Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed in Scotland

Your Legal Rights When Your Car Is Towed in Scotland

Whether your vehicle has been towed by Dundee City Council parking enforcement, removed from private land, or instructed by Police Scotland, you have specific legal rights that protect you. Here's what every Scottish driver should know.

Police-Instructed Towing

If your vehicle is seized or removed by Police Scotland — for example after an accident, abandonment, or causing an obstruction — you will be notified of the recovery compound location. You have the right to recover your vehicle upon payment of the recovery fee and any applicable charges. Police in Scotland must notify you within a reasonable time.

Council Parking Enforcement Towing

Dundee City Council and other Scottish local authorities can remove vehicles that are obstructing traffic, illegally parked on double yellow lines, or left in restricted areas. You will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice and be directed to an authorised compound. The fee to recover a towed vehicle in Scotland typically includes the removal charge plus a daily storage fee.

Private Land Towing

This is more complex. Since the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, clamping on private land in Scotland is illegal. However, towing on private land in Scotland remains technically possible if the landowner has clearly signposted the right to remove vehicles. If your car is towed from private land in Dundee, request evidence of signage and contact Citizens Advice Scotland if you believe the removal was unlawful.

Your Consent When Calling for Breakdown Recovery

When you voluntarily call a towing company like Discovery Towing, you enter a contract for services. Always confirm the price before the truck is dispatched and ensure you receive a receipt for payment.