“Dude, where’s my car?”

You live in College Park, and whether your car’s here or sitting back home, it’s bound to happen — your car is going to get towed. So what do you do when that happens?

If you’re not sure if your car has been towed or stolen, there are two things you can do, says James Beatty, an employee of Past & Present Towing & Recovery, Inc. and former the president of Towing & Recovery Professionals of Maryland. The obvious choice is calling the towing company named on the sign in the lot your car was towed from. If you can’t find the sign, or there just isn’t one, report your car as stolen to the police and they will check to see if the vehicle is being held at an area impound lot.

You should also know what to expect when trying to rescue your car. Policies vary among towing companies, but there are some general rules. Fees fluctuate among different companies, so getting your car towed from one lot may be more expensive than the lot next door.

If your car is towed from private property late at night, you may be charged extra for leaving your car at the impound lot overnight, even if the lot was already closed when the car got towed.

Although it may be frustrating, a company isn’t required to let you retrieve personal items from your car in a situation like this, and you have to wait until the company opens in the morning to reclaim your car and personal items.

“Usually, it depends on how you act on the phone,” Beatty says. “If you’re belligerent, they won’t give you the time of the day. On the other hand, if you’re polite, they may even let you get your car back that night.”

However, if a towing company doesn’t have a contract or some kind of agreement with the owner of a private lot, it can’t tow your car. If this, or anything else illegal, occurs, contact the Prince George’s County Review Board and request that the company show cause for towing your car. Usually, if something inappropriate has occurred you will be reimbursed, although it can turn into a civil matter.

Getting towed is an aggravating experience, but, usually, blaming the tow-drunk driver is only misdirecting your anger. If you know you committed a parking violation, just relax.

Says Betty: “We’re just trying to do our jobs.”