If Madrid’s municipal tow truck took your car, getting it back costs €147.55 for the tow plus €1.85 for every hour in the pound, up to €19.20 a day, under the 2026 rates published by EMT Madrid. Collect it two hours later and you pay €151.25; leave it a full day and it is €166.75.
The catch for many visitors is the vehicle class. SUVs, vans and people carriers, which is what many rental desks hand out for a family, pay €181.60 for the tow and €3.75 an hour, up to €38.50 a day. A motorbike is €60.40 plus €0.85 an hour.
How much does it cost to get a towed car back in Madrid? A car costs €147.55 for the tow plus €1.85 an hour in the pound, capped at €19.20 a day, so two hours comes to €151.25. SUVs and people carriers pay €181.60 for the tow. You find the car by number plate on the EMT website and pay at the pound or online.
Your car is gone, so check the tow truck first
Before you call the police about a theft, check whether the tow truck has it. EMT Madrid, the city transport company that runs the service, has a search called Localiza tu vehículo: type the number plate and it shows the pound. You can also phone 900 878 331, which is free, or 914 068 810, with a person on the line from 7am to 9pm every day and an automated service overnight.
With a rental car, call the rental company as well. They know the plate, they hold the paperwork, and as registered owner they are the ones the city sends the parking fine to.
What the tow and the pound cost
| Vehicle | Tow | Each hour stored | Daily cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | €147.55 | €1.85 | €19.20 |
| Van, SUV or people carrier | €181.60 | €3.75 | €38.50 |
| Motorbike or moped | €60.40 | €0.85 | €8.45 |
Every extra day adds the daily cap, so a car left for a week costs €281.95. After one full day, a motorbike comes to €68.85 and an SUV to €220.10. If the city moves it from one pound to another, a transfer charge is added: €57.05 between central pounds and €68.00 to Mediodía II and III for a car.
Under the rules EMT Madrid applies from the city’s Sustainable Mobility Ordinance, you do not pay if the car had been stolen and you can prove it, or if it was moved for roadworks, a house move or filming and the street was not signposted 48 hours ahead. If the signs were up in time, the driver pays.
What to bring, step by step
The cashier checks everything against the tow record, so bring originals.
- Your ID in the original: passport, national ID card, driving licence or residence permit.
- The car’s papers: the registration certificate and the technical sheet. If they are inside the car, the pound lets you take them out before you pay.
- For a rental car: the original rental agreement in force. If you are not on it, a signed and stamped authorisation from the rental company.
- If someone else’s car: a signed authorisation from the owner and a photocopy of the owner’s ID.
- Payment: card or cash at the cashier, or online beforehand through «Localiza tu vehículo».
After paying you get an exit slip, which you show with your ID within 24 hours to drive the car out. Foreign plates follow the same process with the papers from the country of registration, and the low-emission zone has its own rules for foreign plates; cars with unpaid import duty, missing papers or seals are handled separately, so call customer service first.
Which pound, and whether the cashier is open
The plate search names the pound. What matters next is the cashier, because collection runs 24 hours at every pound but payment does not:
| Pound | Address | Cashier | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo | Calle Hiedra 26 | 24 hours | Chamartín Metro (L1, L10) |
| Colón | Plaza Jardines del Descubrimiento | 24 hours | Serrano Metro (L4), Recoletos Cercanías |
| Escuadrón | Antigua Carretera de El Pardo, km 3.5 | Daily 7.15am-10pm | EMT buses 46, 160, 161 |
| Paseo Imperial | Calle Santa María la Real de Nieva | Mon-Fri 7.15am-10pm | Puerta de Toledo Metro (L5) |
| Mediodía II and III | Camino de la China | Mon-Fri 7.15am-10pm | EMT bus 130 |
| Vicálvaro | Avenida del Parque, corner of Calle Forjas | Mon-Fri 7.15am-10pm | Puerta de Arganda Metro (L9), then bus T23 |
The service charter that Madrid City Council publishes for 2026 lists Colón with a 24-hour cashier, while EMT’s own list of pounds leaves it out and names Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo as the 24-hour one. Stuck at night or at a weekend? Pay online first. A single Metro ticket gets you to Colón, Chamartín or Puerta de Toledo; which Madrid ticket to buy has the fares. Escuadrón and Mediodía are a long way from the Metro, so a taxi is the sensible way there; see taxi or ride-hailing in Madrid before you book one, and when the Metro closes and which night buses run if it is late.
How visitors avoid the tow in the first place
Most cars are towed from loading bays, double parking, driveways and reserved spaces, or from streets with roadworks or a move signposted two days ahead.
Driving in for the day? the park-and-ride car parks are free for 5 to 16 hours when you use public transport. On the street, learn Madrid’s blue and green parking zones, and check whether a rental car can enter the low-emission zone before you set off.
FAQ about Madrid’s tow truck
How do I know if my car was towed in Madrid?
Enter the number plate in the «Localiza tu vehículo» search on the EMT website, or call 900 878 331, which is free, or 914 068 810. A person answers from 7am to 9pm every day, and an automated line takes over at night. It tells you which pound the car is in.
How much does it cost to get a towed car back in Madrid?
A car costs €147.55 for the tow plus €1.85 for each hour in the pound, capped at €19.20 a day, under the 2026 rates. Collect it within two hours and you pay €151.25. Vans, SUVs and people carriers pay €181.60 for the tow and up to €38.50 a day.
Can I collect a rental car from the pound in Madrid?
Yes. Bring the original rental agreement in force, your passport or driving licence and the car’s registration papers, which are usually in the glovebox. If you are not named on the agreement, you need a signed and stamped authorisation from the rental company.
Which Madrid car pound is open at night?
Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo, at Calle Hiedra 26 near Chamartín station, has a cashier open 24 hours every day, and the city’s 2026 service charter also lists Colón as 24 hours. Every pound releases cars around the clock, so at night you pay there or online and then collect.
Is the tow fee the same as the parking fine?
No. What you pay at the pound is the fee for the tow and storage. The parking fine is a separate notice from the city, sent to the registered owner, which for a rental car is the rental company.
Paying the same day is the only part of a tow you control: each extra day adds €19.20.