Abbotsford Impound Lot: How to Find Your Car Before You Go Get It

If your car was towed in Abbotsford, BC, call the Abbotsford Police report desk at 604-859-5225 first. City rules say a licensed impound lot must report each towed car to the police chief no later than 1 hour after it arrives. So police can often tell you which lot has it. Bring government photo ID and payment. Sentinel Towing does not do impounds, but we can help once your car is released.

Why find out who towed it first?

Abbotsford has more than one place a towed car can end up. The rules for getting it back change with who asked for the tow. Consumer Protection BC lists the usual ones: a city, a private property owner, a strata, a parking operator, a police agency, or the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

So the first question is not "where is the lot?" It is "who called the truck?" Here are the clues to look for.

• You got a Notice of Impoundment from police. That's a provincial impound. Keep the paper. You will need it.
• You parked at a store, a plaza or an apartment lot. Look at the signs at the lot entrance. They should name the tow company.
• You left the car on a city street. It may be a City bylaw tow. Think about snow, a no parking sign, or a car left for days.
• Your car broke down or crashed, and a truck hauled it. The driver should have given you a paper saying where it went.
• No clue at all. Call 604-859-5225. If nobody towed it, you can report it stolen on that call. APD says stolen car reports can't be made online.

How do Abbotsford's rules help you track down the lot?

Abbotsford's business licensing bylaw sets rules for every licensed tow truck and impound lot in the city. A few of them work in your favor when you are hunting for your car.

• The lot reports to police. Under section 11.28, the lot must tell the police chief about your car no later than 1 hour after it arrives. It must also log your plate, VIN, the reason for the tow, and where the car came from.
• The lot is in the city and guarded. It must sit at the address on its City license, behind a locked fence. An attendant must be on duty whenever it holds an impounded car.
• There is a phone number at the gate. If no one is there, the lot must post a number where you can reach an attendant.
• You get a letter if you don't come. If your car sits unclaimed for more than 48 hours, the lot must send you a written notice within 21 days.

These rules give you a paper trail. If one phone call comes up empty, the next one usually doesn't.

What if your car was towed after a breakdown or crash?

Say your car quits on Sumas Way at night, or you get rear-ended near a Highway 1 ramp. A tow truck shows up. Under section 11.27 of the bylaw, the driver has to hand you signed, written information before towing. It must name the driver and the company. It must clearly say where your car is going.

The driver can't take your car anywhere else unless you, the owner, or a first responder asks. They also can't start towing at a crash scene unless you or a first responder asked for them. And they can't push you toward a certain shop unless you ask.

Keep that paper in your phone case or wallet. If you leave in an ambulance or a friend's car, it is your map back to your vehicle. If you didn't get one, ask the police officer at the scene. The bylaw says the tow driver must give the same details to the officer.

What if you were towed from a private lot?

This is the classic one. You run into a shop for five minutes, and come back to an empty stall. Abbotsford's bylaw is strict about how these tows can happen.

• The car must go straight to the licensed impound lot. No side trips.
• Tow signs must be posted at every entrance and exit. They must say if cars get towed after business hours.
• For a car parked wrongly for less than a day, a Tow-Away Notice must be placed on it first. The lot owner, a tenant or their agent does this, not tow company staff.
• On a lot with a time limit, the truck can't hook up until 30 minutes after your time runs out.
• No one can hook up a car with a person inside.

If you get back in your car after it is hooked up, but before it leaves the lot, the bylaw says it must be let go right away. Fees can still apply, at the amounts set by the province's Lien on Impounded Motor Vehicles Regulation. Stay calm, and stay out of the truck's path.

The sign at a no parking area must show the tow company's name, its phone number, and where towed cars go. Take a photo of the sign. It answers most of your questions on the spot.

What if the City or the police impounded it?

A City street tow

Abbotsford's Street and Traffic Bylaw lets the City remove or impound a car that is parked unlawfully on a street or in a public place. Common reasons:

• Parking on one street for more than 72 hours in a row.
• Blocking snow clearing. The City can tell owners to move cars by 7:00 a.m. the day after snow or ice builds up. It can move the car to another spot or to storage.

The City must mail a written notice to the address ICBC has on file. It tells you about the impound and what you owe to get the car back. The City can also sell an unclaimed car at public auction. Bylaw Services is at 32315 South Fraser Way, 604-853-2281, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They're closed on statutory holidays.

A provincial police impound

BC police must impound a car for some offenses. These include driving over 40 km/h above the limit, street racing or stunts, and driving while prohibited, suspended or unlicensed. Driving while affected by alcohol or drugs is on the list too. A first offense for these driving behaviors usually means 7 days. A second means 30 days. Three or more in two years means 60.

The day of the tow doesn't count. Day 1 starts at midnight. The province says a 7-day impound usually ends up as 9 days of storage charges. If your release day lands on a weekend or holiday, call the lot to sort out a pickup.

What do you bring to the impound lot?

For a provincial impound, the registered owner must:

1. Go to the lot in person.
2. Show valid government photo ID.
3. Pay all towing and storage fees.
4. Bring a licensed driver if you don't have a valid license yourself.

Call the lot before you go to check its hours. Can't go yourself? Fill out the Owner's Authorization Form (MV2712) and send it to RoadSafetyBC with your ID and Notice of Impoundment. Approval can take up to 3 business days, so send it early.

Once you pay in full, the City's bylaw gives the lot no more than 20 minutes to release your car, unless police placed a hold on it. The lot must also give you a full written list of every fee and tax on company paper. Keep it.

Who pays, and can you fight it?

The province is blunt about this. The registered owner pays all towing and storage costs, no matter who was driving. You may be able to get that money back from the driver through a civil claim.

You can ask for a review of an impound longer than 7 days. You must apply within 15 days of the impound date. Owners who weren't driving can argue they took reasonable care before lending the car. They can also argue it was used without their knowledge or consent. If your car was stolen and then impounded, police may allow an early release once you file a stolen report. You still pay the fees.

For a private tow, ask for a clear fee breakdown. The bylaw caps charges at the amounts in the Lien regulation. If you can't sort it out with the tow company, Consumer Protection BC points people to the Civil Resolution Tribunal. It does not regulate towing itself.

What if your car won't start at the lot?

Cars sit in impound lots through rain and cold nights. A weak battery may be flat by pickup day. A tire may be low. If the lot lets a roadside truck in, a jump start may be all you need. If the car can't be driven, a car tow can take it home or to your shop.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network, not a tow company. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a price and lock it before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. For local roads, from Highway 11 to the Sumas Prairie, see our Abbotsford towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Abbotsford Impound Lot Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Abbotsford Police FAQ, Abbotsford Bylaw 1551-2006 (business licensing), Abbotsford Street and Traffic Bylaw 3066-2021, City of Abbotsford: parking regulations, RoadSafetyBC: Vehicle Impoundment Program, Consumer Protection BC: towing.