According to Public Interest Research Groups, millions of people in the U.S. have their cars towed every year. If a towing company has taken your vehicle to the impound lot, and you don't know why, there are many possible explanations for the towing. Below, you'll find some of the most common reasons people get their cars towed.

1. You Parked in a Prohibited Area

If you leave your vehicle somewhere you're not allowed to park, there's a good chance your car will be towed away. Handicapped parking spots, fire lanes, and private driveways are all no-parking zones. Your vehicle could also be towed if you block a fire hydrant or leave your car near a railroad crossing.

2. Your Registration Is Expired

If your vehicle's registration or inspection is expired, it may be towed to enforce compliance with state laws. Towing a vehicle with an expired registration can help ensure that only legally-registered vehicles are on the road, promoting safety and reducing the risk of accidents. To avoid towing, make sure you renew your registration before it's due to expire.

3. Your Vehicle Appears to be Abandoned

Failing to move a car on public property for an extended period can be considered abandonment in some areas. Abandoned vehicles are considered to be safety hazards, which is why your city may have a towing company remove the car from the area. Even if you're not driving your car, you should move it every few days if it's not a public street.

4. You Have Unpaid Parking Tickets

Cars are sometimes towed for unpaid parking tickets as a way to enforce compliance with parking regulations and to collect unpaid fines. Towing is typically done when a vehicle owner has multiple unpaid tickets. When a vehicle is towed because of unpaid fines or tickets, these fines must be repaid before the car can be reclaimed.

5. You've Violated Local Parking Regulations

Parking rules can vary based on your location. Some cities enforce parking rules after snowstorms so streets can be plowed. Other areas may have designated street cleaning days when parking is prohibited on a specific street. If you're parking your vehicle in a public space, you should always make sure you're aware of local regulations.

It can be frustrating to have your vehicle towed unexpectedly. While towing can seem random, there's usually a reason for the tow. Contact the towing company to find out why your car was towed and what you need to do to get it back. For all of your towing service needs, contact Jim and Ron's Towing.