Rules
Towed in Richmond? Find the Official Lookup First
If your car vanished from a Richmond street or lot, check the city's online towed vehicle list first. It shows cars towed inside city limits and the lot address for pickup. For a car towed from public property, the Richmond police FAQ says to call (804) 233-5757. For a private lot tow, call (804) 646-5100 and press 1. If it was towed off an interstate, call Virginia State Police.
Where do I look first if my car is gone in Richmond?
Start with the city's towed vehicle listing. Richmond's 911 office keeps it. Tow companies enter each car, so you can search it from your phone.
Each entry lists the make, model and color. It also shows part of the VIN, part of the plate and the time of the tow. Most important, it gives the lot address where the car waits for you.
Entries stay on the site for 14 days. If your car sat towed for longer, it may be gone from the list. Call the nonemergency line, 804-646-5100, and ask.
The city asks you to check the list before you report a car stolen. That saves you a police report you don't need. If the car truly isn't there, report it stolen at the same number.
Who towed my car: the city, a private lot or the State Police?
Richmond is where I-95 and I-64 meet and run together north of downtown. City streets, private lots and two busy interstates sit side by side. Three different groups can move your car, and each one has its own phone number.
| Where your car was | Who to call |
|---|---|
| A city street or other public property | (804) 233-5757, the number the Richmond police FAQ gives for public property tows |
| A private lot: a store, apartment complex or office | (804) 646-5100, then press option 1 |
| I-95, I-64, I-195 or I-295, often after a crash or breakdown | Virginia State Police Division One, (804) 609-5500 |
| Henrico County, such as Short Pump or Glen Allen | Henrico Police nonemergency, (804) 501-5000 |
The city list only covers tows inside city limits. Richmond's suburbs are separate places. If you parked across the line in Henrico, the city list may not help you.
What about a tow off the interstate?
Say your car quit on the overlap near the I-195 split last night. You got a ride home. This morning, the car is gone from the shoulder. That tow may not show on the city list at all.
Virginia law lets an officer order a stuck car removed at the owner's cost when it's a traffic hazard. That's in Code 46.2-888. The State Police tell you to call your closest division office for towed or impounded cars. They also say there is normally a fee to get it back.
Richmond falls in Division One. That division also covers Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover and Petersburg. Its headquarters is at 2434 Pine Forest Drive in Colonial Heights. The phone numbers are (804) 609-5500 and (800) 552-9965.
What does Virginia law say about private lot tows?
You run into a store off Broad Street, then walk next door for lunch. You come back and your car is gone. Here's what Virginia Code 46.2-1231 says about tows like that.
- Signs come first. Under state law, the lot needs signs at every entrance that warn about towing. The signs must list the police nonemergency number or the tow company's number.
- The police hear about it. The tow operator must report the tow right away to the State Police or local police. That's why the police line can tell you where your car went.
- Fees must be posted. The tow business must post a full fee list where you pick up the car, or hand you a written list. It can't collect more than its posted fees.
- Catch it in time. If you're there and you move the car before it's actually towed, it can't be towed. You may still owe a smaller fee.
Do I pay storage on day one?
Under Code 46.2-1233.1, the state default is no storage charge for the first 24 hours on a car towed from private property without your OK. Cities and counties can set their own limits by ordinance. So move fast, and ask the lot what applies.
My car broke down in a lot. Can they tow it?
The private lot rules in 46.2-1231 don't apply when a car is left there for a short time because of a wreck or other emergency. Don't leave it long, though. Call for a tow to your shop as soon as you can.
What should I bring and ask before I go to the lot?
Once the list or a phone call gives you an address, take a minute before you leave. A wasted trip across the James River helps no one.
- Call the number on the listing or sign. Ask the lot's hours and what ID and papers they want.
- Ask how they take payment, so you bring the right kind.
- Bring your driver's license and your registration or title.
- Bring your keys, and a phone charger. Lots can be in parts of town you don't know.
- Ask to see the posted fee list before you pay. State law says it must be there or in writing.
If you need a police report for insurance, the Richmond Police Information Desk is at RPD Headquarters, 200 W. Grace St., Window 4. It's open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The records phone is (804) 646-6715. It takes cash or money order only.
What if the car won't start when I get it back?
Sentinel doesn't do impounds or releases. The lot does that part. Where we help is after you have the keys in your hand.
Cars that sit in a lot for days can come back with a dead battery or a soft tire. If it clicks and won't crank, try a jump start before anything else. If it still won't run, a tow to your shop gets it off the lot before more days add up.
Here's how it works. Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone heads your way, then check on you by text until your driver arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise. Tell us the lot's address and where the car needs to go. Our Richmond towing page lists the neighborhoods and counties partners cover.
If you feel unsafe where you're standing, or anyone is hurt, call 911 first. Richmond's 911 office says not to use email or social media for emergency help.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Richmond Towed Car Questions
My car isn't on Richmond's towed vehicle list. Now what?
The list covers city limits only, and entries drop off after 14 days. If you parked on an interstate or in Henrico, call the State Police or Henrico Police. If you still can't find it, call 804-646-5100 and report it stolen.
Can Sentinel get my car out of the impound lot?
No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or releases, so you deal with the lot yourself. Once it's released, we can send a vetted local partner for a jump start or a tow to your shop.
A private lot towed me and the sign had no phone number. Is that allowed?
Under state law, signs at every entrance must show the police nonemergency number or the tow company's number. A locality with its own towing ordinance can set different sign rules. Take photos of the signs and call 804-646-5100, option 1, to find your car.
Who do I call if my car was towed off I-95 in Richmond?
Call Virginia State Police Division One at (804) 609-5500. The State Police say to call your closest division office for towed or impounded cars. Have your plate number and the exit or mile marker ready.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Richmond towed vehicles, Richmond Police FAQs, Va. Code 46.2-1231 and 46.2-1233.1, Va. Code 46.2-888, Virginia State Police, VSP Division One, Henrico Police.
