Towed Car in College Park, MD: Recovery, Fees & Your Rights

Towed Vehicle · College Park, Maryland
Published 2 Sep 2026 · 7 min read · Reviewed by the Parksy Editorial Team
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Where can I confirm whether my vehicle was towed in College Park, Maryland?

For a vehicle removed from the University of Maryland campus in College Park, contact UMD Transportation Services at 301-314-3687 during business hours. Outside those hours, call the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety at 301-405-3555 to confirm whether the vehicle was towed or relocated.

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A missing car creates immediate uncertainty, particularly around the University of Maryland, where the campus is 952m from central College Park and the College Park–University of Maryland station is 794m away. You may lose an hour retracing steps near Regents Drive, SECU Stadium at 1,390m, or Xfinity Center at 1,687m, while worrying about missed classes, work and accumulating storage costs. Before assuming theft, check nearby signs, driveways and construction areas for relocation notices, then contact the relevant authority with your registration, make, model and last known parking location. University of Maryland Transportation Services states that vehicles can be removed for tow-away zones, roadways, fire lanes, disabled areas, abandoned or damaged conditions, and repeated unpaid citations. Its published charges are $100 for car towing or relocation, $150 for an impounded vehicle and a $30 administrative release fee, so the immediate financial pressure can be substantial before any outstanding fines are settled. The university also says five or more parking violations older than 15 days, or more than 12 citations within 12 months, can trigger impoundment. For a campus removal, call DOTS on 301-314-3687 during business hours, or the Department of Public Safety on 301-405-3555 at other times. The DOTS office in Regents Drive Garage handles releases from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; outside those hours, attend DPS at the Pocomoke Building. Bring identification and payment, and review these towing statistics to understand how enforcement affects drivers near major university destinations.

Where College Park drivers should check an impounded vehicle

The first confirmed location for a University of Maryland tow is the DOTS office in Regents Drive Garage, where staff process claims between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Drivers must pay outstanding bills or fines, with DOTS accepting credit cards and checks; the Department of Public Safety at the Pocomoke Building accepts credit cards outside those hours. Calling 301-314-3687 during DOTS hours or 301-405-3555 afterward is faster than searching around the 1,390m route to SECU Stadium or the 1,687m route to Xfinity Center. College Park streets and university boundaries can overlap, so confirm whether the car was removed by campus authorities or another agency before travelling to a storage facility. The city’s parking permits information is useful for distinguishing municipal parking requirements from UMD rules, while drivers dealing with a county removal can consult towed vehicle guidance. Confirm the current yard address, opening hours, identification requirements and payment method by telephone, because the supplied UMD notice identifies release offices and contact numbers but does not publish a separate impound-yard address.

You can also explore our guide on parking tips to make the most of your options.

Understanding College Park impound charges and payment

At the University of Maryland, 952m from College Park, DOTS lists a $100 car towing or relocation fee, a $150 impounded-vehicle fee and a $30 administrative tow-release fee for vehicle impounds, while scooters, motorcycles and mopeds carry a $75 removal charge. These amounts are separate from any outstanding citations, and the university states that vehicles may be removed from fire lanes, disabled-access bays, tow-away zones, roadways or other public-safety areas. Drivers checking a car after an event at SECU Stadium, 1,390m away, should first confirm its location rather than assuming it was stolen.

To recover a vehicle, attend the DOTS office in Regents Drive Garage between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; outside those hours, the Department of Public Safety operates from the Pocomoke Building. DOTS accepts credit cards and checks, whereas DPS accepts credit cards only, so payment preparation matters for commuters near the College Park–University of Maryland station, 794m away. The university advises drivers to call 301-314-3687 during DOTS hours or 301-405-3555 at other times, while local permit information is available through College Park permits.

How College Park drivers can challenge an improper tow

A driver who believes a wrongful vehicle tow occurred should preserve photographs of signs, road markings, permit displays and the vehicle’s condition, then record the time and exact location. This evidence is particularly important around the University of Maryland, Global Campus 1,802m away, and the Xfinity Center, 1,687m away, where construction, maintenance, emergencies and event parking can prompt relocation. Ask DOTS or the Department of Public Safety for the tow reason, inventory details and payment record before pursuing any university review or external compensation claim.

Do not assume paying the $100 relocation or $150 impound charge waives every challenge; request the applicable appeal or complaint process in writing and keep receipts for towing, storage and transport expenses. Montgomery County procedures may differ from University of Maryland rules, so the county’s towed vehicle guidance is a useful comparison, not proof that it governs a campus removal. For drivers considering nearby car spaces, Parksy offers no booking fees, secure payments held until check-in, verified listings, cancellation at any time and real human support before choosing a spot near campus or the stadiums.

How Parksy helps drivers avoid College Park tow zones

A $100 UMD towing or relocation charge, a $150 impound fee and a $30 administrative release fee can quickly outweigh the cost of parking, especially when a vehicle is left near the University of Maryland, 952m from campus, or the College Park–University of Maryland station, 794m away. Parksy’s peer-to-peer private parking model offers a practical before-and-after choice: instead of risking a council or campus day rate of about $45, drivers may find a booked private space from around $12, subject to the individual listing. That upfront decision is far safer than clearway roulette.

For staff, students and visitors travelling toward SECU Stadium, 1,390m away, or Xfinity Center, 1,687m away, a confirmed bay can keep the vehicle out of roadways, fire lanes, disabled areas and marked tow-away zones. UMD Transportation Services also states that vehicles may be impounded after five outstanding violations more than 15 days old, or after more than 12 citations in 12 consecutive months, while unclaimed vehicles left unmoved for 90 days can be removed. Booking early and checking College Park permits supports safer daily parking before those rules become expensive.

Why guaranteed private spaces make College Park commutes calmer

The strongest benefit is time: a commuter with a reserved spot does not need to circle near the University of Maryland Global Campus, 1,802m away, or gamble on a restricted space beside campus buildings. That can mean less uncertainty before classes, fewer delays before work and no recovery trip to the Regents Drive Garage DOTS office, which handles vehicle claims from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. With a private booking, drivers can compare location and cost in advance rather than discovering a $100 tow, $150 impound charge or $30 release fee after the event.

Choice also reduces stress around game days at SECU Stadium and Xfinity Center, when UMD may relocate vehicles for event access, construction, emergencies or public-safety needs. A confirmed car space can complement basic preparation such as photographing the bay, checking signs and avoiding car park problems. If a breakdown or roadside issue interrupts the journey, drivers can also use AAA motorist services, while the university’s DOTS number, 301-314-3687, and Department of Public Safety, 301-405-3555, provide official towing verification.

Towed Vehicle Guide in College Park, Maryland — car parking spaces and facilities Photo: Pexels

* Please note: parking prices, time limits and fine amounts change frequently and vary by operator, council and local authority. Everything on this page is indicative and provided on a best-endeavours basis — always check the sign, the operator or the issuing authority before you rely on a figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I confirm whether my vehicle was towed in College Park, Maryland?

For a vehicle removed from the University of Maryland campus in College Park, contact UMD Transportation Services at 301-314-3687 during business hours. Outside those hours, call the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety at 301-405-3555 to confirm whether the vehicle was towed or relocated.

Why might a vehicle be impounded on the University of Maryland campus in College Park?

UMD may remove vehicles parked in roadways, fire lanes, disabled or transfer areas, tow-away zones, and other public-safety locations in College Park. Impoundment can also apply when the associated driver has at least five outstanding parking violations older than 15 days, more than 12 citations in a consecutive 12-month period, or a vehicle that has remained unmoved for 90 days.

What recovery fees apply after a tow in College Park, Maryland?

The UMD towing information states that removal and impoundment are carried out at the owner’s or operator’s expense, but the supplied university page does not publish a current recovery-fee amount. Before travelling to recover a vehicle in College Park, call UMD Transportation Services at 301-314-3687 or the Department of Public Safety at 301-405-3555 to confirm the applicable charges and payment requirements.

Can UMD tow a vehicle before a football or basketball game in College Park?

Yes. Vehicles may be relocated before University of Maryland football or basketball games when they are parked contrary to UMD parking rules or in designated event and tow-away areas. Drivers should contact UMD Transportation Services at 301-314-3687 to learn where a relocated vehicle was taken and how to retrieve it.

What legal rights and protections apply after a tow in College Park, Maryland?

Drivers should document the vehicle’s location, signage, citation history, and condition, then request the tow and impound details from UMD Transportation Services or the Department of Public Safety in College Park. UMD’s published rules identify the towable circumstances, including illegal parking in fire lanes and disabled areas, while any dispute about citations or removal should be directed to the university office identified on the notice and pursued through the applicable university review process.

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