So you got back to where you’d parked your car and it’s…gone. At first you think it’s stolen. But as you begin to examine the signs you realize you might have been parked illegally and you probably got towed. It’s not a fun situation to find yourself in, but an ounce of knowledge beforehand might save you a ton of headache after. Here’s what to do after you get towed.

According to Direct Auto Insurance, the first order of business is establishing that your car did indeed get legally towed–and not stolen. Unlike when you find a parking ticket on your windshield, it can take some guesswork as to which law you broke and what happened next. Begin by reading the signs. Were you accidentally on private property? If so, then the name of the tow company contracted to enforce the rules should be posted. You can call them to see if they towed your car.

What if there’s no tow company posted? Or what if there are no laws at all posted? Here’s where things get a bit trickier. You can call the local police department’s non-emergency number. Be prepared with the address where you were parked and your license plate number as well as your car’s make, model, and year. The police should be able to sort out where your car ended up.

There is a chance a property owner had it towed for parking on private property. There is also a chance the police had it towed for repeat parking violations, even on public streets. Finally, if you missed car payments your vehicle may have been repossessed by the bank holding your loan.

If your car was towed for a parking violation in certain cities, the police may direct you to an online database where you can search towed vehicles by license plate. But if so, the local police’s non-emergency operator can tell you how to access the website.

Once you’re on the phone with the towing company, you can ask them how to get your car back. If the car was towed from private property, you won’t have any kind of municipal fine to pay. That’s the good news. But you will need to pay the towing company for their trouble. They usually charge one fee for towing and another fee for every day they store the car, waiting for you to show up.

These fees can be steep. And to add insult to injury, many towing companies still don’t take credit cards or electronic payment. So you’ll need to get out cash or a cashier’s check from your bank. Double check when you’re on the phone.

You’ll also need to bring proof that you are who you say you are (your ID) and proof you own the car (title). Otherwise, someone else could stop by the towing company’s lot and try to steal a car held there. You may even need proof of insurance. Again, double check what you’ll need when you’re on the phone.

Finally, you need a ride to the towing company’s lot. Whether it’s with a friend, in a taxi, or even on public transit, you’ll need to get yourself there so you can drive yourself home. Unfortunately, this kind of tow is a one way affair.