Can your car be towed away, and who pays for it?
It depends on the situation — a car can be towed, but not at any time, and the myth that 'if it was towed, the city pays' is misleading: the driver foots the bill. Under the Road Traffic Rules and the Law on Road Traffic Safety, a vehicle is forcibly removed to a storage yard when it is left in a prohibited place and creates a hazard or obstructs traffic — blocking visibility, standing on a cycle path, or getting in the way of emergency services or refuse trucks. The police and municipal officers have the right to tow. All towing and storage costs are borne by the owner or keeper when they collect the car. The key thing people miss: the charges are rising fast and each municipality sets its own — in Vilnius forced towing jumped from 36.30 € to 100 €, and storage costs about 2.73 € per day; on top of the towing charge there is a separate fine for the traffic breach itself.
📋 The rules
- Only a vehicle left in a prohibited place that creates a hazard or obstructs traffic may be towed
- The police and municipal officers may order a forced tow (Road Rules, Road Safety Law)
- All towing and storage costs are borne by the owner or keeper, not the municipality
- Each municipality sets the charges — in Vilnius towing rose from 36.30 € to 100 €
- The traffic breach itself carries a separate fine, on top of towing and storage fees
🔓 Exceptions
- If a car merely does not obstruct traffic and poses no hazard, forced towing is usually not applied
- If a car was towed unlawfully or without grounds, the costs can be disputed and reclaimed
- Charges change after each municipal procurement, so the exact sum must be checked in that city
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A towed car is not one bill but several at once. The owner pays for the tow itself, for each day of storage in the yard, and a separate fine for the traffic breach under the Code of Administrative Offences. What people miss: while collection is delayed the storage charge mounts up daily, so the final sum grows sharply if you wait. In Vilnius towing rose from 36.30 € to 100 €, and charges keep climbing after new procurements, so old prices repeated online are already out of date. Only the owner or an authorised person with documents can collect the car, and information about its location is given via a short phone number. If the tow was unlawful, the costs can be disputed and recovered, but storage keeps running during the dispute, so the quickest option is to collect it at once.
📎 Official sources
- Vilnius City Municipality · forced removal of vehicles →
- e-tar · Road Traffic Rules →
- e-seimas · Law on Road Traffic Safety →
❓ Frequently asked
When can a car be forcibly towed?
A car can be towed when it is left in a prohibited place and creates a hazard or obstruction — blocking visibility, standing on a cycle path, or getting in the way of emergency services. A minor breach with no danger to traffic usually does not justify a forced tow.
Who pays for towing and storage?
All towing and yard storage costs are borne by the car's owner or keeper when they collect the vehicle, not by the municipality. So the myth that the city pays for towing is misleading — the final bill lands on the driver.
How much does towing cost in Vilnius?
In Vilnius forced towing rose from 36.30 to 100 euros, and storage in the yard costs about 2.73 euros per day. Each municipality sets its own charges and they keep rising after new procurements, so it is worth checking the exact price in that city.
Is there a fine on top of the towing?
Yes, the towing and storage charges are separate from the fine for the traffic breach itself. A driver can receive both an administrative fine and a bill for removing and storing the car in the yard, so the total adds up quickly.
What if the car was towed unlawfully?
If you believe the car was towed without grounds, the costs can be disputed and their return demanded. However, storage keeps accruing during the dispute, so it is usually better to collect the car first and then challenge the lawfulness of the tow.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “car towed away lithuania”
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- “towing cost vilnius”
- “where to collect a towed car”
- “was my car towed lawfully”
- “car storage yard fee”