Tampere denies €3,665 damage claim after breaking car window to read VIN

The case began when a car with no licence plates was issued a tow notice on 20 May 2025 and moved to the city's interim storage at Tarastenjärvi three days later. It was publicly announced on the city's website on 6 June 2025 and ownership transferred to Tampere on 12 August 2025. Tamperelainen reported that officials said the vehicle had to be opened to read the vehicle identification number because it could not be determined from the outside.

The owner says they found a broken driver's side window, a damaged driver's door and electrical faults when the car was returned on 11 February 2026, and filed a €3,665 compensation claim on 20 March 2026.

The decision, signed by construction director Milko Tietäväinen, rejects the claim. It reasons that the alleged damage occurred while the city owned the vehicle and that no technical report ties the VIN check to the door or electrical problems. Returning the car later, the decision adds, does not by itself prove compensable property damage during the city's period of ownership.

It follows an earlier Tampere compensation case in which the city approved €2,950 for a wrist fracture after a slip on Kyttälänkatu in June the city's June compensation decision.