You should be able to retrieve your car--and the police should be willing to help. There's a word for what you landlord is doing: theft. He has no right to hold your car, unless it's the case that the car's owner (either you or your father; whomever had title) specifically gave the landlord a right to the car as collateral or security for a debt. However, unless that was done, the landlord may not take or keep your car; also, he has no cause of action whatsoever against you if you were not on the lease, and no grounds to take any action against your father. If your father was the one on the lease, then the landlord's only option is to try to sue your father for the money (which is obviously problematic if your father is no out of the country).