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Private property towing in Georgia is governed by O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, which gives property owners the right to remove unauthorized vehicles, but only when specific legal conditions are met. The property must have conspicuous signage posted that includes the recovery location, cost of recovery, and accepted payment methods. The towing company must hold a valid Georgia DPS permit. Surveillance or patrol agreements between towing companies and property owners are illegal. Fees are capped at $228 for the tow and $33 per day for storage, with the first 24 hours free. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $2,500. Call PMA Transportation Services at (470) 785-3743 for legitimate, permitted towing services across metro Atlanta and surrounding Georgia counties.

Whether you just found your car missing from a parking lot or you manage a property and need to understand your authority to remove vehicles, this guide covers everything Georgia law allows, requires, and prohibits in private property towing situations.

What Is Private Property Towing in Georgia?

Private property towing, also called non-consensual towing, refers to the removal of a vehicle from private property without the vehicle owner’s consent. This includes apartment complex parking lots, shopping centers, restaurant parking areas, office building lots, and any other privately owned property where unauthorized vehicles are found.

Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, a vehicle can be towed from private property if parked without permission, obstructing access, or violating posted parking restrictions.

This is different from a consensual tow, which is a tow you arrange yourself after a breakdown or accident. All the rules and fee caps discussed in this guide apply specifically to non-consensual private property tows.

What Property Owners Are Allowed to Do

Georgia law gives property owners meaningful authority to remove vehicles that are parked without authorization. Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, any property owner or their authorized agent may remove or cause to be removed a vehicle that is not authorized to be where it is found.

However, this authority comes with conditions. The property owner must meet all of the following before a tow is legally valid:

1. Post conspicuous signage before the tow.

Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, the property must have conspicuously posted notice that any vehicle not authorized to be at the place where it is found may be removed at the expense of the owner of the vehicle. Such notice must also include information as to the location where the vehicle can be recovered, the cost of said recovery, and information as to the form of payment.

Georgia regulations require property owners to post signs within 50 feet of each designated parking lot entrance where towing is authorized. If terrain or landscaping makes that impractical, signs must go as close to entrances as possible.

The signage must be in place before any tow takes place, not posted after the fact. A property that removes vehicles first and then posts signs is not legally compliant.

2. Use only a licensed, DPS-permitted towing company.

Towing from private property must be conducted by a licensed towing company, which is required to notify local law enforcement within an hour of towing. Details such as the vehicle’s make, model, and location must be provided, enabling vehicle owners to locate their towed vehicles promptly.

The towing company must also hold a valid permit from the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Property owners who use unpermitted operators expose themselves to liability and risk having the tow challenged.

3. Have written authorization for each specific tow.

The towing company must have a written agreement with the property owner or authorized agent. This agreement cannot be a standing arrangement to patrol and remove vehicles. Each tow requires a specific call from the property owner or agent for that individual vehicle.

The Residential Property Exception

An owner of residential private property containing not more than four residential units is not required to comply with the posting requirements of O.C.G.A. 44-1-13 and DPS Rule 570-38-7-.14.

This means that the owner of a single-family home, a duplex, a triplex, or a four-unit building does not need to post signage before having a vehicle towed from their property. Apartment complexes of five or more units are not covered by this exception and must comply with all signage requirements.

If your car is towed from a commercial lot that had no posted warning, that is a potential basis for challenging the tow.

What Towing Companies Are Prohibited From Doing

Georgia law imposes specific prohibitions on towing companies operating on private property, and violations carry significant penalties.

Surveillance agreements are illegal.

It shall be unlawful and punishable by a fine of $1,000.00 for any towing and storage firm to enter into any agreement with any person in possession of private property to provide automatic or systematic surveillance of such property for purposes of removal and relocation of any vehicle.

A towing company cannot patrol a parking lot looking for vehicles to remove. Every tow must be initiated by a specific call from the property owner for that individual vehicle. Companies that set up continuous patrol arrangements are violating Georgia law regardless of whether they hold a DPS permit.

Kickbacks to property owners are illegal.

It shall be unlawful and punishable by a fine of $1,000.00 for any towing and storage firm to pay to any private property owner or one in possession of private property any fee or emolument, directly or indirectly, for the right to remove a vehicle from said private property.

A towing company cannot pay a property owner a finder’s fee, per-vehicle bounty, or any other compensation for the right to tow from their lot. This type of arrangement creates a financial incentive for predatory towing and is explicitly prohibited.

Exceeding state rate caps is illegal.

The Georgia DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 caps all non-consensual towing fees. A towing company operating on private property cannot charge more than:

No storage fees shall be charged for the first 24-hour period which begins at the time the vehicle is removed from the property. The department is authorized to impose a civil penalty for any violation of this Code section in an amount not to exceed $2,500.

Cash-only demands are prohibited.

Georgia towing regulations require companies to accept cash, debit cards, and at least two major credit cards. This prevents companies from creating artificial barriers to retrieval by insisting on cash-only payment.

Driver Rights Under Georgia Private Property Towing Law

If your vehicle has been towed from private property in Georgia, you have the following legal protections:

Right to personal belongings. You may access your vehicle to retrieve personal items during the lot’s regular business hours, even before paying the tow and storage fees.

Right to an itemized bill. Georgia towing companies must provide an itemized bill if requested. Drivers have the right to transparency. You are entitled to a written breakdown of every fee charged before you pay.

Right to pay by card. No towing company can refuse major credit card payment or charge a surcharge for using a card.

Right to contest an invalid tow. If the required signage was missing, the towing company was unpermitted, or the fees charged exceeded the state cap, the tow may be legally challengeable. For the complete process of documenting and challenging an illegal tow in Georgia, see our guide to what to do if your car was towed illegally.

Right to the first 24 hours of storage free. The storage clock begins at the time of removal, not at the time you are notified. Retrieving your vehicle within 24 hours means you pay only the tow fee.

How to Verify Whether a Tow Was Legal

Before paying anything, check these four things:

1. Was proper signage posted? Signage must be within 50 feet of the lot entrance, must include the recovery location, the cost of recovery, and the accepted payment forms. If any element was missing, the tow may be invalid.
2. Is the towing company permitted? The company must hold a valid DPS permit. You can verify permit status through the Georgia DPS.
3. Does the fee exceed the state cap? The tow fee cannot exceed $228 for a standard passenger vehicle. Storage cannot exceed $33 per day after the first free 24 hours.
4. Did the towing company patrol the lot? A tow triggered by a surveillance arrangement rather than a specific call from the property owner is illegal.

If any of these conditions were not met, you have grounds to file a complaint with the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, and potentially pursue a civil claim through magistrate court.

Private Property Towing Laws in Georgia Frequently Asked Questions

Can a property owner tow my car without warning in Georgia?

Generally no. Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, most private property must have conspicuous signage posted before any vehicle can be legally towed. The only exception is residential property with four or fewer units, which is not required to post signage.

What must the signage say before a private property tow is legal?

Georgia law requires signage to include that unauthorized vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense, the location where the vehicle can be recovered, the cost of recovery, and the accepted forms of payment. Signage must be within 50 feet of the parking lot entrance.

Can a towing company patrol my apartment complex parking lot in Georgia?

No. Surveillance or patrol agreements between towing companies and property owners are explicitly illegal under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13 and carry a $1,000 fine per violation. Each tow must be triggered by a specific call from the property owner for that individual vehicle.

What is the maximum fee for a private property tow in Georgia?

The maximum tow fee for a standard passenger vehicle under Georgia’s Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 is $228. Daily storage is capped at $33 per day, with the first 24 hours free. The maximum drop fee if the vehicle has not yet left the property is $130.

Can I get my belongings out of a towed car before paying the fee?

Yes. Georgia law gives vehicle owners the right to retrieve personal belongings from an impounded vehicle during regular business hours regardless of whether the release fee has been paid.

What happens if I was charged more than the state cap for a private property tow?

File a complaint with the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Companies found in violation face civil penalties of up to $2,500. You may also pursue recovery through Georgia magistrate court, which handles claims up to $15,000 without requiring an attorney.

Keep Reading

If your car was towed from private property and you believe the tow was not legally valid, our step-by-step guide to disputing an illegal tow in Georgia covers exactly how to document the scene, file complaints with the right agencies, and pursue a civil claim. If you need to understand what you owe and how to retrieve your vehicle, our Georgia impound fee guide covers every fee, your right to the first 24 hours free, and what documents you need at the lot.

Need Legitimate Towing in Georgia?

PMA Transportation Services operates as a licensed, DPS-permitted towing provider across metro Atlanta and surrounding Georgia counties, with full compliance with all O.C.G.A. 44-1-13 requirements on every call.

View our full towing and roadside services or reach our team through our contact page.

Call (470) 785-3743 anytime, day or night.