🅿️ Quick Answer: Toronto issues over 2.8 million parking tickets per year. The most common reasons cars get towed include parking in no-stopping zones during rush hour ($190 fine + tow), blocking fire hydrants ($100–$125), overnight winter parking bans (Dec 1–Mar 31 in former North York), and unauthorized parking on private property. Parking fines range from $30 to $450, and getting towed adds another $150+ in towing fees plus $50–$80/day in storage. This guide covers every rule you need to know to keep your car off the hook.
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Getting your car towed in Toronto is expensive, stressful, and almost always avoidable. Between the towing fee, daily storage charges, and the parking fine itself, a single violation can cost you $300 or more — and that is before the frustration of tracking down which pound has your vehicle.
Toronto’s parking rules are more complex than most drivers realize. Different former municipalities within the city have different overnight bylaws, rush hour signs change by the hour, and private property towing follows a completely separate set of regulations. This guide breaks down every major reason cars get towed in Toronto and gives you practical tips to avoid each one.
The Top 10 Reasons Cars Get Towed in Toronto
Here are the most common parking violations that lead to towing in Toronto, along with the associated fines:
Important: tow-away signs are posted in some areas as an extra reminder, but they are not required for your vehicle to be towed. Any vehicle parked in a no-stopping zone can be towed whether or not a “tow away” sign is present. For a breakdown of what towing itself costs, see our towing cost Toronto price guide.
No Parking vs. No Standing vs. No Stopping: What Each Sign Means
Toronto uses three levels of parking restriction, and confusing them is one of the most common reasons drivers get ticketed and towed. Here is the difference from least to most restrictive:
🟡 No Parking
LEAST restrictive
You can stop to actively load/unload goods or pick up/drop off passengers. You cannot leave your vehicle unattended or park. The key phrase is “while actually engaged” — if you walk away, you are parked.
🟠 No Standing
MORE restrictive
You can only stop to pick up or drop off passengers — nothing else. No loading goods, no running into a store, no waiting. Passengers must be actively getting in or out of the vehicle.
🔴 No Stopping
MOST restrictive — $190 fine + tow
You cannot stop for any reason — not even if you are sitting in the car with the engine running. The moment your vehicle ceases moving, you are in violation and can be ticketed and towed immediately.
⚠️ Rush hour trap: Many major Toronto streets switch from regular parking to “no stopping” during rush hour (typically 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM, Monday to Friday). The signs show specific times. If you park legally at 3:30 PM but do not move by 4:00 PM, you can be ticketed and towed. Always read both the parking restriction and the time window on every sign.
The 3-Hour Parking Rule
One of the most commonly misunderstood rules in Toronto: there is a default maximum 3-hour parking limit on all public roads city-wide, even where no sign is posted. If a sign says “1 hour maximum” that overrides the default, but if there is no sign at all, you still cannot park for more than 3 hours on the same spot.
This catches visitors and new residents off guard — they find an unsigned residential street, assume there is no limit, and return to a ticket. The exception is if you have a valid residential parking permit for that specific zone, which allows extended parking during posted permit hours.
Winter Overnight Parking Bans
Toronto’s winter parking rules are a patchwork of regulations inherited from the former municipalities that amalgamated in 1998. The most important one to know:
❄️ Former North York: Overnight Ban Dec 1 – Mar 31
In the former City of North York (now generally north of Highway 401), on-street parking is prohibited between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM from December 1 through March 31 — every night, regardless of whether there is snow. This is enforced without signage. Vehicles found on the street during these hours will be ticketed and may be towed to allow snow removal equipment to pass.
Other former municipalities (downtown Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, East York) do not have a blanket overnight winter ban, but the city can declare emergency snow route parking bans during significant snowfall events. These are announced through media, social media, and the City of Toronto website. During a declared snow event, vehicles on designated snow routes will be towed to allow plows to clear the roads.
For more winter driving preparation, see our Toronto winter driving safety tips and spring car maintenance checklist.
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Towing a Car from Private Property: How It Works in Toronto
Private property towing in Toronto is governed by Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 915 — Parking on Private or Municipal Property. The rules are stricter than many property owners and drivers realize, and there are specific conditions that must be met before a vehicle can be legally towed from private property.
Here is what the law requires for a legal private property tow:
Signs must be posted
The property must have signs approved by the City that clearly state the conditions under which vehicles can be parked, or that unauthorized vehicles will be tagged and towed. Signs must reference Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 915.
Property must be inspected and approved
The private property must be inspected and approved by the Chief of Police, with clearly defined boundaries and proper signage in place.
A penalty notice must be issued first
A parking infraction notice must be issued and placed on the vehicle before towing can begin.
A 30-minute waiting period must pass
After the penalty notice is issued, there is a mandatory 30-minute waiting period before the vehicle can be towed — unless it is blocking a fire route (no waiting period required).
A Toronto Police Service tow card must be issued
A TPS tow card must be issued at the time of removal and provided to the storage facility receiving the vehicle.
💡 Know your rights: If your vehicle was towed from private property and any of the above conditions were not met — no signs posted, no penalty notice, no 30-minute wait — the tow may have been conducted improperly. You can file a complaint with Toronto Police Service Parking Enforcement at 416-808-6600 or with the Toronto Licensing Commission at 416-392-3000. For a full overview of your protections, see our guide on Ontario towing rights.
The Habitual Offender Towing Program
The City of Toronto runs a Habitual Parking Violation Offender program that automatically flags vehicles for towing. You are classified as a habitual offender if all three conditions are met: you have three or more outstanding parking violations, you have not paid or disputed any of them, and more than 120 days have passed since your last qualifying violation.
Once flagged, your vehicle will be towed the next time it is found parked illegally anywhere on city streets. You will need to pay towing and storage fees to recover your vehicle, though the City does not require you to pay the outstanding tickets before releasing it from the pound.
The simplest way to avoid this: pay or dispute every parking ticket within 15 days. Even if you plan to fight it, requesting a screening review stops the clock on escalation.
What to Do If Your Car Gets Towed in Toronto
If you return to where you parked and your car is gone, here is the step-by-step process:
Call to confirm your car was towed (not stolen)
Contact Toronto Police Service at 416-808-2222 (non-emergency) with your licence plate number and the location where you parked. They will confirm whether your vehicle was towed and tell you which pound is holding it.
Go to the pound as soon as possible
Storage fees accumulate daily ($50–$80/day or more), so every day you wait costs you more. Bring government-issued photo ID, your vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
Pay the towing and storage fees
You will need to pay the towing fee (approximately $150+) and any accumulated storage charges before your vehicle is released. Ask for an itemized receipt and confirm the charges match the regulated rates.
Pay or dispute the parking ticket separately
The parking violation itself is a separate charge from the towing fee. You can pay it online, by mail, or in person. If you believe the ticket was issued in error, request a screening review within 15 days — do not pay the ticket before the review, as payment is considered an admission and closes your case.
10 Tips to Avoid Getting Your Car Towed in Toronto
Read every sign completely. Do not just glance at “No Parking” — read the times, days, and exceptions. A sign that says “No Stopping 4–6 PM Mon–Fri” means you are fine at 3:59 PM but towed at 4:01 PM.
Set a phone alarm. If you are parked in a metered zone or a time-limited space, set an alarm 10 minutes before your time expires so you can move or feed the meter.
Know the 3-hour default. Even on unsigned residential streets, you cannot park for more than 3 hours unless you have a residential parking permit for that zone.
Stay 3 metres from fire hydrants. Measure from the imaginary line on the street directly in front of the hydrant — not from the hydrant itself. When in doubt, add extra space.
Stay 9 metres from intersections. Toronto bylaws require you to park at least 9 metres from the curb line of an intersecting street. That is roughly three car lengths.
Check for overnight bans. If you live in or are visiting the former North York area, do not park on the street between 2 AM and 6 AM from December through March — every night, rain or shine.
Never park in accessible spaces without a permit. This carries the highest fines in the city ($300–$450) and your vehicle will be towed. Accessible parking permits must be valid and clearly displayed.
Pay or dispute tickets promptly. Three unpaid tickets older than 120 days make you a habitual offender — your car will be towed automatically the next time it is found parked illegally.
Use Green P lots when in doubt. The Toronto Parking Authority’s Green P lots and garages are available throughout the city. The cost of a few hours in a lot is far cheaper than a $190 fine plus towing. Use the Green P app to find spots and pay remotely.
Photograph where you park. Take a quick photo of the nearest parking sign and your parked vehicle. If you ever need to dispute a ticket, having photographic evidence of the signage (or lack thereof) is your strongest defence.
Towing Services Across the GTA
Whether you need a tow after a parking violation, a breakdown, or an accident, Towing Toronto provides 24-hour towing, flatbed towing, accident towing, roadside assistance, and direct insurance billing across the Greater Toronto Area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Toronto Parking and Towing
How do I find my car after it has been towed in Toronto?
Call the Toronto Police Service non-emergency line at 416-808-2222 with your licence plate number and the location where you parked. They will tell you which pound is holding your vehicle. For vehicles towed from private property, call 416-808-6600.
How much does it cost to get your car out of the pound in Toronto?
You will typically pay the towing fee (approximately $150+) plus daily storage fees ($50–$80/day or more). The parking violation fine is separate and can range from $30 to $450 depending on the infraction. Total costs commonly reach $300 to $500+ if you do not retrieve your vehicle the same day.
Can my car be towed from a private parking lot?
Yes, but only if specific conditions under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 915 are met: the property must have approved signage, a penalty notice must be issued, a 30-minute waiting period must pass (except for fire routes), and a Toronto Police Service tow card must be issued. If these conditions were not met, the tow may have been improper.
Do parking tickets affect my insurance in Ontario?
Parking tickets do not carry demerit points and are not reported to your insurance company, so they do not directly increase your insurance premiums. However, failing to pay tickets can lead to plate denial (inability to renew your licence plate sticker), which can cause additional legal and financial problems that indirectly affect your driving record.
What is the overnight parking ban in Toronto?
The former City of North York has a blanket overnight parking ban from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM, December 1 through March 31, every year. This applies regardless of weather conditions and is enforced without signage. Other parts of Toronto do not have a blanket overnight ban but may impose temporary bans during declared snow emergencies.
How long do I have to pay a Toronto parking ticket?
You have 15 calendar days from the date of issuance to pay or request a screening review. After 15 days, a $15.39 vehicle owner/address search fee is added. The longer you wait, the more administrative fees accumulate. If you plan to dispute the ticket, request a review within the 15-day window and do not pay until a decision is made.
Can I be towed even without a “Tow Away Zone” sign?
Yes. Tow-away signs are posted as a courtesy reminder in some areas, but they are not legally required. Any vehicle parked in a no-stopping zone, blocking a fire hydrant, blocking a fire route, or otherwise in violation of parking bylaws can be ticketed and towed — whether or not a tow-away sign is present.
What is the fine for parking in a bike lane in Toronto?
Parking in a designated bike lane carries a fine of $150 to $200, and your vehicle can be towed immediately. With the expansion of protected bike lanes across downtown Toronto, this has become an increasingly enforced violation.
How far from a fire hydrant can I park in Toronto?
You must park at least 3 metres (about 10 feet) from a fire hydrant. The measurement is taken from the imaginary line on the street directly in front of the hydrant — not from the hydrant itself. This ensures fire or rescue vehicles can access the hydrant regardless of how far back it sits from the curb.
Can I leave my car on a Toronto street for more than 7 days with a permit?
No. Even with a valid residential parking permit, a vehicle that remains in the same spot for more than 7 consecutive days can be tagged and towed at the owner’s expense. You need to move your car periodically. The Toronto Police Service enforces this rule to prevent vehicles from being abandoned on city streets.
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