How can I know if my car is being towed?

March 25, 2009 3:23 PM

There's a good chance my car might get towed at any time. So, what are my options for tracking my car's movement (possible via GPS) when it's not turned on and I'm not in it?

This is probably not possible, but I'd like to be able to tell if my car is being towed. Since it'll most likely be towed in the middle of the night while I'm sleeping a few blocks away from my dubiously legal parking spot, I live in fear of waking up in the morning to find that it's gone. Is there any alarm that can remotely alert me if my car travels?

My preferred solution would be:

Park car, turn car off. Put device in car.
Leave car.
If car then moves, device alerts another device that I keep with me, causing some kind of an alarm. Yeah, my car will still have been towed, but at least I can intervene and pick it up at the towing lot and not be late for work.

Is there anything I can make work for this purpose?

posted by lizzicide to technology (12 answers total)

LoJack will alert you via cell phone (I believe a human calls you) if the car's moving due to either theft or towing.
posted by knile at 3:34 PM on March 25, 2009

There are GPS trackers available for sale that send notifications and allow you to respond.
posted by Burhanistan at 3:35 PM on March 25, 2009

From the LoJack page:

"In the event of a theft, you report the incident to the police, who make a routine entry into the state police crime computer, resulting in a match of the LoJack System's unique code against the state VIN database."

Meaning I'd have to first notice my car missing.

The second link, sadly, is not available for installation on VW cars in Massachusetts.

Keep 'em coming!
posted by lizzicide at 4:28 PM on March 25, 2009

Maybe I'm missing the key point in your plan, but even if you 'intervene,' the towing OFFICE keeps regular hours. You aren't going to be able to follow the truck to the yard at 3 am and expect to get your car back. You will have to go back at 8 or 9 or whenever they open, and you'll get to pay around $300 for the joy of having them drag your car and park it behind razor wire for a few hours.
posted by sageleaf at 4:57 PM on March 25, 2009

This GPS tracker allows you define a zone (i.e. your parking spot) and receive an email or text message when your car moves. Drawback is $10/month service fee.
posted by djb at 6:24 PM on March 25, 2009

Actually Lojack has a product called the Early Warning System. From their website.

The LoJack Early Warning Recovery System provides an added layer of protection for your car. The LoJack Early Warning Recovery System notifies you directly if your car is moved without your authorization. LoJack will alert you by phone, e-mail and/or pager so you can quickly check on the status of your vehicle. If a theft has occurred, the LoJack Early Warning Recovery System enables the police to track and recover your vehicle even sooner.

Get alerts at work, at home or on the road
Choose up to five methods of contact, including phone, e-mail and text message
posted by maloon at 6:52 PM on March 25, 2009

It doesn't matter, once the tow truck guy hooks it up your car is going with him come hell, high water, bribes or pleading. You may as well get a good nights sleep.
posted by fshgrl at 7:43 PM on March 25, 2009

You aren't going to be able to follow the truck to the yard at 3 am and expect to get your car back. You will have to go back at 8 or 9 or whenever they open,

Not necessarily. My wife's car was towed once for parking past a time restriction. We retrieved her car around 1 AM. I think in most big cities tow lots that are contracted by the city stay open 24-7. They'll still take your money, but most of them don't keep banker's hours.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:11 PM on March 25, 2009

most of them don't keep banker's hours

I'm sure this varies widely. I have very recent personal experience quite different from yours.
posted by sageleaf at 9:10 PM on March 25, 2009

I can personally verify that Bernie's Towing in Austin will let you get your car out (for an outrageous fee) around 2:00am. At least they used to.

Instamapper.com will allow you to track a cell phone, which can be stored in your glove compartment, via GPS and Google Maps. You can get a cheap Boost Mobile phone with a data plan. I don't think it'll be able to notify you once your car starts moving, though.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:23 PM on March 25, 2009

Would it be uncouth of me to inquire as to the dubiousness of the legality of your parking situation? Is it simply a street sweeping thing?
posted by malapropist at 3:36 PM on March 26, 2009

malapropist: No, it's not even dubiously legal, it's actually downright illegal - I'm parking in Brookline, MA as a non-resident. They don't allow street parking. At all. Ever. It's unbelievably irritating. In any case, I'm swearing off this particular practice, as my car did end up getting towed to the tune of $213 a few weeks back. Guess I'll have to find some other way to go visit my boyfriend...
posted by lizzicide at 12:47 PM on April 25, 2009