How to Locate an Impounded Vehicle

Find out who has your vehicle first

If your car is missing from a New Jersey parking location, check the towing sign or notice and contact the police non-emergency number for the town where it was parked. Ask which towing company removed it and where it is stored. This guide covers locating and arranging release of a vehicle in Chain Gang’s Central New Jersey service area; it is not a statewide impound database.

If you believe Chain Gang towed it, call 908-642-3699 with the plate, make, model, color and last parking location. Confirm possession and the authorized release address before traveling.

Why Was Your Vehicle Impounded?

Before locating your vehicle, it helps to understand why it was towed and impounded. Common reasons include:

• Parking or stopping in violation of local ordinances (private property, “tow-away” zones, no-parking zones)
• Abandonment or unauthorized parking on private property
• Accidents where the vehicle is inoperable and needs to be removed for safety
• Law enforcement removal (e.g., after a DUI, or for evidence)
• Commercial vehicle violations (in the case of trucks or heavy equipment)

When a vehicle is impounded, the towing company (or the law enforcement agency) has taken custody of it, and you will need to follow a process to recover it.

At Chain Gang, we provide private-property towing & impound services and commercial towing services in the Middlesex & Somerset County region.

Identify the Entity that Impounded Your Vehicle

Different entities may be responsible for the impound, and each may have a different process. Here’s how to determine who to contact:

• If you received a ticket, citation, or notice from a police department, then the impound may have been directed by law enforcement.
• If it was towed from private property (parking lot, gated community, business), the property owner or manager may have contracted a towing agency like Chain Gang.

If you are simply unable to find your car where you last parked and suspect it was towed, call local towing companies, municipal parking enforcement, or the police non-emergency line.

Contact Chain Gang (If We Towed Your Vehicle)

If you suspect Chain Gang is the towing agency that has impounded your vehicle, here’s how to reach us:

Phone: (908) 642-3699.

Office and service area:

203 Valley Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.

Chain Gang also serves Woodbridge Township and surrounding communities; there is no customer-facing Woodbridge or Avenel office.

Available 24/7 for roadside and towing services.

When you call, be ready with as much information as you can:

1. Your vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate number
2. The last known parking location/time
3. Reference any citation or notice you received
4. Ask: “Is my vehicle here? What address and lot is it in? What are the fees and required paperwork to recover it?”

Keep in mind: Because they are handling impounds and tows, there may be storage fees, release forms, or authorization needed from your side.

Confirm Location & Storage Details

Once you’ve established that Chain Gang (or another towing company) has your vehicle, your next steps are:

• Call dispatch to confirm the exact authorized storage and vehicle-release address, required documents, fees, payment methods, and release hours before traveling.
• Ask about storage fees: how they accrue (daily rate), when they started.
• Ask what paperwork you need to bring (proof of ownership, driver’s license, insurance, lien clearance if applicable).
• Ask about payment methods to release the vehicle.
• Office and regular vehicle-release hours are Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM–12 PM; the office is closed Sunday. Towing dispatch is available 24/7. Call to arrange any after-hours release in advance and confirm the applicable fee and required documents.

Gather Required Documentation

Confirm the exact documents before traveling, especially if you are collecting a vehicle for someone else. Ask about transport when the keys are unavailable and who is authorized to collect it. Requirements depend on the vehicle, owner and any directing agency.

• To retrieve your vehicle you will typically need:
• A valid driver’s license (photo ID)
• Proof of ownership (vehicle title or registration)
• Proof of insurance (if required by state or agency)
• Any citation or impound notice you received
• Payment for towing fee + storage fee (cash, credit card — ask ahead)
• If the vehicle is financed or leased, possibly a lienholder authorization

Having these ready prior to visiting the lot can speed up release and reduce further fees.

Visit the Impound Lot & Inspect the Vehicle

When physically going to the lot:

• Drive or arrange transport to the address given by the towing agency.
• Ask to inspect your vehicle before you pay and authorize release. Check for damage or missing items (take photos).
• Document any concern about damage or missing belongings with photos, dates and written records, and raise it promptly with the operator. Responsibility depends on the facts; this guide does not determine liability or replace legal advice.

Ask whether a police or other agency hold must be cleared before release. Confirm the itemized charges and release requirements with the operator; payment alone may not resolve an agency hold.

Fees, records and official New Jersey guidance

Ask for an itemized explanation of towing, storage and any applicable release charge. Review our towing-cost guide and published rate-sheet link, and keep receipts and delivery records. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs publishes What You Should Know About Getting Towed for non-consensual private-property and law-enforcement-initiated tows. It explains reasonable fees, applicable municipal rates and after-hours accommodation. Consult the Division or a qualified adviser about a dispute; this page does not decide whether a particular tow or charge was lawful.

After Release — Additional Things to Consider

• Review the towing/impound fees: Compare with your citation notice or city ordinance to ensure they align.
• If your vehicle was impounded due to parking or ordinance violation, pay any tickets/fines to avoid further penalties.
• If the tow or impound was done service-provider side (private property), you may consider disputing if you believe it was improper (e.g., lacking proper signage).
• Maintain records: keep receipts of release, photos of vehicle condition, any communications with the towing company.

If you were stranded or incurred extra costs (alternate transport, etc.), keep those receipts as well in case you wish to dispute.

Why Choose Chain Gang for Impound & Recovery Services

Here’s what makes Chain Gang a trusted choice in their region:

• Over 10 years of service experience in Middlesex and Somerset County NJ.
• Dispatch is available 24/7 for emergency towing and roadside assistance; office and vehicle-release arrangements follow the hours and appointment instructions above.
• Serving drivers and property owners throughout Central New Jersey.
• Equipped to handle both private-property impounds and commercial towing, meaning they’ve got infrastructure and procedures in place to securely store and release vehicles.
• Responsive dispatch and experienced staff — key when you need clarity and efficiency in a stressful situation.

Quick Checklist for Vehicle Recovery

1. Identify that your vehicle is impounded (call towing company & police dept if needed)
2. Confirm impound lot address and storage fees
3. Gather required documents: ID, registration/title, insurance, citation
4. Visit lot, inspect vehicle condition, confirm fees
5. Pay fees, sign release, take back vehicle
6. Store receipts & records of the transaction
7. Resolve any underlying violation or ticket that led to the impound

Final Thoughts

Having your vehicle impounded is definitely stressful — but it doesn’t have to become a prolonged ordeal. By acting quickly, contacting the right agency (such as Chain Gang), gathering documentation, and understanding the process, you can minimize time, cost, and added frustration.

If you believe Chain Gang may have your vehicle, call (908) 642-3699 before traveling. We can confirm whether we have it, provide the authorized storage and release location, explain the fees and required documents, and guide you through the recovery process.