they can change; read the current statute or ask the storage facility to show you their posted rates.
Ohio also has rules for the towing companies themselves. Companies that perform tows without the owner's request are generally expected to register with the state, and complaints about a non-consensual tow can be raised with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. If you think the signs were missing, unreadable, or the charges look wrong, collect your photos and receipts before you leave the lot. It's far easier to dispute something when you have evidence from the day.
Pay attention to timing. Storage charges are typically added daily, so a car that sits over a weekend costs more to recover than one picked up the same day. Cars that go unclaimed for a long time can eventually be disposed of under Ohio's procedures for abandoned and unclaimed vehicles, so don't let it slide even if you plan to dispute the tow.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID.
- Bring proof of ownership, such as the title or current registration in your name.
- If you're not the owner, ask the storage facility what written authorization they require.
- Ask in advance which payment methods they accept; don't assume they take cards.
- If you only need something from inside the car, such as medication or a child seat, ask how they handle access to personal belongings.
When police ordered the tow
A police-ordered tow is different from a private-property tow. Columbus police may have a car towed after a crash, an arrest, when it's left on a street during a snow emergency or event restriction, when it's blocking traffic or a driveway, or when it's been reported as abandoned. Those cars usually go to a city-designated impound or storage lot rather than to a private towing company's yard of choice.
Getting a police-towed car back can involve extra steps. Some cars are held as evidence or until a driver's license or registration issue is cleared up, and the lot won't release them until the police or a court say so. Ask the non-emergency dispatcher whether there's a hold on your car and what's needed to clear it. Fees in this case are generally set by the city, and you'll pay them at the impound lot, not to us or to the officer.
If your car was towed after a crash, you may also be dealing with insurance. Call your insurer early; many policies cover towing and some storage after an accident, and the adjuster may want to inspect the car where it sits before it's moved again. Our page on accident towing explains what we do once the car is released.
Getting the car home once it's released
Not every car can be driven off the lot. A battery may have drained after days in storage, a tire may have gone flat, or the car may have damage from the incident that led to the tow. That's the point where Auto Lyft USA can help. Once the lot has released the car to you, we can jump it, change a tire, or load it on one of our flatbeds and take it to your home, your mechanic or an independent partner shop that will diagnose the problem and send you a quote.
Before calling us, confirm with the lot that the car is released and ask whether they allow outside tow trucks to pick up vehicles and during which hours. Most lots require the registered owner or an authorized person to be present at pickup. Have your release paperwork with you.
Our published rates don't change for impound pickups: a $125 hook-up, $7 for each loaded mile, and $4 a mile for the drive out to the lot. Roadside help such as a jump-start is $75 flat plus mileage. If you need somewhere to keep the car for a few days while a shop gets ready for it, our own yard charges $45 a day for storage. If a private-lot sign names Auto Lyft USA as the towing company, call us at (614) 633-8163 and we'll tell you whether we have the car and what release requires.
Find a towed car in Columbus: what drivers ask
How do I find my towed car in Columbus if there's no sign?
Use the non-emergency police number published on the City of Columbus website, and give the dispatcher your plate number, make, model and where you parked. Police are usually notified of private-property tows and also record their own tows, so they can often tell you who has the car. If there's no record, they can help you file a stolen-vehicle report.
Should I call 911 if my car is missing?
Generally, no. Unless you saw the car being stolen, someone is in danger, or a crime is happening right now, use the police non-emergency line instead. A missing car is very often a towed car, and the non-emergency dispatcher is the right person to check records. Keeping 911 free for emergencies matters, and you'll get the same help through the right channel.
What does Ohio law say about towing from private lots?
Ohio Revised Code sections 4513.60 and 4513.601 cover most private-property tows. In general terms, the property must be properly signed or the vehicle owner must have been notified, and the towing company has to inform local police about the tow. The law also addresses charges and how the vehicle is held. Read the current text of the statute or speak with an attorney if you think a tow broke the rules.
What do I need to bring to get my car back?
Bring a valid photo ID, proof that you own the vehicle such as the title or current registration, and a way to pay. Call ahead to ask which payment methods the lot accepts and what its hours are. If someone else is picking up the car for you, ask the storage facility exactly what kind of written authorization they will accept before that person makes the trip.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car without paying first?
Policies differ, so ask the storage facility directly. Explain what you need, especially if it's medication, a child safety seat, work tools or identity documents. Being specific and polite usually gets the best result. If you believe you're being treated unfairly, note who you spoke with and the time, then raise it with the police non-emergency line or a consumer complaint office.
How is a police-ordered tow different from a private-lot tow?
A private-lot tow happens because the property owner wanted the car removed. A police-ordered tow happens because an officer had it moved, for example after a crash, arrest, abandoned-vehicle report, or a parking violation on a public street. Police tows usually go to a city-designated lot, may have a hold that needs clearing, and follow city fee schedules rather than a private company's.
Why do storage charges matter so much?
Because they're usually charged by the day. The towing fee is a one-time cost, but every extra day the car sits adds to the bill. Recovering it the same day or the next morning keeps the total down. If you plan to dispute a tow, it's usually smarter to get the car back first, keep every receipt, and pursue the dispute afterward.
Who do I complain to about a tow I think was improper?
Start with the towing company and the property owner, and keep your photos of the signs, receipts and notes. If that doesn't resolve it, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio oversees towing companies that do non-consensual tows, and you can also contact the Ohio Attorney General's consumer protection section. For serious disputes, small claims court or an attorney may be the next step.
My car was released but the battery is dead. Can you help?
Yes. Once the lot confirms the car is released to you, we can come jump it as a $75 flat roadside call plus mileage from our yard. If it still won't start, or there's damage from the incident, the flatbed carries it to your house or a garage you pick. Ask the lot about outside tow trucks and pickup hours before you call.
Can you tow my car from the impound lot to my mechanic?
Yes, as long as the lot allows outside tow trucks to collect released vehicles. You'll generally need to be there with your release paperwork and ID. Pricing follows the normal card, which means a $125 hook-up, $7 for every mile the car rides, and en-route mileage at $4. We'll take the car anywhere you choose.
Did Auto Lyft USA tow my car?
Check the signs where you parked. If a private-lot sign names Auto Lyft USA, call us at (614) 633-8163 with your plate number and vehicle description, and we'll tell you whether we have it, what release requires and where to pick it up. If the sign names a different company, contact them directly, since we can't see other companies' records.
Waiting on the shoulder?
Call from Columbus vehicle impound and tow storage lots at any hour; you hear the full price first, then a flatbed heads your way.
Services here
Auto Lyft USA is a private towing company; it is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Columbus, the Columbus Division of Police or any city impound operation.
Where the trucks start
The flatbeds that cover Columbus vehicle impound and tow storage lots are based on Harrisburg Pike (US-62) on Columbus's southwest side, and the phone is answered around the clock, 365 days a year.
1620 Harrisburg Pike
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 633-8163
Email: lisa@autolyftusa.online
Directions to the yard