Rochester, NY Impound: Finding and Releasing a Towed Car

If Rochester police towed your car, it most likely went to the RPD Auto Impound at 330 Colfax Street. Check the city's online vehicle lookup first, or call (585) 428-6717. The lot is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, except major holidays. The owner brings a valid registration or title and a valid driver's license. Crash tows and private lot tows often end up somewhere else.

Where did my car go?

You walk out of a show downtown and the curb is empty. Before you panic, figure out who moved it. In Rochester, there are four common answers.

1. The police towed it from a street. Cars removed from city streets or public areas by the Rochester Police Department go to the Auto Impound. Search the vehicle lookup on the city's impound page.
2. It was in a crash. Crash tows don't always go to Colfax Street. Call 311 from inside the city, or (585) 428-5990 from outside it, and ask where it went.
3. A private lot towed it. Go back and read the sign at the lot. It names the tow company and its address. The police are not told about these tows, so the lookup won't show it.
4. The lender took it. If you're behind on payments, it may have been repossessed. Call your bank or lender.

Still no trace? Call 311 and ask if your car was towed. If nobody has a record, report it stolen. If you feel unsafe where you're standing, call 911.

Why would Rochester police tow my car?

The RPD's towing FAQ lists the main reasons. A car may be towed if it's a safety hazard or blocks traffic or access. It can also go if it's illegally parked or abandoned. Crime cases, arrests and crashes can lead to a tow too.

A few details surprise people:

• An old inspection sticker isn't enough. The RPD says an expired or missing sticker alone can't justify a tow.
• An arrest doesn't always mean a tow. If the car can be legally parked, locked up, or handed to a licensed driver you trust, it may stay.
• Old tickets can catch up with you. The city can hold a car at the impound for parking tickets you owe. That includes tickets on a car you used to own.

When does a parked car count as abandoned?

New York law sets the clock, and the RPD spells it out:

Where the car sits	Can be called abandoned after
Public road or place, no license plates	More than 6 hours
Public spot where parking isn't allowed	More than 24 hours
Legal spot that became illegal, like during a snow emergency	More than 48 hours
Someone else's private property, no permission	More than 96 hours

That third row matters most in winter. Your spot was fine when you parked. Then a snow plan kicked in, and the clock started.

How do winter snow plans lead to tows?

Rochester's airport averages 28.2 inches of snow in January, based on NOAA's normals. The city runs three snow plans, and it says the rules are strictly enforced in big storms. You hear about each plan through local media, so check the news when snow is coming.

• Plowing Day Parking Restriction: alternate side parking on residential streets.
• Snow Emergency: no parking at all on Snow Emergency Routes.
• Parking Emergency: no parking on the residential streets the city names, so crews can clear them curb to curb.

Outside of snow plans, everyday rules still apply. On streets without alternate parking, you can't stay more than 12 hours. Keep at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant and 5 feet from a driveway.

What do I need to get my car out of the Auto Impound?

Call (585) 428-6717 before you go. Some cars can't be released right away because of an investigation or a hold. Ask if yours is free to leave and what the total is. The fee list is on the city's impound page.

What to bring

• Proof you own it: a valid registration or the title.
• A valid driver's license.
• Proof of insurance, if you plan to drive it out. The impound checks the license of whoever drives, plus valid registration and insurance.
• The right payment. The lot takes cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. It won't take personal checks, money orders or American Express.

My registration is in the glovebox. Now what?

This happens a lot. RPD policy says ownership papers like the registration, insurance card and title should usually stay locked inside the car. So say this on the phone and ask how they handle it. If you have the title at home, bring that.

Can a friend pick it up?

Sometimes. The RPD says the person must be legally allowed to take the car and meet every release rule. Call the impound and ask what papers your friend needs before they make the trip.

How fast do I need to move?

Fast. Storage is charged for each 24 hours after the first day, and a part day counts as a full one. So a Saturday tow you leave until Monday costs more.

Holds work a little differently. If the car is on an evidence hold, storage doesn't build up during the hold. It starts once the hold is lifted. A car held for parking tickets starts building storage 24 hours after it's towed.

The city also mails a certified letter to the registered owner, the titled owner and any lien holder. It uses the address on file with the New York DMV. If you moved, don't wait for that letter.

How do I deal with tickets or fight the tow?

If you were towed or booted for unpaid tickets, the city asks you to send in a Clearance Form first. You get back a full report of what you owe. A car can be booted when its owner has three or more unpaid tickets that are at least 90 days old. If that's you, call 311. The city says not to pay those tickets on its online portal.

Think the tow was wrong? Send the city's Tow Hearing Request Form. The page says to file it "within the allowed timeframe" but doesn't list the deadline, so call and ask right away. Hearings are at the Parking and Municipal Code Violations Bureau, 200 East Main Street, Suite B-001. They're scheduled ahead of time, and you need a photo ID.

Fresh tickets matter too. Pay or contest within 30 days of the ticket date, or the fine goes up.

What if my car was in a crash?

After a crash, an officer may have sent your car to a private garage, not Colfax Street. Call 311 to find it. RPD policy says when a crash car goes to a private garage, you pay that tow company there, not the impound.

If your car breaks down and isn't in a crash, you have a choice. The RPD says an officer may help you call a shop or tow service. If you have no preference, the officer may call a city-contracted tow company, and you pay. So if you've already called for a tow, tell the officer it's on the way.

My car won't move after release. What now?

Your car may have sat outside on Colfax Street for days. Rochester's airport sees about 129 nights a year at or below freezing, per NOAA. That's hard on an old battery. A crash may also have left the car unsafe to drive.

• Clicks but won't crank: try a jump start once the car is released.
• Won't run or isn't safe: book a car tow to your home or a repair shop.
• Slid into a snowbank on the way home: if you're near the road, a winch-out can pull you free.

To be clear, Sentinel doesn't do impounds, releases or private-property tows. You handle the paperwork and fees with the city first. After that, we can help with a car, SUV, minivan or light pickup.

How does Sentinel work?

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 is sent. Then we check on you by text until your truck arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. For breakdowns on I-490, the Outer Loop or the Can of Worms, see our Rochester towing page.

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

Rochester Impound Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: RPD Auto Impound, RPD towing and impound procedures, RPD towing policy (PDF), Parking violations and tickets, Winter and snow parking rules, NOAA monthly normals, NOAA annual normals.