My Vehicle is Towed in Taiwan

When I was in rush to send my customer back to her office, I parked my car somewhere in an unoccupied public space. It had no white line on it, so parking there was definitely not permitted. I thought it wouldn’t take so long, just for a few minutes. But I was wrong! Twenty minutes later, my car was gone and I saw my car number plate and a contact number written on the ground. It was towed….

You might also find your bike, motorbike, or car is not at the place when you first parked it. It is possibly being towed by police officer because of parking illegally. So, how to do next? Here is some information to help you.

Reason of being towed?

Parking violation, such as parking vehicle on a restricted place (red line marked area); or in the private access road without permission from the property owner; or in disabled-only-parking areas, but fails to present the disable parking permit sticker which is usually attached to the inside of windshield.

How to redeem your towed vehicle?

Claim your vehicles as soon as possible and prepare the important related document!

1. While towing your vehicle, police officer will write down vehicle number plate together with a contact number, written by chalk on the ground where you illegally parked your vehicle. You must contact that number in order to know where your vehicle is stored.
2. Present the ID card, vehicle key and related documents such as, vehicle registration letter or license number when claiming the vehicles. Fail to do so, you might claim your vehicle (low possibility), but a hefty fine will be charged to you.
3. For preventing towed vehicles being falsely claimed, the owner has to take a picture together with his/her claimed vehicle and sign a legal form. If other person showed up to claim the same towed vehicle, police officer will further investigate this case.  
4. Pay the fine standards for violations of vehicle parking

Fine standards for violations of vehicle parking

Notes: The total fine = towing fee + penalty + storage fee.

The data above can vary between cities/ counties/ townships around Taiwan

I claimed my car on the same day when it was towed and I had to pay around NTD 2,000 at that time.

In case you arrive there just in time when police officer approaching your vehicle, but the towing process hasn’t been put into motion yet, they don't necessarily have it towed away. They will issue a fine ticket to you by mailing it to your address. You still have to pay your fine because of parking illegally, but you don’t need to pay the towing fee and storage fee.

Missing or unclear contact number

If you can’t reach the number written on the ground or some number written on the ground is missing / unclear, you may try to call (1) Towed car search hotline number 1999, (2) your City Police Department (警察局=jing cha ju), goggling the contact number. For Taipei area, you may search it online here by entering your vehicle number plate.

Usually, if your vehicle is really being towed by police officer, you will find a contact number on the ground. But, unfortunately, if there isn’t any, your vehicle is possibly being stolen. Then you should contact City Police Department as soon as possible. They will help to track down your missing vehicle.

Where to park? 

The difference between white, red, and yellow lines-marked areas

• White line: legal parking area. Parking is allowed as long as you position your vehicle inside the white square.
• Red line: illegal parking area. Parking is prohibited for 24 hours.
• Yellow line: temporary parking area. Drivers who stop on yellow line must remain on their seat. The engine can’t be turned off and it should not take more than 3 minutes. During a certain period of time, yellow line marked area is permitted for parking (usually from 7 pm to 7 am, depends on the city government). Pay attention to sign and time limitation allowed to park your vehicle.
• Pay attention to marks on the ground, such as disabled only parking area, bus stop designated area (公車=gong che=bus), or truck only parking area (貨車=huo che=truck/lorry/van)

Suggestions

• Don’t think like this: “I only want to leave my car here (illegal area) for a few minutes”. In Taipei City, traffic police officers are everywhere. If you are not in your lucky day, you might later find your vehicle is not at where it was. Believe it or not, I saw the towing process which was done by Taiwan police officer many times. It only takes up to two minutes to get your vehicle hooked up, depends on the difficulties of your parking area. It is incredibly fast!
• Don’t leave your pet inside your car, especially when you park your car in an illegal parking space. Your pet will get towed along with your car. Please love your pet, because you won’t know what will happen next to your pet after your car is sent to storage area. Who will feed them if you can’t come on the same day when your car gets towed?
• Leaving your kid unattended in the car could be worse. You will get another fine by doing so. (regardless of whether you park your car illegally or not)

Good luck.

Source of Information: Taipei City Department of Transportation, self-experience.