DailyHeights

Locate your car. If the towing occurred in Prospect Heights, Park Slope or anywhere thereabouts, they probably took it to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (unless it was towed for unpaid parking tickets, in which case it may be at a lot in Red Hook). You can use this Find Towed Vehicle Search on the official New York City website (third link in the first pull-down menu) but they will tell you to confirm anyway by calling the tow pound. The number for the Brooklyn Navy Yard is 718-694-0696.

Gather your documents. Bring your drivers license and registration (and title, just to be safe). Bring a printout of the Vehicle Search results (above). Bring a checkbook, credit card or cash to pay the fine of $185. Be prepared to see one or more parking tickets on your windshield, which could make your total fine more than $400 (but you don’t have to pay the parking tickets until later).

Get to the Navy Yard. It’s open from 8 AM – 9 PM Mon-Fri; 8 AM – 4 PM Sat; and 12 PM – 8 PM Sun. A cab from Flatbush to Brooklyn will cost about $8, or you can take the 2 train from Grand Army Plaza to Hoyt St., get out and walk 2 blocks to the A, and take the A to the High St. station, and walk dow Sands St. toward the Navy Yard. It’s not as complicated as it sounds–go to HopStop to get a route plan (this is an amazing site: how could you have missed it?). The entrance to the Navy Yards is at the corner of Sands St. and Navy St.

Stand in line. Line up behind the T. Don’t get uptight if people appear to waltz right in and cut in front of you. They were probably told to go get documents out of their car and bring them back to the counter. Just be patient.

If everything is in order, the ladies at the counter will take your money, give you a green Redemption Fee Receipt (stamped “CLOSED” or “REDEEMED”). Finally, you have to be “escorted,” which means you have to get in the blue police van and be driven 200 feet to your car.

The Manhattan tow pound (212-971-0771 or 212-971-0772) is at Pier 76 at West 38th Street & 12th Avenue. The Bronx pound is at 745 East 141st Street between Bruckner Expressway & East River, and the Queens pound is under the Kosciusko Bridge. Check this site for opening and closing times.