Towed or impounded vehicle in Quebec: getting it back, contesting the fees
A blocking parking spot, an expired plate, a seizure after unpaid tickets: the vehicle goes without you. What matters next is knowing where it is, what you must pay, and what you can contest.
A blocking parking spot, an expired plate, a seizure after unpaid tickets: the vehicle goes without you. What matters next is knowing where it is, what you must pay, and what you can contest.
Every day of storage costs
Towing and storage are billed separately and storage is daily. Once you know where the vehicle is, recover valuables and set a release date: waiting to contest first costs more every day without suspending the fees.
Finding the vehicle
Look for the notice posted at the removal site and photograph it; call the municipal police or parking service, which keeps the removal register and names the operator; then contact the impound operator with the plate number.
Recovering it
Prove ownership and identity (registration certificate, licence, ID, plus written authorisation for a vehicle owned by someone else), ask for the itemised invoice before paying, recover personal belongings and report anything missing in writing, inspect and photograph the vehicle before leaving, and pay "under reserve" in writing if you contest the fees.
Contesting and the risk of not acting
A ticket is contested within a precise delay, separately from the towing fees; fee disputes are based on the municipal tariff. An unclaimed vehicle can be disposed of after the required notices, so the owner may lose the vehicle and still owe the accumulated fees. On private property, the posted signs and the operator's agreement with the property owner determine the obligations.