Collection on a junk car

I would appreciate any and all advice. my parents let their old 2000 junk car get towed and got a citation from the city. they paid the citation and shortly after somehow renounced the car. I have no clue what this means as I was not with them. I plan on going to the dmv to get information on the liability of the car.

however the car was towed and taken in july 2024 by a towing company, the citation was issued november 2024. The towing company has stated they do not hold anything information about it or the collection in contact with us and instead told me to call the number that called me. I'm not the legal owner of the car, it's under my mother's name. which confused me as I have no legal ties to the car outside of it simply being my parents'.

we are just now getting calls from a collection agency threatening to take us to court. The money owed is from leaving the car at the tow company's possession. he said they were mailing the paperwork tomorrow . I don't believe this is legally true and am sure he is simply trying to get the money out of us, of course as is it due. I want to help my parents as best as i can but i have no clue how as, like I any and all advice is helpful.